Join us as we explore Steven Charnock's insights on God's wisdom, specifically focusing on Chapter 9 of "The Existence and Attributes of God". This episode delves into the profound ways God's wisdom is revealed through the plan of redemption. We'll uncover how God's wisdom is not just a concept, but a dynamic force that shapes all of reality.

We will examine how Christ's life and death satisfy the demands of the law, covering both our obligation to obey and the punishment for sin. We'll discuss how Christ's perfect life meets the law's demand for righteousness, while His death on the cross takes care of the penalty our sin deserves. Through faith, Christ's righteousness is credited to us, making us right with God, not because of anything we've done, but because of what Christ has done. This doesn't give us a license to sin, but rather, it’s about being made right with God, even though we don't deserve it.

The discussion will also tackle the seeming paradox of how God can hate sin with a fiery passion and yet love the sinner. We'll explore the examples of God's judgment, such as the punishment of Satan and Adam's expulsion from paradise, that reveal God's intense hatred for sin. We will also discuss how God's sacrifice of his own son is the ultimate demonstration of God's hatred for sin. This is a love that offers a way back to God and a path to a joy greater than what Adam and Eve had in the garden.

Furthermore, we will see how God's wisdom is displayed in how He uses Satan's schemes to bring about his own defeat. Although Satan thought he had won by orchestrating Jesus' crucifixion, this was exactly what God had planned all along. The tools Satan thought would seal his victory become the very instruments of his defeat, illustrating how the foolishness of God is wiser than men. We'll discuss why God chose faith as the condition for experiencing redemption, as opposed to perfect obedience or intellectual knowledge of theological facts. True faith is a heartfelt trust and reliance on God’s promises.

We'll also consider how God gradually revealed His plan throughout history, starting with the promise to Abraham and continuing through the prophets, covenants, and the structure of the Jewish nation. The sacrificial system and other rituals in the Old Testament are discussed as tangible representations foreshadowing Christ’s ultimate sacrifice. We'll look at how God chose ordinary people, not the elite, to spread the message, showcasing His divine power. The impact these individuals had could only be attributed to supernatural help.

Finally, we'll explore how persecution, intended to stop the early church, actually helped spread the message, and how those challenges refined the faith of believers. We will also consider how the accuracy of prophecy shows how God is the author of history and that His plan is unfolding exactly as He intended. We will examine the interconnectedness of the types and ceremonies within the Old Testament, as visual aids to understand God's plan. We conclude by considering the power of paradox and how we can trust that God is working everything together for good, even when we can't see the whole picture. We'll discuss how God can use our weaknesses and limitations if we are willing to surrender to Him, drawing upon the example of how God used the seemingly unqualified apostles to turn the world upside down.