Difference between revisions of "An Urgent Call to Christian Perfection 2"
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| − | + | ==="Be Perfect": What Saith the Scripture?=== | |
| − | + | '''A. It is commanded.''' | |
| − | The LORD Jesus Christ commanded, <span style="color: | + | The LORD Jesus Christ commanded, <span style="color:darkred">"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect"</span> (Matthew 5:48). Because the Father and the Son are one... <span style="color:darkred">"he that hath seen Me</span> [Christ] <span style="color:darkred">hath seen the Father"</span> (John 14:9)... Christ is our model for Christian perfection. He is both our motivation, as well as example, that we <span style="color:darkred">"should follow His steps"</span> (1Peter 2:21). The goal: <span style="color:darkred">"till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"</span> (Ephesians 4:13). |
| − | + | '''B. We are able to obey the command.''' | |
Just the fact that Christ commands us to be perfect is reason enough for us to believe that we can, and ought, to be perfect. Why? | Just the fact that Christ commands us to be perfect is reason enough for us to believe that we can, and ought, to be perfect. Why? | ||
| − | First, the just nature of our LORD secures for us the attainability of our perfection on the ground that it is a fair, just, and equitable command. <span style="color: | + | First, the just nature of our LORD secures for us the attainability of our perfection on the ground that it is a fair, just, and equitable command. <span style="color:darkred">"Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?"</span> (Genesis 18:25). |
| − | Second, the LORD completely understands the capabilities and limitations of each of us. <span style="color: | + | Second, the LORD completely understands the capabilities and limitations of each of us. <span style="color:darkred">"For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust"</span> (Psalm 103:14). |
| − | Third, our LORD Jesus Christ is completely sympathetic to our circumstances, <span style="color: | + | Third, our LORD Jesus Christ is completely sympathetic to our circumstances, <span style="color:darkred">"For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin"</span> (Hebrews 4:15). |
| − | Finally, our claim to love God necessitates our obedience to His command to be perfect because His commands are never <span style="color: | + | Finally, our claim to love God necessitates our obedience to His command to be perfect because His commands are never <span style="color:darkred">"grievous"</span> (or, burdensome). Grievous commands are impossible and unbearable. Not so with His command that we should be perfect. <span style="color:darkred">"For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous"</span> (1John 5:3). |
| − | + | '''C. Christians are perfect.''' | |
| − | Perfect describes not only our heavenly Father, but also His earthly children. <span style="color: | + | Perfect describes not only our heavenly Father, but also His earthly children. <span style="color:darkred">"Because as He is, so are we in this world"</span> (1John 4:17). Christians are Scripturally represented as presently perfect, not awaiting future heavenly fulfilment. <span style="color:darkred">"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"</span> (Hebrews 10:14). Christians are Scripturally represented as actually perfect, not just in theory. <span style="color:darkred">"Let us therefore, as be perfect, be thus minded: if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you"</span> (Philippians 3:15). |
| − | + | '''D. Perfect means sanctified.''' | |
| − | Christians are those who are perfect. Those who are perfect are sanctified... <span style="color: | + | Christians are those who are perfect. Those who are perfect are sanctified... <span style="color:darkred">"For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"</span> (Hebrews 10:14). Christian sanctification is a fact: |
| − | (1) <span style="color: | + | (1) <span style="color:darkred">"Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints"</span> (1Corinthians 1:2) and |
| − | (2) <span style="color: | + | (2) <span style="color:darkred">"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?... fornicators... idolaters... adulterers... effeminate... abusers of themselves with mankind... thieves... covetous... drunkards... revilers... extortioners... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but '''ye are sanctified"'''</span> (1Corinthians 6:9-11). |
| − | + | '''E. Sanctification is fact.''' | |
Christian sanctification is a fact. How? | Christian sanctification is a fact. How? | ||
| − | First, via the Word. <span style="color: | + | First, via the Word. <span style="color:darkred">"Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth"</span> (John 17:17). <span style="color:darkred">"That He</span> [Christ] <span style="color:darkred">might sanctify and cleanse it</span> [the Church] <span style="color:darkred">with the washing of water by the Word"</span> (Ephesians 5:26). |
| − | Second, via faith. <span style="color: | + | Second, via faith. <span style="color:darkred">"That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith"</span> (Acts 26:18). |
| − | Third, via the Father. <span style="color: | + | Third, via the Father. <span style="color:darkred">"To them that are sanctified by God the Father"</span> (Jude 1). |
| − | Fourth, via Christ. <span style="color: | + | Fourth, via Christ. <span style="color:darkred">"We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all"</span> (Hebrews 10:10). <span style="color:darkred">"Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate"</span> (Hebrews 13:12). |
| − | Finally, via the Holy Ghost. <span style="color: | + | Finally, via the Holy Ghost. <span style="color:darkred">"That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost"</span> (Romans 15:16). |
| − | + | '''F. Sanctification is entire.''' | |
| − | Not only did the LORD Jesus Christ command us to be perfect, but the Apostle Paul prayed for the complete sanctification of the Thessalonians. Whether you call it entire sanctification or Christian perfection, it describes the same thing. <span style="color: | + | Not only did the LORD Jesus Christ command us to be perfect, but the Apostle Paul prayed for the complete sanctification of the Thessalonians. Whether you call it entire sanctification or Christian perfection, it describes the same thing. <span style="color:darkred">"And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ"</span> (1Thessalonians 5:23). Notice the following: |
(1) God sanctifies completely, not simply enough to get us into Heaven, and | (1) God sanctifies completely, not simply enough to get us into Heaven, and | ||
| − | (2) Sanctification must take place NOW for it to be preserved until a future event, i.e., <span style="color: | + | (2) Sanctification must take place NOW for it to be preserved until a future event, i.e., <span style="color:darkred">"the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ"</span>. |
| − | + | '''G. Perfect means perfect heart.''' | |
| − | What is the nature of Christian perfection? Perfection implies a perfect heart. <span style="color: | + | What is the nature of Christian perfection? Perfection implies a perfect heart. <span style="color:darkred">"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him"</span> (2Chronicles 16:9). A perfect heart demonstrates a wholehearted seeking of God. <span style="color:darkred">"With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments"</span> (Psalm 119:10). Anyone who wholeheartedly seeks after God does no iniquity. <span style="color:darkred">"Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways" </span>(Psalm 119:2-3). Therefore, sin in the saints must be contrary to abiding in Christ. <span style="color:darkred">"Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not"</span> (1John 3:6). |
| − | + | '''H. Perfect means sinless.''' | |
| − | In the book of Job, the question is posed, <span style="color: | + | In the book of Job, the question is posed, <span style="color:darkred">"What is man that he should be clean? and he which is born of woman, that he should be righteous"</span> (Job 15:14). King David faced the same question after he had committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. <span style="color:darkred">"Have mercy upon me, O God... Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow"</span> (Psalm 51:1,2,7). David implored God for mercy. He asked God to cleanse him from sin. He concluded that if God would purge and wash him, he would <span style="color:darkred">"be clean... whiter than snow"</span>. No telltale residue of sin remains when the LORD, the Creator of Clean Hearts (Psalm 51:10) has purged and washed a sinner. |
| − | '''Next | + | '''Next Part [[An Urgent Call to Christian Perfection 3]]''' |
Latest revision as of 00:22, 6 July 2011
An Exposition of the Doctrine of Christian Perfection
by Tom Stewart
"Be Perfect": What Saith the Scripture?
A. It is commanded.
The LORD Jesus Christ commanded, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48). Because the Father and the Son are one... "he that hath seen Me [Christ] hath seen the Father" (John 14:9)... Christ is our model for Christian perfection. He is both our motivation, as well as example, that we "should follow His steps" (1Peter 2:21). The goal: "till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:13).
B. We are able to obey the command.
Just the fact that Christ commands us to be perfect is reason enough for us to believe that we can, and ought, to be perfect. Why?
First, the just nature of our LORD secures for us the attainability of our perfection on the ground that it is a fair, just, and equitable command. "Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right?" (Genesis 18:25).
Second, the LORD completely understands the capabilities and limitations of each of us. "For He knoweth our frame; He remembereth that we are dust" (Psalm 103:14).
Third, our LORD Jesus Christ is completely sympathetic to our circumstances, "For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin" (Hebrews 4:15).
Finally, our claim to love God necessitates our obedience to His command to be perfect because His commands are never "grievous" (or, burdensome). Grievous commands are impossible and unbearable. Not so with His command that we should be perfect. "For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not grievous" (1John 5:3).
C. Christians are perfect.
Perfect describes not only our heavenly Father, but also His earthly children. "Because as He is, so are we in this world" (1John 4:17). Christians are Scripturally represented as presently perfect, not awaiting future heavenly fulfilment. "For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). Christians are Scripturally represented as actually perfect, not just in theory. "Let us therefore, as be perfect, be thus minded: if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you" (Philippians 3:15).
D. Perfect means sanctified.
Christians are those who are perfect. Those who are perfect are sanctified... "For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified" (Hebrews 10:14). Christian sanctification is a fact:
(1) "Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints" (1Corinthians 1:2) and
(2) "Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God?... fornicators... idolaters... adulterers... effeminate... abusers of themselves with mankind... thieves... covetous... drunkards... revilers... extortioners... And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified" (1Corinthians 6:9-11).
E. Sanctification is fact. Christian sanctification is a fact. How?
First, via the Word. "Sanctify them through Thy Truth: Thy Word is Truth" (John 17:17). "That He [Christ] might sanctify and cleanse it [the Church] with the washing of water by the Word" (Ephesians 5:26).
Second, via faith. "That they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith" (Acts 26:18).
Third, via the Father. "To them that are sanctified by God the Father" (Jude 1).
Fourth, via Christ. "We are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all" (Hebrews 10:10). "Wherefore Jesus also, that He might sanctify the people with His own blood, suffered without the gate" (Hebrews 13:12).
Finally, via the Holy Ghost. "That the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost" (Romans 15:16).
F. Sanctification is entire.
Not only did the LORD Jesus Christ command us to be perfect, but the Apostle Paul prayed for the complete sanctification of the Thessalonians. Whether you call it entire sanctification or Christian perfection, it describes the same thing. "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ" (1Thessalonians 5:23). Notice the following:
(1) God sanctifies completely, not simply enough to get us into Heaven, and
(2) Sanctification must take place NOW for it to be preserved until a future event, i.e., "the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ".
G. Perfect means perfect heart.
What is the nature of Christian perfection? Perfection implies a perfect heart. "For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him" (2Chronicles 16:9). A perfect heart demonstrates a wholehearted seeking of God. "With my whole heart have I sought Thee: O let me not wander from Thy commandments" (Psalm 119:10). Anyone who wholeheartedly seeks after God does no iniquity. "Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways" (Psalm 119:2-3). Therefore, sin in the saints must be contrary to abiding in Christ. "Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not" (1John 3:6).
H. Perfect means sinless.
In the book of Job, the question is posed, "What is man that he should be clean? and he which is born of woman, that he should be righteous" (Job 15:14). King David faced the same question after he had committed the sin of adultery with Bathsheba. "Have mercy upon me, O God... Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin... Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow" (Psalm 51:1,2,7). David implored God for mercy. He asked God to cleanse him from sin. He concluded that if God would purge and wash him, he would "be clean... whiter than snow". No telltale residue of sin remains when the LORD, the Creator of Clean Hearts (Psalm 51:10) has purged and washed a sinner.
Next Part An Urgent Call to Christian Perfection 3