Proverbs 9, God Sets the Goal

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April 16, Proverbs 9

Rom 10:8-17 “Every man that has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 Jn. 3:3).

God Sets the Goal

Let us close this section on a positive note struck in a previous study. The word Holy, you recall (v.10) was plural, referring, we believe, to the Godhead. Let us expand this by considering God’s Goal for His sons and daughters. We must be:

1. Conformed to His Holy Son: In the beginning, God said: Let us make man in our image, after our likeness (Gen. 1:26). Many profound studies have sought to explain what is meant by the image of God in man. One thing is certain. Man, given a unique role in creation, was also given a unique nature. No other creature was made in the Image of God. It is God’s purpose to restore that Image, shattered by the Fall, through the Promised Redeemer (Gen. 3:15). Paul declares that God predestined believers to be conformed to the image of his Son (Rom. 8:29). Again, he says, Who shall change our vile (humiliated) body, that it might be fashioned like unto his glorious body (Phil. 3:21). What a promise, and what a prospect for the redeemed!

2. Informed in His Holy Word: God’s Word a. Contains the Word of Salvation, given by inspiration (2 Tm. 3:16). Jesus said, Thy Word is truth. Paul, preaching to Jews, cried, To you is the word of this salvation sent. It b. Confirms the Way of Salvation through Jesus Christ (2 Tm. 3:15). This was the testimony of even the demon-possessed girl in Philippi (Acts 16:17). It c. Conveys the Wisdom for Salvation for it makes one wise unto salvation (2 Tm. 3:15). How blest was Timothy who from a child knew God’s Holy Words! They are for the child to learn, for the adolescent to prove, and be assured of, for the mature Christian to profit by, and the man and woman of God to obey.

3. Transformed by His Holy Spirit: In the NT two words are used for Veil. One is used of the Temple veil, a heavy curtain that excluded all, except the High Priest once a year. Praise God, it was removed forever at Calvary (Matt. 27:51). The other is used of a veil on the face, a covering (2 Cor. 3:13-18). This veil also posed certain restrictions. The lost are blind to the Gospel for their eyes are veiled. It, too, pleaded for removal (v.16). When a sinner is converted, that veil is removed, and with open [unveiled] face he or she beholds the glory of the Lord. In v.18 there is now a great change, a metamorphosis, going on. Its ultimate goal is the complete transformation of the inner being, as well as the outer life, of every believer. Moses was transformed by communion with the Lord (Ex. 33:19). God’s Holy Spirit is even now transforming believers. The caterpillar that could only crawl and devour is transformed (metamorphosis) into a thing of beauty, flying free and spreading life. We, too, have God’s promise that we will exchange this old body for a new spiritual one. The ugliness of our sin will be wholly gone, and even now people should begin to see the beauty of Jesus in us. Is not this a glorious goal?

Thought: An unholy Christian is a contradiction of everything the Bible teaches. 

Prayer: Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty; early our song shall rise to Thee.