Kemper wrote:
Principality and Power
Adam’s disobedience produced the principality and power which we know as Satan and his domain (world). According to the New Oxford American Dictionary; A principle is a proposition that serves as the foundation for a system of belief or behavior, and a power is the ability to do something or act in a particular way. The power is the will to act and the principle is its reason to do so. Adam was given his will and dominion over the earth, which he perverted in order to rule over the world of his own disobedience. In doing so his will became subject to the will of the flesh (John 1:13). This will, or power to do, is subject to the principality of self preservation. This is the wisdom (nachash) that dwells within and presides over our flesh. Paul brings attention to this in Romans 7:22-23, For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
God meant the commandment to provide life, but Adam used it to discover death. Adam used his sovereign will, that was created by God, in an attempt to usurp God’s sovereignty over his self, thus to be as God (or in place of God) and to know good and evil. There is no life outside of God’s Word to sustain man. That which is not abiding in the Word of God is not sustained by God’s intent. This diversion away from the truth is sin that produces death, which was foretold by God in His commandment, “The day you eat thereof you shall surely die.” It produces a world (domain of the prince of the power of the air) that finds its end, with its principalities being destroyed in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:10 and 14).
Consumption
The intent of God was for Adam to embrace the commandment in obedience to establish a relationship, but Adam used it rather to develop his own world outside of God’s design. Therefore God consented to man’s will and gave him over to being consumed by his own principality (Satan). Paul, in like manner, advised the church to do the same for the correction of the fornicator in 1 Corinthians 5:5, To deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus. Man being earthly, who is of the dust and returns to the dust, is from the womb to the grave being consumed by his own way, the serpent (nachash, his own wisdom). For the serpent was assigned; upon thy belly shalt thou go, and dust shalt thou eat all the days of thy life. This dust that the serpent consumes is the flesh of man.
God’s intent is the life which sustains creation. Man, however, chose a path contrary to God’s intent and therefore must be sustained by a different energy source. This source of energy is the flesh of man that was formed from the dust of the earth and is the physical matter of which energy is converted to sustain his way. Therein is man consumed by his own wisdom until the flesh is destroyed to the point where it becomes uninhabitable.
Jesus declared in John 10:10, The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. Paul expounds on this; And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). Man’s wisdom resides in his flesh, whereas God’s wisdom resides in Christ. Man being of the earth is sensual, Christ being of heaven is spiritual. Paul refers to this in 1Corinthians 15:47-49, The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven. As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly. And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly. Likewise these two have distinctly different wisdoms, the earthly is sensual and self seeking and the heavenly is spiritual and life giving.
James referred to these two wisdoms in James 3:13-18; Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom. But if ye have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, glory not, and lie not against the truth. This wisdom descendeth not from above, but is earthly, sensual, devilish. For where envying 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.
Developing Earthly Wisdom
Man’s wisdom knows his environment through the senses of the flesh to stimulate his reasoning and establishing his understanding. After his understanding is established, this carnal wisdom of self preservation (nachash) uses the knowledge that has been obtained to serve his desires and preserve his way. Many have defined wisdom as “the ability to use knowledge.” This definition only applies to the carnal wisdom (nachash) that is earthly, sensual and devilish.
Although Proverbs 15:2 does state, The tongue of the wise “useth knowledge aright,” other translations record this as; dispenses knowledge; uttereth knowledge aright; commends knowledge; makes knowledge attractive, which describes wisdom dispersing knowledge for the benefit of others rather than using it as a tool of self preservation. The wisdom of man is developed by the sense knowledge of this corrupt world and functions to preserve his way in it. Therein comes the corrupt nature of such wisdom. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world (1John 2:16).
God’s Wisdom
God’s wisdom, on the over hand, comes from above and is a gift. 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 (James 1:5). Rather than sense knowledge initiating the development of wisdom, God blesses us first with His wisdom for the apprehension of His knowledge. Proverbs 4:7 states, Wisdom is the principal (first) thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding. Wherein man’s wisdom is the ability to use knowledge, the wisdom of God is defined as the ability to hear and receive correction and instruction. This definition is found simply stated in Proverbs 8:33; Hear instruction, and be wise, and refuse it not. This wisdom is a state of humility and meekness of which the heart embraces in preparation for learning. A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels (Proverbs 1:5). Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be yet wiser: teach a just man, and he will increase in learning (Proverbs 9:9).
Receiving God’s wisdom humbles the heart of man in preparation for his elevation unto the knowledge of the Truth. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time (1Peter 5:6). Man’s sensual wisdom uses his knowledge to pursue the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and his pride of life (1John 2:16). God’s wisdom is spiritual and gets understanding to find the knowledge of God. Man’s wisdom focuses on the external, but the wisdom of God is focused on the internal.
Jesus stated in Matthew 7:7, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.” He is telling us to ask for wisdom, seek for understanding and knock (or act upon wisdom and understanding) for knowledge. Therein is fruit produced. This is the process necessary to be a doer of His Word. Therefore, Jesus goes on to say in Matthew 7:21-24; “Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity. Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock.” It all begins with the hearing of wisdom which is a gift from God.