well this morning I bring before you a threefold text Romans 16 verse 27 1 Timothy 1 verse 17 and from the epistle of Jude verse 25 Romans 16 verse 27 the concluding verse of Paul's epistle to the Romans Romans 16 27 to God only wise be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. 1 Timothy 1 verse 17. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. And Jude 25, the concluding verse of that epistle, The words common to each of these three texts, besides the word Amen, which of course is not without significance, are God only wise, or the only wise God. It seemed good to the Holy Ghost, who has inspired these words, and indeed all scripture, to use this phrase concerning the wisdom of God, together with the word Amen, precisely three times in the entirety of the Word of God. Now this surely is suggestive to us of the doctrine of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is explicitly and implicitly revealed in the Holy Scriptures. We see the doctrine of the Trinity explicitly revealed in 1 John 5-7, which is why there is such a concerted attack on the veracity and validity of that particular verse of Holy Scripture. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, and these three are one. There we see the doctrine of the Trinity explicitly revealed. But the doctrine of the Trinity is also to be seen implicitly in many other scriptures throughout both the Old and the New Testaments. For instance, the Aaronic blessing of Numbers chapter 6. The Lord bless thee and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lit up his countenance upon thee and give thee peace. The name of God, Lord or Jehovah, is used three times there. We see it in the New Testament benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen. We could give many, many more examples of where the doctrine of the Trinity is implicitly revealed in the Holy Scriptures. The fact that this phrase, God only, wise, or the only wise God, together with the word Amen, is used precisely three times in the Holy Scriptures, is very indicative or suggestive to us of the Trinity. The doctrine of the Trinity is, I would say, implicitly revealed in these words. Those who are truly taught of God will see the doctrine of the Trinity where it is implicitly revealed. Whereas those who receive not this truth, like the Jehovah's false witnesses, who are spiritually blind, will not even see this truth where it is explicitly revealed. What we see, in the words of our threefold text this morning, is the wisdom of the triune Jehovah. The Father is wise, the Son is wise, the Holy Spirit is wise. He is God only wise, and the only wise God. All of the attributes of God belong to each of the persons of the Godhead. So it is with the wisdom of Almighty God. The Father is wise, the Son is wise, and the Holy Spirit is wise. And you notice that it is God only who is wise. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. The Lord God only has perfect wisdom. Only the Lord our God is infinite in wisdom, just as He is infinite in holiness. Even the highest angels are charged with folly before the presence of infinite wisdom. Behold, he put no trust in his servants and his angels, he charged with folly. We read in Job, none of his creatures have wisdom in and of themselves. Indeed, some are deprived of wisdom, it's withheld from them. We read of the ostrich in the book of Job, as she is hardened against her young ones, as though they were not hers. Her labour is in vain without fear, because God hath deprived her of wisdom, neither hath he imparted to her understanding. If any have wisdom, it is because it has been granted to them from Him who is the source and the fountain of all wisdom, the Lord our God. If any are wise of heart, it is because God has made them so. We can think of Bezalel and Aholiab and others with them who made the tabernacle and all its furniture. Them hath He filled with wisdom of heart, we read in Exodus 35. and in Exodus 36, then wrought Bezalel and Aholiab and every wise-hearted man in whom the Lord put wisdom and understanding to know how to work all manner of work for the service of the sanctuary according to all that the Lord had commanded. We can think of King Solomon who asked the Lord, give me now wisdom and knowledge. And the Lord answered him, Wisdom as knowledge is granted unto thee. Solomon was the wisest of all the kings of the earth, but his wisdom was not of himself, it was given to him by God. Lo, I have given thee a wise and an understanding heart. Daniel thanked God for the wisdom that was given to him so that he was able to understand and so that he was able to interpret the king's dream in Daniel 2 verse 20 Daniel answered and said blessed be the name of God forever and ever for wisdom and might are his and he changeth the times and the seasons he removeth kings and setteth up kings he giveth wisdom unto the wise and knowledge to them that know understanding he revealeth the deep and secret things he knoweth what is in the darkness and the light dwelleth with him I thank thee and I praise thee O thou God of my fathers who hast given me wisdom and might and hath made known unto me now what we desired of thee, for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter. And you know, all the elect of God are made wise unto salvation by the Holy Ghost and by means of the Holy Scriptures which he has inspired. And from a child, that from a child, Paul writes to Timothy, and that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All the natural wisdom which men possess is given to them by God. Well, how much more than that spiritual wisdom which makes them wise unto salvation. When we are awakened, by the Spirit of God. And we have the sentence of death in ourselves. We are made to feel our need of that wisdom. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for want of wisdom. Where can we go to get that wisdom which would make us wise unto salvation? We must go to the only wise God, the source of all true and saving wisdom. as James says, if any of you lack wisdom let him ask of God that giveth to all men liberally that upbraideth not and it shall be given him that's the promise of the Word of God but what is wisdom? what is wisdom? how would you define it? Surely wisdom can be defined as the ability to use one's knowledge and experience to make good decisions and judgments. It's the good and right use of knowledge, or the application of knowledge. Men may have a great deal of knowledge, but lacking wisdom, they misapply their knowledge, often with awful and catastrophic consequences. But God, who is infinite in knowledge, is also infinite in wisdom. There is no, and there can be no, misapplication of His knowledge. He is infinite in wisdom. It is infinite wisdom that has determined the end from the beginning. Infinite wisdom has foreordained whatsoever comes to pass. There is the perfect application of God's infinite knowledge in His eternal decree and counsels. God's decree and all His counsels are according to His wisdom. There is the application of His knowledge even in His eternal decree and counsels. It is from that eternal decree and it is from those counsels of eternity that all his works proceed being performed and accomplished by omnipotence, the power of the Almighty. And it is in his works, the works of the Most High God, that we perceive the wisdom of God. How O Lord, says the psalmist, O Lord, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them all. Well, let us go on then to consider something of the wisdom of God as displayed in his works, his works of creation and of providence and of grace. Firstly, what wisdom is displayed in God's work of creation? The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth by understanding hath he established the heavens we read in the Proverbs and in the Psalms to him that by wisdom made the heavens for his mercy endureth forever Jeremiah says he hath made the earth by his power he has established the world by his wisdom and hath stretched out the heavens the heavens by his discretion all consider the heavens the work of His fingers, the moon and the stars which He has ordained. O Lord my God, when I in awesome wonder consider all the works Thy hands have made, I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, Thy power throughout the universe displayed, Then sings my soul, my Saviour God to Thee, how great Thou art, how great Thou art. The Lord our God is great in wisdom as well as in power. Indeed, He is infinite in wisdom. Paul says, for the invisible things of Him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead. The invisible wisdom of God is clearly seen in the visible creation. All of God's creation bears witness to His great, His infinite wisdom, from the microcosm to the macrocosm, from the structure of atoms to the structure of the solar system and the entire universe. Think of planet Earth, the mountains, the forests, the oceans, the skies. and all the creatures that inhabit them. When through the woods and forest glades I wander, and hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees, when I look down from lofty mountain grandeur, and hear the brook and feel the gentle breeze, then sings my soul, my Saviour God, to Thee, how great Thou art! How great Thou art! Oh, how great Thou art in wisdom, You know, that was a good hymn that we were taught to sing as children. All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small, all things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all. Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings, He made their glowing colours, He made their tiny wings. The purple-headed mountains, the river running by, the sunset and the morning that brightens up the sky. and what of the creation of man? He gave us eyes to see them and lips that we might tell how great is God Almighty who has made all things well. The creation of man reveals the greatest display of God's wisdom in creation. The direct creation of Adam and Eve in the beginning made in the image of God Adam being formed of the dust of the ground and the Lord God breathing into his nostrils the breath of life. And Eve being made of one of Adam's ribs. And our own indirect creation, as it were, in our mother's wombs. For thou hast possessed my reins, thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvellous are thy works, and that my soul knoweth right well. My substance was not hid from thee when I was made in secret, curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Thine eyes did see my substance yet being unperfect. And in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! How great is the sum of them! The wisdom of God is clearly to be seen in his works, or his work of creation. In wisdom hast thou made them all, And secondly, the wisdom of God is to be seen in his work of providence. What are God's works of providence? William Gadsby asks in his Catechism. God's works of providence are his most holy and wise and powerful preserving and governing of all his creatures and their actions. Yes, there we see the wisdom of God in his providence. See what Job says concerning God's wisdom and his providence and God's wisdom in his providence. In Job chapter 12 and verse 13. From verse 13, With him is wisdom and strength. He hath counsel and understanding. Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again. He shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening. Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up. Also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth. With him is strength and wisdom. The deceived and the deceiver are his. He leadeth counsellors away spoiled, And maketh the judges fools. He looseth the bond of kings, And girdeth their loins with a girdle. He leadeth princes away spoiled, And overthroweth the mighty. He removeth away the speech of the trusting, and taketh away the understanding of the aging. He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakneth the strength of the mighty. He discovereth deep things out of the darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death. He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them. He enlargeth the nations, and straighteneth them again. He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way. They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. God's wisdom is to be discerned in his providential dealings with nations. He increaseth the nations and destroyeth them. He enlargeth the nations and straighteneth them again. Is it not to be seen in the blessings which he bestows upon a nation? It is also to be seen in the judgments which he pours out upon a nation. And has it not been so with our own nation? We have been blessed as a people, we have been blessed as a nation, but now God's judgments seem to be poured out upon us. and we are being straightened as a nation and quite possibly we are being brought to destruction. Daniel acknowledges God's sovereignty. and his wisdom in his dealings with the nations of the earth. Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are his, and he changes the times and the seasons, he removeth kings and setteth up kings. We see the wisdom of God throughout the Old Testament in his dealings with the kingdoms of Israel and Judah. But you know the providence of God not only extends to nations but to every single individual that means you and it means me the providence of God extends to the wicked with him is strength and wisdom the deceived and the deceiver are his it extends to the just The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord, and he delighteth in his way. Again Paul says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. The wisdom of God is to be seen in his dealings with men, though they are often, if not mostly, blind to it. It was the desire of Zophar, the Nehemiathite, for Job. But O that God would speak and open his lips against thee, and that he would show thee the secrets of wisdom, that they are double to that which is. Know therefore that God exacteth of thee less than thine iniquity deserveth. Now Dr. Gill, in his commentary on that sixth verse, of Job 11. Speaking of the secrets of divine wisdom being displayed, he says, "...the methods of providence being shown and made manifest would appear to be double, that is, vastly, yea, infinitely, to exceed the wisdom of men, that these, which men are apt to arraign as weak or wrong, are the effects of highest wisdom." Yes indeed, the methods of God's providence toward us are the effects of highest wisdom. Whatever we may think, whatever we may think, our understanding, our wisdom is so infinitesimally minuscule that we cannot begin to comprehend all of God's providential dealings with us. we seem to go from one trial to another, from one affliction to another from one cross providence to another and all appears to be confusion and perhaps we're brought to cry out like Asaph in the psalm verily I have cleansed my heart in vain and washed my hands in innocency for all the day long have I been plagued and chastened every morning but the confusion is not in the mind of God the confusion is in us. Dr Gill elsewhere uses this analogy, he says that when the mystery of providence is finished and the judgments of God are made manifest, and all are seen in one view, in an harmonious connection together, the wisdom of God in every part will appear striking and amazing. As when a man looks on the wrong side of a piece of tapestry, or only views it in detached pieces, he is scarcely able to make anything of it, nor can he discern art and beauty in it. But when it is all put together, and viewed on its right side, The wisdom, the contrivance and art of the maker are observed with admiration. Samuel Medley expresses it in his hymn which we sang just now. Hymn number seven in Gatsby's. Hereafter he will make me know and I shall surely find He was too wise to err, and, oh, too good to be unkind. Yes, the dispensations of providence display the wisdom of God, though not as yet fully understood and comprehended by us. But they shall be hereafter. As the Lord Jesus said to Peter when he came to wash Peter's feet, What I do thou knowest not now, but thou shalt know hereafter. But surely it is in God's work of grace that the wisdom of God shines as in a blaze. And we sang that hymn at the commencement of our service this morning. O love beyond conception great that formed the vast, stupendous plan where all divine perfections meet to reconcile rebellious man, there wisdom shines in fullest blaze, and justice all her rights maintains. Astonished angels stoop to gaze, while mercy o'er the guilty reigns. For what wisdom is revealed in the great scheme of salvation? Indeed, the Gospel itself is called the Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians 2 verse 7, But we speak the wisdom of God, that is, we preach the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world unto our glory. At the very heart of the Gospel, which is the good news of salvation, is the person of the Redeemer, who is Himself called the Wisdom of God. 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 23, But we preach Christ crucified unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness, but unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the Wisdom of God. Oh, Christ is the Wisdom of God. Again in 1 Corinthians chapter 1 verse 30, the end of that chapter, but of him are ye in Christ Jesus who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. It is written of Christ that in him are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. or what wisdom has the Father shown in entrusting the salvation of His chosen, His dear elect, not to themselves, not to the church or her ordinances or her ministers, not to men or angels, but to His only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. I have laid help upon one that is mighty. The salvation of all the elect is absolutely secure. It has been secured by the Son. They are safe in their Redeemer's hands. In the outworking of the eternal decree, Christ was manifest in the flesh. He who is God came as a man, born of a virgin. And as a man he walked among men and perfectly fulfilled the whole of the law of God, that law which fallen man had broken. And then as a perfect man, the only perfect and sinless man who has ever lived and ever walked upon this earth, he then offered himself without spot to God. In a substitutionary and atoning death, of the Lord Jesus Christ we see both the mercy of God and the justice of God fully satisfied the Lord Jesus Christ has endured the wrath of God due to sin on behalf of all those who are given to him in the eternal covenant of grace justice is satisfied for sin is punished mercy is satisfied for sinners are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. Oh what wisdom, what wisdom we see in redemption accomplished and what wisdom we see too in redemption applied. The Father has planned and purposed the eternal salvation of the Church, the people of God. The Son has procured the everlasting salvation of the Church, the elect of God, and it is the Holy Spirit who applies that salvation to the Church, the heaven-born sons of God. He comes as the Spirit of wisdom and convinces the elect sinner of his foolishness. Oh, sin is utter folly! it is the transgression of the law of God and it is described as madness in the book of Ecclesiastes yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil and madness is in their heart while they live ah, but when the Holy Spirit the spirit of wisdom comes he convinces the sinner of his foolishness and of the evil of his sinful heart O God, Thou knowest my foolishness, and my sins are not hid from Thee. This is the language of the convinced and convicted sinner. Again in the Psalms, For mine iniquities are gone over mine head as an heavy burden. They are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and are corrupt because of my foolishness. My foolishness! feeling ourselves to be nothing but foolishness and sin, we are brought to be embraced by faith the Lord Jesus Christ as he is revealed to us in the gospel, who of God is made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, and in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. Oh, how blessed we are if we are brought to this, to the realization of our own foolishness and folly and sin, and to the revelation of God's wisdom, of Christ's wisdom and His righteousness. This is what it is to be made wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. This is the wisdom of God displayed in his work of grace. It is by the gospel church comprising Jewish and Gentile sinners saved by grace that the wisdom of God is gloriously displayed. Ephesians 3 verse 10. to the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord. The manifold wisdom of God is gloriously displayed to all the angelic host, the principalities and powers in heavenly places. who desire to look into these things, as Peter says. And again, as Tucker says in the hymn, their wisdom shines in fullest blaze, and justice all her rights maintains. Astonished angels stoop to gaze, while mercy o'er the guilty reigns. Oh, there is the manifold wisdom of God displayed in the salvation of his church. In conclusion, what should we say, what can we say to the impenitent and unbelieving, to the worldly wise and to those who are wise in their own conceit? Seest thou a man wise in his own conceit? There is more hope of a fool than of him. If you are not humbled now, in this day of grace, then you will be brought down everlastingly hereafter in the day of judgment. If you are not brought to realize and to acknowledge your foolishness now, you will be shown and exposed to be a fool then, and you will rue your folly throughout an endless eternity. You have been taken up with trifles and neglected the one thing needful. You have been taken up with the things which are seen and the temporal passing fashions of this world and have neglected the things which are not seen and which are eternal. You have been taken up with your body in feeding it, in clothing it, in providing for it, but you have neglected your never-dying soul. You have set your heart upon the treasures and pleasures of this world, not realizing that there is an eternal treasure to be gained in heaven, and that at the right hand of God there are pleasures forevermore. Oh, you have gained the world, but you have lost your own soul. Understand ye brutish among the people, and ye fools, when will ye be wise? Wisdom is one of the attributes of God, but it is what the theologians call a communicable attribute. What does that mean? Well, it's an attribute which he communicates or gives to his people. And they that be wise. shall shine as the brightness of the firmament, and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars of heaven forever and ever. Oh, that the Lord our God would make each in this place this morning wise unto salvation through faith in his dear Son. Wherefore be ye not unwise, But understanding what the will of the Lord is, says the Apostle. To this end then, may the Lord be pleased to honour to bless the preaching of his word to us today. To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ forever. Amen. Now unto the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory for ever and ever. Amen. to the only wise God our Saviour. Be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.