Sermon
delivered on April 12th, 2015
By: Pastor Greg Hocson
Text: Romans 16:25-27
Introduction
Great theology leads to great
doxology.
A high view of God results in high
and glorious praise.
Psalm 66:2 Sing forth
the honour of his name: make his praise glorious.
What is Doxology?
The dictionary defines doxology as "an expression of praise to God,
especially a short hymn sung as part of a Christian worship service."
The word doxology comes from the
Greek doxa, ("glory, splendor, grandeur") and logos,
("word" or "speaking" or "saying"). Doxology is praise saying. It is saying thanks by means of
praising God. It
is a saying about God's glory. That is to saying praise or it is offering God
thanks.
Doxology is also a short declaration
of faith. It is a declaration of what one believes.
Most doxologies are short hymns of
praise to God, just like the one I am familiar which goes like this ...
Praise God, from Whom all blessings
flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye Heavenly Host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Amen.
Although the word doxology is not
found in the Bible, doxologies appear throughout all the Scripture.
The Psalms and Revelation contain
several passages that the church has transformed into doxologies. Jesus and His
followers likely sang one of the Psalms as a hymn on the night of the Last
Supper.
Matthew 26:30 And when
they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.
The epistles in the New Testament are
filled with doxologies ...
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto
him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think,
according to the power that worketh in us, 21: Unto him be glory in the church
by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him
that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25: To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Now that we know what a doxology is,
I pray that we will practice it in our own personal lives and experience.
Our text this morning is a doxology.
In this doxology, Paul focuses on one attribute of God, namely, His wisdom.
Romans 16:25 Now to him
that is of power (able) to stablish (strengthen)
you according to my
gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the
mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, 26: But now is made
manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment
of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27: To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Today, I want to speak with you about
the unsearchable wisdom of God. My prayer is, as we contemplate on God's
unsearchable wisdom, we would see how glorious our God is and that we would see
Him more clearly, love Him more dearly, serve Him more faithfully, trust Him
more fully, obey Him more consistently - and at the end of the day and our
lives, this Doxology would be a reality in our lives.
27: To God only wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
I - There is only one
God
There are three instances in the
Bible where you will find this expression, "The only wise God."
Romans 16:27 To God
only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
1 Timothy 1:17 Now unto
the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only wise God, be honour and glory
for ever and ever. Amen.
Jude 1:24 Now unto him
that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the
presence of his glory with exceeding joy, 25: To the only wise God our Saviour,
be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
This expression simply means there is
only one God, which is a clear teaching in the Scripture.
Exodus 20:1 And God
spake all these words, saying, 2: I am the LORD thy God, which have brought
thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. 3: Thou shalt have
no other gods before me. 4: Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or
any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth
beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. 5: Thou shalt not bow down
thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God,
visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and
fourth generation of them that hate me;
1 Timothy 2:5 For there
is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus; 6: Who
gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.
1 Corinthians 8:5 For
though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there
be gods many, and lords many,) 6: But to us there is but one God, the Father,
of whom are all things.
Ephesians 4:3
Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4: There is
one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5:
One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6: One God and Father of all, who is above
all, and through all, and in you all.
II - This one God is
wise
Romans 16:27 To God
only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
There is only one God and this one
God is wise.
1. God alone is wise
God is wise in Himself, and all the
shining wisdom of men or angels is but a reflection of that uncreated
effulgence which streams from the throne of the Majesty in the heavens.
Daniel 2:19 Then was
the secret revealed unto Daniel in a night vision. Then Daniel blessed the God
of heaven. 20: Daniel answered and said, Blessed be the name of God for ever
and ever: for wisdom and might are his:
The believing man responds to this,
and to the angelic chant, ...
Revelation 7:9 After
this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all
nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and
before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; 10: And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God
which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. 11: And all the angels stood
round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell
before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, 12: Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and
thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and
ever. Amen.
2.
God is "all-wise"
God is wise in all things. Men may be
wise in some things, and not in others; but God is wise in everything.
3. God is infinitely
wise
Psalm 147:5 Great is
our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
There is no limit to His
understanding.
Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator
of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching
of his understanding.
The Creator of all the earth never
grows weak or weary. No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
Paul in his letter to the Romans said
this ...
Romans 11:33 O the
depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
The wisdom of God is very deep! You
cannot get to the bottom of it. It is unfathomable.
4. God is the source of
wisdom
Proverbs 2:6 For the
LORD giveth wisdom: out of his mouth cometh knowledge and understanding.
He is the source and fountain of
wisdom.
Daniel 2:21 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: 22:
He revealeth the deep and secret things: he knoweth what is in the darkness,
and the light dwelleth with him. 23: I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God
of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me
now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's
matter.
All the wisdom the angels have, all
that Adam had, all that Solomon, the wisest of men, had, originated from God.
Wisdom is the gift of God; and particularly, the highest and best of wisdom,
spiritual wisdom, wisdom in the hidden part, the fear of God in the soul of
man, is what God puts there.
James 1:5 If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
God gives to all men who ask in
faith, generously and without reproach.
III - What is Wisdom?
Wisdom is not knowledge
It is not the same as knowledge.
Wisdom is different from knowledge. Wisdom is not smartness. There are plenty
of people who are smart but not wise. There are plenty of people who are
knowledgeable and highly educated but are not wise.
Though wisdom is not knowledge it
assumes knowledge. One cannot exercise wisdom without knowledge. Wisdom is
based upon knowledge. Wisdom
cannot exist without a knowledge of all the facts pertinent to any purpose or
plan.
The God who is all-wise is also the
God who is all-knowing
Wisdom is the ability to choose the
best possible end, and to choose the best possible means of achieving that end. It is the power to see and to choose,
the best and highest goal, together with the best way to attaining it.
Such wisdom is shown to us in the
great acts and works of God ...
1. In His work of
creation
Proverbs 3:19 The LORD
by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the
heavens. 20: By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop
down the dew.
The LORD laid the earth's foundations and set the heavens in place, by wisdom and understanding.
Psalm 104:24 O LORD,
how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is
full of thy riches.
How great in number are the works of
the LORD! In wisdom He made them all.
They are not only many in number but
many in variety. His work is so manifold that it would take eternity to talked
about them. Let's look at some of them.
Heavenly bodies, moon, stars,
planets, galaxies; mountains, valleys, plains, dessert; lakes, river, ocean;
snow, rain, hail, clouds; plants and trees, flowers, fruits; animals, insects;
fish and sea creatures; sounds, colors, taste, emotions, etc.
Psalm 104:24 O LORD,
how manifold are thy works! in wisdom hast thou made them all: the earth is
full of thy riches.
Jeremiah 10:11 Thus
shall ye say unto them, The gods that have not made the heavens and the earth,
even they shall perish from the earth, and from under these heavens. 12: He
(God) hath made the earth by his power, he hath established the world by his
wisdom, and hath stretched out the heavens by his discretion.
God made the universe and everything
in it. He exercised great wisdom when He made all. Creation is display of His
wisdom.
But we see His wisdom in the crown of
all His creation - man.
a. The Human Eye
The human eye is super complicated.
The eye has 40,000,000 nerve endings, the focusing muscles move an estimated
100,000 times a day, and the retina contains 137,000,000 light sensitive cells?
The most complicated supercomputers
in the world cannot do what our eyes can do in seconds. It was designed by God
by His great wisdom.
Even Charles Darwin, the father of
evolution said ...
"To
suppose that the eye could have been formed by natural selection, seems I fully
confess, absurd in the highest degree."
What he is saying is, it goes against common sense and logic,
to think that the human eye is a result of random chance.
b. The Human Ear
The human ear is amazing. How does it
work? The way it works is, it's 24,000 "hair cells" convert
vibrations to electrical impulses. It is capable of hearing sounds of
astonishing low level acoustic energy. Under favorable conditions a normal
person may actually perceive sound waves with the power of only 10^-16
(1/10,000,000, 000,000,000) of a watt. This is so little energy that, if our
ears were slightly more sensitive, we could actually hear the noise of the collision
of molecules in the air.
We could also talk about human heart,
brain, hand, fingers, feet, nose, toe, hair, finger nails, etc.
c. The Digestive System
To sustain our body, we need energy
and building materials. We need food. We need to eat. We need at least three
and half pounds of daily food intake. And how is this done? Food is chewed by
32 teeth (one of our most precious possessions) where it is mixed by saliva, a
mild digestant secreted from five glands located in the mouth area. Down the
esophagus, digestion continues in the stomach, an amazing organ which must
dissolve food and yet not dissolve itself. The acid in it would eat the varnish
off a kitchen table in seconds. If this delicate balance is lost, ulcers (the
process of the stomach digesting itself) results. The food then moves into the
small intestine, a 20-foot tube which absorbs vitamins, minerals, and food into
the bloodstream, then through the 5-foot long large intestine which absorbs
water and other liquids. This then, is the 35-40 foot long nourishing canal.
Job 12:9 Who knoweth
not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this? 10: In whose hand
is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind. 11: Doth not
the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat? 12: With the ancient is
wisdom; and in length of days understanding. 13: With him is wisdom and
strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
Augustine "Men go abroad to wonder at the height
of mountains, the huge waves of the sea, the long course of rivers, the vast
compass of the ocean, the circular motion of the star, but they pass by
themselves and they don't even
notice."
2. In His work of
providence
His work of providence is His
running, ruling, governing, preserving and caring for this world.
He wisely governs, rules and
overrules all things, for the mutual good of men, and His own glory.
Romans 8:28 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.
Ecclesiastes 3:1 To every
thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: 2: A
time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up
that which is planted; 3: A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to break
down, and a time to build up; 4: A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to
mourn, and a time to dance; 5: A time to cast away stones, and a time to gather
stones together; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing; 6: A
time to get, and a time to lose; a time to keep, and a time to cast away; 7: A
time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
8: A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace. 9:
What profit hath he that worketh in that wherein he laboureth? 10: I have seen
the travail, which God hath given to the sons of men to be exercised in it. 11:
He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in
their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning
to the end.
3. In His work of
redemption
Romans 16:25 Now to him
that is of power (able) to stablish strengthen) you according to my gospel, and
the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery,
which was kept secret since the world began, 26: But now is made manifest
revealed, disclosed), and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience
of faith: (to bring about the obedience of faith) 27: To God only wise, be
glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.
Remember the definition of wisdom?
Wisdom is the ability to choose the
best possible end, and to choose the best possible means of achieving that end. It is the power to see and to choose,
the best and highest goal, together with the best way to attaining it.
To glorify God is the greatest goal
of our salvation, and God has chosen the perfect way to bring it about. No
boasting in ourselves in the presence of God.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31: That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
Ephesians 3:8 Unto me,
who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should
preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ; : 9 And to make
all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the
world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ: 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,
1 Corinthians 2:1 And
I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of
wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2: For I determined not to
know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified. 3: And I was
with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. 4: And my speech and
my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration
of the Spirit and of power: 5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom
of men, but in the power of God. 6: Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are
perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world,
that come to nought: 7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the
hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 8: Which
none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not
have crucified the Lord of glory.
God came up with such a marvelous
plan of salvation. God has worked it out through every stage of human history.
God has made it all known through the gospel- such a God is truly the essence
of wisdom!
The great dilemma
We have a dilemma on the account of
what man is and what he had done and who God is and what He must do.
Man is sinful. Man has offended God.
Man deserves to be punished because of his sins.
God is holy, righteous and good. God
is loving, merciful and gracious. God, because He is holy and righteous, must
punish us because of our sins. But because He is merciful He wants to forgive
and let us go. But if He does that, He would violate His justice.
In our legal
system ...
Proverbs 17:15 He that
justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are
abomination to the LORD.
To justify the wicked, that is to
declare the guilty criminal as righteous when he is not, is an abomination to
God. If an earthly judge were to do this it would be an abomination in God's sight. It would be a scandal. It would be a violation of justice.
How did God solve this dilemma?
The answer is Substitution ...
1 Peter 3:18 For Christ
also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, (the innocent for the guilty, the righteous for the
condemned) that he might bring us
to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:
This is a divine exchange. What an
exchange! Jesus Christ taking our place. Instead of you and me paying for our
sins, dying for our sins, Christ did it. He was punished for me. He suffered
and died for my sins. He suffered and died for us.
Romans 5:8 But God
commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died
for us. 9: Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved
from wrath through him.
Christ took upon Himself the guilt
and paid the penalty of our sin
Galatians 3:13 Christ
hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it
is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree.
Christ redeemed us, bought us off
from the curse of the law, having become what we were, on our behalf a
"curse," that we might no longer be a "curse."
2 Corinthians 5:21 For
he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
Christ was made a curse for us, was
made sin for us that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him, that is,
that His righteousness might be put to our account.
God places our guilt upon the account
of Jesus Christ and places Christ's righteousness upon our account.
My sins became His and His
righteousness became mine.
The Son of God became the Son of Man
so the sons of men may become the sons of God.
O, behold the wisdom of God in saving
sinners!
Romans 11:33 O the
depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable
are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Applications
Do you want wisdom?
1. Go to God for wisdom
James 1:5 If any of you
lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and
upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
1 Corinthians 1:30 But
of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and
righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31: That, according as it is
written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord.
If you have not yet bowed down to
Christ the Lord, then do not hesitate. Run to Him who alone is able to deliver
you from the wrath to come (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10). In Him alone is there good
hope. Through His shed blood your sins will be cancelled and forgiven, so much
so that God "will
remember them no more."
2. Trust Him for His
wisdom
God constantly encourages us to trust
Him in the dark. "I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I
will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron:
and I will give thee the treasures of darkness, and hidden riches of secret
places, that thou mayest know that I, the Lord, which call thee by thy name, am
the God of Israel."
Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou
not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator
of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching
of his understanding. 29: He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have
no might he increaseth strength. 30: Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
and the young men shall utterly fall: 31: But they that wait upon the LORD shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run,
and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.
And may our whole life be a Doxology.
May our lives be one consistent boasting in the Lord alone.
Romans 16:25 Now to him
that is of power (able) to stablish (strengthen) you according to my gospel, and the
preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which
was kept secret since the world began, 26: But now is made manifest (revealed, disclosed), and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the
commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience
of faith: (to bring about the obedience of
faith) 27: To God only wise,
be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.