God’s Wisdom – Grace Orientation

Before you begin any Bible study, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, be sure that you have named all your known sins (1 John 1:9) so that you will be in fellowship with the Lord, under the control of the indwelling Holy Spirit, who teaches us all things, and brings all things to our remembrance (John 14:26).

If you have not yet decided to trust Jesus Christ as your personal Savior, the issue is not naming your sins, your issue with God is faith in Christ;  “He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him (John 3:36). “But these are written, (Scripture) that (here is the reason) that you might (maybe you will – maybe you won’t) BELIEVE that Jesus is the Christ (Messiah/Savior), the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through His Name” (John 20:31). Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved” (Acts 16:31).

“The Word of God is alive (living) and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of the soul and the spirit, and of the joints and marrow; and is a critic of the thoughts and intents of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

“All Scripture is inspired (God-breathed) and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God might be mature, thoroughly furnished unto all good works” (2 Timothy 3:16).

“Study to show thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the Word of Truth” (2 Timothy 2:15).

Please open the Word of Truth to Isaiah 58:11.

UNDERSTANDING DIVINE DESIGN – GOD’S PLAN FOR YOU AND ME.

The Pastor-teacher’s primary function is to communicate God’s Word to the congregation. God’s Word IS Divine Viewpoint. The Holy Spirit uses God’s Word to transform the believer’s human viewpoint to Divine Viewpoint. As we learn God’s Word, we also learn how to apply this Divine Knowledge to the details of life as the Holy Spirit directs our thought patterns and our recall of Bible truths.

God deals with man thru His Word, His Son and His Holy Spirit. God has a perfect plan for every believer. I did not say a wonderful life of blessings. I did not say a life of wealth and social status. Your life could be one of suffering. You could be a janitor or a corporate president. Whatever your vocation, whatever your calling in life, if you have accepted Christ as  your personal Savior (have you?) God has a PERFECT PLAN FOR YOU — THE BELIEVER. As a believer you can never get out of the plan of God. If you have a problem — God has a Plan. If you do not have a problem, God has a Plan.

In order to represent the lord Jesus Christ effectively, the believer must learn God’s Word — Divine Viewpoint and be guided by the Holy Spirit.  To this end we have the promise: “And the lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat your bones: thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.” (Isaiah 58:11. See also Romans 8:14; Ephesians 5:7.)

The transformation of every believer begins at the point of faith in Christ. Our human thinking must change from the human merit system, the human works system, and the human ability system to  GRACE THINKING. Man’s human thinking is man’s problem … but God wants man to learn God’s Thinking. This is why we have the Bible. I do not know about you, but I want to think like God.

Please turn to Ephesians 3:18-19. We have three interesting words that we want to examine more closely than just reading them as they occur.  So, please read verses 18 & 19 in your Bible.

Notice the words: “comprehend,” “know,” and “knowledge.” These three words when applied result in “being filled with the fullness of God.” But, that fullness is never complete and we will spend time and eternity being filled. Please notice what Paul says in verses 20 and 21: “God is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us (the Holy Spirit), to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Now, please read these four verses slowly and think about what they are communicating to us. These verses are just awesome, aren’t they?

“To  comprehend, to know and  knowledge, in the original koiné Greek actually means knowledge understood. Gnosis (knowledge) in the Greek means intellectual understanding, and in our context the reference is to Bible Truth (Bible Doctrine). As humans we are capable of understanding human knowledge, or cosmic wisdom. However in our context Paul is talking about God’s Wisdom. God’s Wisdom referred to here is the Greek word “epignosis.” Here is the thrust of our study: God’s Wisdom is understood when we accept it by FAITH.

When we believe Bible doctrine, this knowledge, “gnosis,” becomes “epignosis” by faith. When we believe God’s Wisdom it is transferred to our human spirit where it becomes “epignosis.” It is gnosis until we believe it, then it becomes epignosis. “Epi” means  “over” or  “beyond,” and “gnosis” means “knowledge.”

The transformation has begun. It begins when we inculcate Bible Doctrine and believe what God’s Word says as Truth. Faith is a non-meritorious system of perception, which eliminates the human merit system (we don’t earn or deserve it). The  Plan of God for man is that man trusts God who gave His Son for our salvation. Then God gave us the Holy Spirit for living the Christian Life. God does the work we are the beneficiaries of God’s Wonderful Grace. When you truly understand that God provides everything for the elect, you will have a much deeper appreciation of the Godhead … and a closer walk with God.  

Now let’s look at verse 3:20 in Ephesians. “Now unto him” (God) is a phrase describing God as the “doer exceedingly abundantly.” Notice “the power that worketh in us” is the Holy Spirit using God’s Word to communicate to us God’s Will. The Holy Spirit helps us understand God’s Will (Word).

Now, please turn in your Bible and read 1 Corinthians 2:1-16. Notice in verse 14 that “the natural man cannot understand the things of God.” God’s Wisdom and even the “Cross” is foolishness to men.

Please turn to Hebrews 1 and read verses 1-3, 6. Without faith it is impossible to please God.

In closing, turn to the following verses and prayerfully consider the messages: Psalms 103:8-12; Isaiah 30: 18-19; Romans 4:4-5; 5:20.

God’s Grace Plan is designed for the believer in time and eternity. Learning and applying God’s Word orients us to Divine Viewpoint and this transformation is accomplished by the Holy Spirit. When sin comes into our lives, God has a plan to deal with our trespasses, and that plan is 1 John 1:9. When we confess we simply admit  or agree with God and He forgives us and we just move right on through fields of Grace. Trust God’s Word, and God’s Plan for your life, and stay if fellowship by naming your sins. Then as you go your way in your own fields of Grace spread the good news. Remember, God has everything planned for time and for eternity for every generation of believers.

This study is designed for you to use your Bible and meditate through the Scriptures referenced. Did you open your Bible and read every verse? Did you short cut God’s Word by just reading this study? That’s not what studying means or is.

We all have the same human nature, differently. Be a winner, study with an open Bible. Don’t just read the study – meditate and look up the verses. Meditate in God’s Word – you will love the intimacy with God.  

Happy Studying!

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