They say you can get everything from Walmart. For the most part that saying is true. However, there are many things that you can’t get there, but there is something that you can’t get from any store or business. Wisdom. It can’t be bought or sold. It can’t be found on shelves, including bookshelves. Knowledge comes from learning, but wisdom comes from living. One can’t become wise apart from obtaining it through life. A wealth of wisdom is built over time. Learning is the weekly paycheck, but wisdom is a lifetime of wise investments. Real wisdom comes from the work of the Spirit through the scriptures. There is no spiritual wisdom, knowledge, or understanding apart from the Holy Spirit (See 1 Cor. 2). In our study of Colossians, we have seen the big theme of Christ being supreme and sufficient for all of life. Today, we will finish studying Col. 2:3 which says, “3 In whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.” Last week we saw Christ as our treasure which is supreme and sufficient for all of life. All that we have and need to live the practical daily Christian life while combating the false teaching of our day is found in Him. He doesn’t just provide it, He is it. Today, we will see that Christ is our wisdom and that same wisdom is the treasure that Christ provides to us in Himself through His word and work within us.
There are two words that are of great importance in this particular verse, but also to practical theology for the Christian. One, the word “knowledge” here is the word “gnosis” which means an objective knowledge of factual truth. The church at Colosse was being attacked by the early developments of what would be called Gnosticism which believed that there was higher knowledge apart from Christ and they were promoting false teaching such that denied Christ’s deity, humanity, and the core tenants of biblical Christianity. Paul uses this word or a variation of it ten times in his letter to the Colossians and several of those times are in conjunction with the other key word. Two, the second key word is “wisdom” which is the word “sophia” which means the ability to judge correctly and follow the best course of action based on knowledge and understanding. In other words, wisdom is the application of knowledge and understanding which are the apprehension of truth. Wisdom deals with the inner and outer man. What is being dealt with in our verse of study is spiritual wisdom being in Christ. One can’t know God apart from Christ. One can’t grow in godly wisdom apart from Christ. One can’t live wisely apart from Christ. Hence, Christ is our wisdom. As C.H. Spurgeon put it, “Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. To know is not to be wise. Many men know a great deal, and are all the greater fools for it. There is no fool so great a fool as a knowing fool. But to know how to use knowledge is to have wisdom.”
What’s the big deal about wisdom? Pr. 4:1-7 says, “Hear, ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding.2 For I give you good doctrine, forsake ye not my law. 3 For I was my father’s son, tender and only beloved in the sight of my mother. 4 He taught me also, and said unto me, Let thine heart retain my words: keep my commandments, and live. 5 Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth. 6 Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee. 7 Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.” Notice, wisdom is the greatest thing that one can pursue and have as a possession. Real wealth is spiritual wisdom. Pr. 1:7 says, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” The fear of the Lord is the key to wisdom because it humbles us causing us to be teachable by the truth of God’s authority through His word and conforms us to obedience to His word. There are numerous other passages that show the importance of wisdom in life including Pr. 2:1-9; 3:13-18. 1 Cor. 1:18-31 shows us the great contrast of man’s wisdom verses God’s wisdom. 1 Cor. 1:24, 30 both declare Christ as not only God’s wisdom, but the believer’s wisdom. Therefore, Paul puts it together for us in Col. 2:3 showing us that the wisdom that we have and need is found in Christ alone. God’s wisdom has confounded the world through manifesting His eternal wisdom through the preaching of the cross. The world can’t see any wisdom or worth in Christ, the cross, or the gospel. Yet, for the believer, this is our wisdom. Spiritual wisdom is gospel wisdom. Gospel wisdom is wisdom that comes from knowing Christ. Gospel wisdom lives each day in light of the weightiness of the gospel, grace, and glory of Christ. Gospel wisdom sees the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ in all of life. Gospel wisdom applies all of Christ for all of life. Gospel wisdom depends upon God’s eternal wisdom for an every day walk. Wisdom is needed for our everyday ordinary mundane life. Real wisdom is developed through our daily micro decisions and disciplines. The wise man builds His heart and home upon the rock of Christ, His word, work, and will (Mt. 7:24-27). Today, as we see Christ our wisdom, we will focus on the intrinsic, incarnate, and indwelling wisdom of Christ.
First, we must see the intrinsic wisdom of Christ. The word intrinsic is an important theological word that deals with the essential nature of something. The intrinsic wisdom of Christ is seen in that His wisdom is preexistent. Throughout church history, there has always been an attack on Christology, or the doctrine of the person and work of Christ. Nearly every false teaching or core belief of a cult that claims to be Christian has a major Christological error. If we don’t believe that Christ was preexistent than we can’t believe that He has perfect wisdom. Christ is supreme and sufficient in His nature, essence, and attributes. Col 1: 14-20 covers this in great detail as it declares the preexistent and perfect wisdom of Christ in that He is the creator and sustainer of all things. Jesus, in His preexistent and perfect wisdom reveals God to us through creation, redemption, and reconciliation. Jesus Christ is seen as the responsible agent of revelation, redemption, and reconciliation. Therefore, His preexistent and perfect wisdom is infinite and infallible. This is seen through the hope of the gospel and hope of glory which is our union with and in Christ. Christ never lacked wisdom for He holds all wisdom. Pr. 3:19 says, “The Lord by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.” Long before Jesus’ birth in Bethlehem, long before Solomon was given wisdom, long before Moses received the Law, long before Abraham walked by faith, Jesus was perfect in His preexistent wisdom. The Lord Jesus Christ has perfect wisdom that made the worlds, molded man, created life, gave the Law, offered grace, planned all human events, and had chosen the hope of the gospel to be the means of our redemption and reconciliation to God. Christ’s wisdom is much more than God knowing all things. It is His perfect knowledge of knowing all things past, present, and future in perfect completeness and then setting forth His divine plans and providence to accomplish His eternal will. Wisdom does that which is right from knowing rightly. Christ’s wisdom is preexistent and perfect in all that He is and does. This is why Paul says in Rom. 11:33-36, “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! 34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? 35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.”
Second, we must see the incarnate wisdom of Christ. In the incarnation we see the preexistent Christ putting on flesh being born of a virgin. God in the flesh. It is astounding for our minds to consider. Yet, it is the incarnation where we see God’s intrinsic wisdom become incarnate wisdom. Christ putting on flesh, the God-Man blending together God and man as the perfect mediator of both is God’s perfect wisdom. The incarnation of Christ was the wisdom of God (the Word) manifest. In the incarnation we see God’s wisdom in a man. A literal breathing, growing, walking, talking, eating, drinking, working, resting, growing man. Jesus is God’s wisdom personified. In the life of Christ, we see the incarnate wisdom of Christ being preeminent from a very early age. Luke 2:40-52 says, “40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. 41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the passover. 42 And when he was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem after the custom of the feast. 43 And when they had fulfilled the days, as they returned, the child Jesus tarried behind in Jerusalem; and Joseph and his mother knew not of it. 44 But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day’s journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintance. 45 And when they found him not, they turned back again to Jerusalem, seeking him. 46 And it came to pass, that after three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, both hearing them, and asking them questions. 47 And all that heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. 48 And when they saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast thou thus dealt with us? behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. 49 And he said unto them, How is it that ye sought me? wist ye not that I must be about my Father’s business? 50 And they understood not the saying which he spake unto them. 51 And he went down with them, and came to Nazareth, and was subject unto them: but his mother kept all these sayings in her heart. 52 And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and man.” Because Jesus possessed preexistent and perfect wisdom (intrinsic) He was able to confound the doctors in the Temple. He is the incarnate wisdom of God sitting in the Temple, which was to be the place of God’s presence and praise. He is the incarnate wisdom of God who is the Word of God Himself. He is the incarnate Word and Wisdom of God sitting before those who know the word and wisdom in it but have failed to see the God of the Word and God of all wisdom. In Jesus’ humanity, He grew in wisdom which was displayed in His life and ministry which was one of total humility and obedience to the Father. As Jesus spoke, God’s wisdom was manifest. As Jesus healed, God’s wisdom worked wonders. As Jesus walked, God’s wisdom moved amongst the lepers and the lame. As Jesus stilled the storm with His word, God’s wisdom flexed its might. The incarnate wisdom of Christ shows us the perfect expression of wisdom and example of wisdom. In Christ’s united natures we see what real wisdom is and what wise living looks like.
Third, we must see the indwelling wisdom of Christ. Previously in Colossians we saw that the hope of the gospel and hope of glory is found in the union we have with Christ. We are in Him and He is in us. Jesus had promised the indwelling presence and work of the Holy Spirit in the life of believers to His disciples. The Holy Spirit indwells us teaching us and transforming us by the truth of the scriptures. The indwelling wisdom of Christ comes directly from the work of the indwelling Spirit. He enlightens our minds and hearts and then enables our hearts to walk in wisdom through humility, faith, and loving obedience. His presence gives us practical wisdom to depend upon His presence, draw upon His provision, and delight in His providence. The indwelling wisdom of Christ is practical wisdom. Apart from the Spirit’s work in our life and indwelling in our hearts, we would be in a world of trouble. Practical wisdom in the Christian life lives and walks in the Spirit. Practical wisdom abides in Christ and has the mind of Christ. 1 Cor. 2:16 says, “For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? but we have the mind of Christ.” Phil. 2:5-13 says, “5 Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: 6 Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: 7 But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: 8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. 9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: 10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” The indwelling wisdom of Christ is revealed and received by the Spirit through the scriptures that stirs our hearts to live in Christ’s wisdom which is displayed through a life of humility and obedience to God.
As we bring this to a close, we are reminded that all of us are searching for wisdom, but it will not be found in a fortune cookie or from a fortune teller. Real spiritual and practical wisdom for all of life is found in the supremacy and sufficiency of Christ. Do you need wisdom? He has it and He is it. Seek Him. Ask Him. He gives us grace to grow in wisdom not just so we make the right daily decisions, but so that our daily decisions are lived in light of eternity. Whose wisdom are you trusting? Yours or His? Where are you seeking wisdom? Are you growing in wisdom? We will not grow in wisdom apart from Christ. Practical spiritual wisdom comes from the preeminent practical wisdom of Christ. Look to Him. Learn from Him. Lean on Him. Live for Him. The longer that we are in Christ, the more we should see and savor Christ as our treasure and wisdom. The more wisdom He gives us the more treasure we have. The more treasure of wisdom that we have in Him, the more we can share with others. Wise living doesn’t store up wisdom for oneself, but it uses the wisdom of Christ for the good and growth of others all for the glory of Christ.
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