Our final speaker this evening
is Lance Heller. Lance and Robin drove in yesterday,
and we're glad, Robin, that you could make this trip with Lance,
and we're delighted to have you folks with us. Lance, you come
and preach the gospel of Christ to us. Well, it's our privilege to be
here. It truly is. You know, I've said this often
as a visiting preacher. I'm supposed to say that. But
we genuinely count it a tremendous privilege to be with you and
an honor. But more than that, I'm continually reminded of what
an awesome privilege it is to preach the gospel of God's grace.
And, you know, we're just saying, Jesus takes the highest station. Oh, what joy that sight affords. And I rejoice to hear that message
preached just now. Didn't you? Because that's what
it did. It proclaimed the highest station
of our Savior. And what a glorious privilege
it is to do that. Turn with me to Ephesians chapter
four. Ephesians chapter four. And last
night, we considered the truth of the gospel that Christ Jesus
has made unto us wisdom from God. And in that wonderful and
glorious statement, which is found in 1 Corinthians 1.30.
But of him you are in Christ Jesus, who has made unto us wisdom
from God, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption. Now we could say, truly, that
all of salvation is encompassed in this beloved text, couldn't
we? We sought to focus on this one point, Christ made unto us
wisdom from God, and how important this is. Since the full and infinite
chasm separates man from the wisdom of God. This is what we
looked at last night, and I'd just like to bring these things
to our mind again as we continue. Eve was deceived by what the
work of God tells us was the father of lies. When he tempted
her with an alternative wisdom, a wisdom, an alternative wisdom
to the wisdom of God. And this is what he promised.
He said, you will be like God, knowing, there's the wisdom,
isn't it? You will be like God, knowing
good and evil. This was a counterfeit wisdom,
and nothing but empty deceit. But the woman saw that the tree
was good for food, that it was pleasant to the eyes, and it
was a tree desirable to make one wise. Not the wisdom which
is from God, but an alternative wisdom, a counterfeit wisdom,
a wisdom which is nothing but empty deceit. And she took the
fruit and she ate it and she gave also to her husband and
he ate it and immediately they were alienated from the life
of God and cut off from the fountainhead of all wisdom and knowledge. You know, it could rightly be
said that Eve was the first convert to false religion. Adam plunged the entire human
race into spiritual death. There was a complete and utter
loss of all true wisdom. This is how it's expressed in
that first chapter of the epistle to the Romans. It says that they
became futile in their thoughts, And their foolish hearts were
darkened, professing to be wise, they became fools. And so we
consider then the wondrous grace that is found in this truth.
Christ, Christ Jesus, who has made unto us wisdom from God. The salvation that is found in
Christ, as we just heard, is full, is perfect, is complete. We have no wisdom of our own. But Christ, in whom are hidden
all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge, is made unto us wisdom
from God. What a marvelous truth. Well,
this is where we concluded last night. And let me just say, as
we look at these things, just from that verse I just quoted
from Colossians, Christ in whom are hidden all the treasures
of wisdom and knowledge that what I bring before you barely
touches. the surface of this, of Christ
being made up to us wisdom from God. This is just one of the
glorious aspects that we're, we've been looking at last night
and will continue to look at tonight. There's such a depth
of truth found in this, in this verse here that we have in, in
first Corinthians chapter one. Now, if you remember, Last night I
said, if you are in Christ, then Christ is made unto you wisdom
from God, and you know all things. Well, that's quite a statement,
isn't it? That's quite a statement. And
this is what we want to consider this evening. How is it that
Christ is made unto us wisdom? How is it that this wisdom comes
to his people, those as we heard about, that were chosen in Christ
before the foundation of the world before any of us ever were.
How is it then that in time this wisdom comes to us and becomes
ours? Well look here first now in Ephesians
chapter 4 Ephesians chapter 4, and the Apostle Paul is writing
to these saints who have been called by God's grace. In God's
fullness of time, in the perfection of God's time, he calls forth
these saints, doesn't he? He calls forth these ones who
have been purchased with the precious blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ. And here are these saints, and
they've been called out, and he's exhorting them to have a
walk worthy of the gospel. We see that in verse 1 of this
chapter. And in 17, now look in verse
17. He says, this I say therefore,
and testify in the Lord that you should no longer walk as
the rest of the Gentiles walk. And how do they walk? In the
futility of their mind. Now, this is a very powerful
exhortation that they are no longer to walk as they once did,
as the rest of the Gentiles walk. Well, how do the rest of the
Gentiles walk? In foolishness, in the futility
of their mind. Well, why do they walk in this
way? Verse 18, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from
the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, because
of the hardening of their heart. This is why they walk in this
way, isn't it? Because their understanding is
darkened. They have no wisdom. They're
alienated from the life of God, and there's this ignorance that
is in them. This is their spiritual state. This is the spiritual state of
every man apart from Christ. Verse 19, who being past feeling
have given themselves over to licentiousness to work all uncleanness
with greediness. This is the state of every man
apart from Christ. They walk in the futility of
their mind in this ignorance. They're separated from this wisdom
which only comes from God. But what of these saints at Ephesus
that Paul is writing to here? Look in verse 20. What does he
say there? He says, but you have not so
learned Christ. What's he saying? Your mind is
no longer futile. Your understanding is enlightened. You're no longer in darkness.
How does he say it there in Ephesians chapter 5? He says, you were
once darkness, But now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children
of light. You're no longer alienated from
the life of God because of the ignorance that is in you. Why? Because you've been brought into
fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ. You know him. You have,
as he says here, you have learned him, haven't you? You have learned
Christ. How? How is it? Verse 21. How is it that they've learned
Christ? If indeed you have heard him
and have been taught by him. There it is, isn't it? Isn't
this how they've learned Christ? That they've been taught by him.
And what has he taught them? as the truth is in Jesus. This is what they've been taught.
They've been taught by him, by Christ. He's the teacher we need,
isn't he? If we're ever to have wisdom,
he's the teacher we need. And what does he teach? The truth
as it is in Jesus. This is what they've learned.
Wisdom. wisdom from God, not lies, not
philosophy, not empty deceit, but the truth as it is in Jesus. Turn over to 1 John chapter 2. Now, there's no question as we
look at these verses there in Ephesians that something remarkable
and wonderful has occurred to these people at Ephesus. A profound
transformation has been effected in them. How did this happen? 1 John chapter 2 and verse 20. Now listen, listen to what we
read here. But you have an anointing from
the Holy One and you know all things. As I said, this is truly an astounding
statement. The Queen of the South came from
the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon. But the
one who is greater than Solomon comes to us. He descends in the
person of the Holy Spirit and he dwells in our hearts. Christ is made unto us wisdom
from God by the mysterious, marvelous work of the Holy Spirit. He's
present in our hearts. And what are we told here? We
have an anointing. from the Holy One and we know
all things. All things! Now this clearly
has reference to the teaching ministry of the Holy Spirit,
doesn't it? This anointing, this is the Holy Spirit, and the Apostle
John is writing to these saints here also because there were
ones who were teachers coming in who were propagating lies,
propagating empty deceit. Look at verse 25 of this same
chapter, and he says, this is the promise that he has promised
us eternal life. These things I have written to
you concerning those who try to deceive you." See? The same
again. These false preachers have come
in, propagating a philosophy of empty deceit. Nothing but
lies. And John is warning them. But
read on. These things I have written to
you concerning those who try to deceive you, but The anointing
which you have received from him abides in you, and you do
not need that anyone teach you. But as the same anointing teaches
you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and
just as it is taught you, you will abide in him. Now, you have no need that anyone
teach you. how contrary to natural reason. What a contrast this is to the
disciples of false religion which the scriptures characterize in
this way. Always learning and never coming
to a knowledge of the truth. But you have received the Holy
Spirit. If Christ dwells in your heart,
you do not need let anyone teach you. You know all things necessary
for eternal life. Now, this should have a familiar
ring to it. It should have a familiar ring
because what is being spoken of here is the great promise
of the new covenant. Turn back just a few pages to
Hebrews chapter 10, and let's look at that. I'm sure I could
just quote this to you. We all know it. But let's look
at it. Let's consider the great promise
of the new covenant here in Hebrews chapter 8, beginning in verse
10. And we read of this new covenant,
a covenant ratified by the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. A better
covenant. A covenant established on better
promises. And this is what we read. For
this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel
after those days, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their mind
and write them on their hearts, and I will be their God, and
they shall be my people. None of them shall teach his
neighbor and none his brother, saying, Know the Lord. Why? For
all shall know me, from the least of them to the greatest of them.
All shall know me. That's a great promise, isn't
it? All shall know me. None shall teach his neighbor
or none his brother, saying, know the Lord. For all those
that are in this covenant shall know him. Now this, this is a
remarkable promise. Because in knowing Christ, You
truly know all things. In knowing Christ, you know all
things. Well, what all things? What all
things? The things of Christ! You remember
what the Lord told his disciples when he was going away to his
father? In John 16, they were a little
upset, weren't they? They were a little disturbed.
And I would be too, wouldn't you? If I was one of the disciples
and Christ told me that he was going away, I think I would have
been a little upset. And they were. But listen to
what Jesus says to them. He says, because I have said
these things to you, sorrow has filled your heart. Nevertheless,
I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that
I go away. For if I do not go away, the
Helper will not come to you, but if I depart, I will send
him to you. However, when he, the Spirit
of Truth, has come, he will guide you into all truth. For he will not speak on his
own authority, but whatever he hears, he will speak, and he
will tell you things to come. He will glorify me, for he will
take of what is mine. He will take of what is mine
and reveal it to you. He will take of what is mine
and declare it to you. The Holy Spirit would come to
them with the words of Christ, this is the great promise that
Christ is giving them, that the Holy Spirit would come, that
he would send the Holy Spirit who would come to them with the
words of Christ and reveal completely and fully to them the mystery
of the gospel. The Spirit takes the things of
Christ and reveals them to us. The Spirit, we're told here,
guides us into all truth. Not that they would know all
things instantly, or that they would know all things in their
entirety, but they would have this anointing from the Holy
One, such that the Spirit would guide them into all truth. Now,
this is exactly what happened on the day of Pentecost. I want
you to turn over to Acts chapter 2, Acts chapter 2, and this provides, once again, a powerful
scriptural illustration of the Spirit of Christ leading the
disciples into all truth. Now, beginning there in verse
1, we read, Now when the day of Pentecost had fully come,
they were all with one accord in one place, and suddenly there
came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it
filled the whole house where they were sitting. Then there
appeared to them divided tongues as of fire, and one sat upon
each of them, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit,
and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them
utterance." As the Spirit gave them utterance. Utterance to do what? utterance
to preach Christ. The disciples were filled with
the Holy Spirit and suddenly understanding of the Old Testament
scriptures pours in upon them. Peter stands up, he raises his
voice and he begins to preach. He begins by quoting this long
passage from the Prophet Joel, which begins there in verse 16.
Look there now, and let me just read through that quickly. He
says, but this is what was spoken by the Prophet Joel, and it shall
come to pass in the last days, says God, that I will pour out
my spirit on all flesh. Your sons and your daughters
shall prophesy. Your young men shall see visions,
your old men shall dream dreams, and on my menservants and on
my maidservants I will pour out my spirit in those days, and
they shall prophesy. I will show wonders in heaven
above and signs in the earth beneath, blood and fire and vapor
and smoke. The sun shall be turned into
darkness and the moon into blood before the coming of the great
and notable day of the Lord. And it shall come to pass that
whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." Now,
the Holy Spirit opens up the understanding of Peter's heart
and he sees that this prophecy of Joel that he's speaking of
is about the very events they are experiencing at that moment. This prophecy of Joel was being
fulfilled as he spoke. And what was it all about? What
was this prophecy in Joel all about? Who was All this about
verse 22. What does he continue? Men of
Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth. That's what that
prophecy in Joel is all about, isn't it? Hear these words, Jesus
of Nazareth, a man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders,
and signs which God did through him in your midst, as you yourself
also know. Him, being delivered by the determined
counsel and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless
hands, have crucified and put to death, whom God raised up,
having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that
he should be held by it." Now, Peter quotes another Old Testament
scripture, a prophecy found in Psalm 16, There's no question that as Peter's
preaching and the understanding of the Old Testament Scriptures
pour in upon him, because he's being taught by the Holy Spirit,
that his heart was thrilled. He was excited. He was joyful. He was ecstatic as the Scriptures
come to mind and he sees Christ in these Scriptures. It was like the scriptures had
suddenly lit up. And they had! The scriptures
took on a whole new light. This understanding poured in.
And who does Peter see? He sees Christ. Verse 25. For David says concerning him,
Concerning who? Concerning Christ. I foresaw
the Lord always before my face, for he is in my right hand that
I may not be shaken. Therefore, my heart rejoiced
and my tongue was glad. Moreover, my flesh will also
rest in hope because you will not leave my soul in Hades, nor
allow your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the
ways of life. You will make me full of joy
in your presence." Now, Peter, along with the rest of
the disciples, truly believed that Jesus was the Christ, the
Son of David. But as the Son of David, they
had fully expected Jesus to ascend the temporal throne of his the throne of his father David
and restore the kingdom of Israel with great glory and majesty
and power as in the days of David. Just turn back to Acts chapter
1, and we'll see what a remarkable change has occurred in Peter's
understanding. Acts chapter 1, in verse 4, we
read that here they were assembled together, there in Galilee, and
being assembled together with them, he commanded them not to
depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the promise of the Father. What's the promise of the Father?
The Holy Spirit. to wait for the promise of the
Father which he said you have heard from me." This is Christ
speaking. For John truly baptized with
water but you shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many
days hence. See this was prior to their receiving
this great promise of the Holy Spirit. Now listen to what they
say. Therefore when they had come
together they asked him saying, Will you at this time restore
the kingdom to Israel? You see, just a few days before
Pentecost, what were the disciples still looking for? Bear in mind,
this was after all their years with Christ, after seeing him
crucified, after seeing all of these scriptures fulfilled, after
seeing these wondrous miracles that he performed, after seeing
him dead and buried. and rise again. And yet, they're
still looking for him to ascend the temporal throne of his father
David, aren't they? When will you restore the kingdom
to Israel? This was the understanding of
the disciples. They expected the redemption
of Israel by Christ to encompass a restoration of the throne of
David in Israel, in Jerusalem. But turn back here to Acts chapter
2 that we just read. Is this Peter's understanding
now? How does Peter understand these
scriptural prophecies with respect to David, the throne of David,
and the promise regarding the son of David? Well, he'll interpret
it. See, this is what he's doing.
He quotes this psalm, Psalm 16, and he's going to, like any good
preacher, he's going to expound upon it, isn't he? So let's see
how he understands these promises, Old Testament promises, with
respect to the throne of David. Verse 29. Men and brethren, Let
me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both
dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Therefore,
being a prophet and knowing that God has sworn with an oath to
him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh,
he would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne. He, foreseeing
this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that his soul
was not left in Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption." Now,
Peter understands in this psalm that David is not speaking about
himself at all, is he? This prophecy is concerning Christ,
the son of David. David couldn't be speaking about
himself. How could he be speaking about
himself? What does Peter say? He says, he's dead. David is dead and buried and
his tomb is with us to this day. He hasn't risen from the dead,
has he? His body is seeing corruption. David as a prophet was speaking
about the fruit of his body according to the flesh whom God would raise
up to sit upon the throne of David. This one, this one that
would be raised up, this would be the Christ. God had sworn
with an oath to David that this would occur, hadn't he? This
holy one would not see corruption, but he would raise him up to
sit upon his throne. And David, by the inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, foreseeing this, spoke of the resurrection
of Christ. This is what Peter is saying.
Resurrection from what? Death! The Christ would die,
but his flesh would not see corruption. He would be raised from the dead.
Now, verse 32, this Jesus God has raised up, of which you are
all witnesses. What is he saying? He's saying,
this Jesus of Nazareth, the one you crucified, this one is the
Christ. God has raised him up. He has raised him up from the
dead. Now, this is the important point
that Peter is making. It's this Jesus that God has
raised up. And since God has raised him
up from the dead, Well, he's the fulfillment of this prophecy. He is the Christ. He is the son
of David. He is the one whom God has sworn
with an oath to do what? To seat upon the throne of his
father David. Well, what throne? What throne? See, they were looking for him
to be seated upon this temporal throne and restore the kingdom
to Israel. But now listen. Verse 33. What throne? What throne is this
prophecy speaking about? Let's see. Therefore, being exalted
to the right hand of God and having received from the father
the promise of the Holy Spirit, he poured out this which you
now see and hear. For David did not ascend into
the heavens, but he says himself, the Lord said to my Lord, sit
at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool. Therefore, let all the house
of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom
you crucified, both Lord and Christ. What throne is he seated
upon? Not that temporal throne in Jerusalem,
is he? No, he's seated, he's exalted,
not to an earthly throne in Jerusalem, but exalted to the right hand
of God, to a spiritual throne, where he reigns over all the
true Israel of God, over a kingdom that cannot be moved, over a
kingdom that is forever and ever. Now, what a glorious revelation
this was to Peter, wasn't it? The Spirit has taken the things
of Christ and revealed them to him. The Spirit guides you into
all truth. This is the promise of the Word
of God. The Spirit takes the things of
Christ and reveals them to you. And what do we see? What do we
see when this happens? We see Christ revealed in all
the scriptures. We see all these types and shadows
of the Old Testament. We see the tabernacle and the
mercy seat. We see all of these as typifying
that great sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ that we just heard
about. We see that he is this great high priest that enters
behind the veil, pure, perfect, separate from sinners. And at
the same time, he's that great high priest entering without
spot behind the veil. He's also a sacrifice, isn't
he? Not with blood of bulls and goats
did he enter, but even with his own blood. And so he's not only
that pure, perfect high priest who entered behind the veil,
but he's also this spotless sacrifice of God, the Lamb of God. We see him in the Passover. We
see him as this one greater than Solomon. We see him as the greater
than David, don't we? And we see When Abraham takes
his son, his only son, whom he loved, and he goes up that mountain
to offer him, we see Christ, don't we? I could spend all night,
couldn't I? The Spirit takes the things of
Christ and reveals them to us. We see Christ revealed in all
the scriptures. This is what John says. He says,
you have an anointing from the Holy One and you know all things. Well, what does this mean? This
means that the Holy Spirit will teach you everything that God
purposes for you to know. Whether this is through the preaching
of the word, or the reading of the word, or the fellowship in
the word with other believers, or whether it's the providential
circumstances that the Lord directs all of our lives through, the
Holy Spirit will teach you everything that God purposes for you to
know. Is that all you need to know?
I reckon it is, don't you? Would you say that's knowing
all things? Well, let me conclude then with
the truth we find stated in scripture, which is so staggering, we wouldn't
even conceive of it, let alone dare to believe it, were it not
stated so clearly in the word of God. In the third chapter
of Colossians, we read, you have put on the new man who is renewed
in knowledge according to what? Renewed in knowledge according
to the image of Him who created him. Who's that? Who are we renewed
in knowledge after? Christ! Isn't that what that's
telling us? Isn't that an incredible truth? It's stated in an even more powerful
way in 1 Corinthians, where we read, we have the mind of Christ. You see, in the new birth, Christ
is made unto us wisdom from God, and we're renewed in knowledge
according to his image. It's not just a wisdom. It's
not just wisdom from God, as it were, to give us more understanding,
more light. No, listen. This is the wisdom
of Christ himself. This is what we're being told
here. This is the wisdom of Christ
himself. This is our text. But of him. You are in Christ Jesus who became
for us wisdom from God and righteousness and sanctification and redemption. For what reason? That as it is
written, he who glories, let him glory in the Lord. Amen.