The Wisdom That Is From Above

“If your heart condemns you, God is greater than your heart and knows all things; if your heart (conscience) condemns you not, then you have confidence towards God. He that fears has not been made perfect in love. Fear has torment (of judgment) but perfect love cast out fear.”

If I were soon to depart this tabernacle and be with my Savior and Lord, there is one spiritual exhortation that I would leave with my wife, children, and my extended family, as well as with the church at large. Never do anything that causes your conscience shame or leaves you with a fear of eternal divine retribution for sinful acts committed. And then I would add, if you do, be quick to confess your sins to the Lord and, by faith, receive His forgiveness and cleansing from all unrighteousness. He has promised to do this for us! Also be quick to repent (utterly forsake) the performance and/or practice of your sinful behavior. “For he who confesses his sins and forsakes them shall find mercy from the Lord.”

“The greatest commandment of the Law is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. And the second is like the first, that you would love your neighbor as yourself.” Jesus said, “He that loves Me keeps my commandments.” Paul said, “The righteous requirement of the Law is fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” He also said, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the works of the flesh.” And, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Jesus said, “My words are Spirit, and they are life.” When we obey His commandments, we walk in His Spirit, and the works of the flesh (sin nature) are not fulfilled in us. When we keep His commandments, the love of God is fulfilled in us and expressed through us.

Along with the exhortation to be quick to confess and receive forgiveness for our sins and quick to repent of them, I would add, be quick to forgive others for their sins against you. “For if you forgive others their sins, your heavenly Father will forgive your sins, but if you don’t forgive others, neither will your heavenly Father forgive you.”

The cross has both a vertical plane and a horizontal plane. The vertical plane represents the relationship between God and man. The horizontal plane represents the relationship between man and man. Both are of equal importance to God in His Son’s redemptive work of reconciliation on the cross, as well as His Holy Spirit’s continual sanctifying work in our hearts and lives. Therefore, concerning our sins, let us keep short accounts between God and ourselves, as well as between ourselves and others. Again, let us be quick to forgive, quick to receive forgiveness, and quick to repent. Let us always remember the words of our Lord to His disciples, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the children of God.” And let us not forget the exhortation of the Apostle Paul, “Pursue peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man will see the Lord.”

These scriptural exhortations, if received, performed, and practiced are able to make us “wise unto salvation through faith that is in Christ Jesus our Lord,” “For the kingdom of heaven is not meat and drink, but righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit.” I will leave you with some confirming scripture verses from James.

“Who is wise and endued with knowledge among you? Let him show out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, and devilish. For where envy and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work. But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.” James 3:13-18