CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
PART I

MATTHEW 5:4

A. BIBLICAL MEANING OF PERFECTION
  1. The first man - Adam:
    1. Created in the image of God - Gen. 1:26, 27; 5:1
    2. Reflected the perfection of his Creator in a limited sense - Gen. 5:1-3; Rom. 6:16, 17; Luke 4:1-6
    3. Disobedience or sin marred this character image - Gen. 3:1- 23; Rom. 3:1-19, 23; 6:16; Jer. 18:1-6
  2. The second Adam - Christ:
    1. Expresses the image of His Father's character to its fullest or unlimited perfection - Heb. 1:3; 2 Cor. 4:4; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:6
    2. He is our pattern of perfection -
      1. Rom. 8:29; 2 Cor. 3:18
      2. Col. 2:10; 1 John 3:3; Heb. 12:1-6
B. IN WHAT SENSE CAN POOR MORTAL BEINGS ATTAIN THE PERFECTION OF OUR HEAVENLY FATHER? "BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT, EVEN AS YOUR FATHER WHICH IN HEAVEN IS PERFECT."
  1. It will be well for us to keep in mind that the perfection of our text cannot and does not enter the field of infinity:
    1. It pertains to the perfection of a created and finite being - EXAMPLES -
      1. Job is declared a perfect man - Job 1:1; but in comparison to God, he readily acknowledges his total unworthiness - Job. 42:5, 6
      2. Isaiah is another typical example - Isa. 6:1-7
    2. It will be well for us to compare ourselves to the clay in the Potter's hand - Jer. 18:1-5, 6
  2. It is a perfection totally connected with the plan of salvation:
    1. It is an ideal to strive for - Phil. 3:13-16
    2. It involves a change of nature - 2 Cor. 5:14-17; Phil. 2:6- 11
C. NATURE OF CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
  1. Christ-likeness is the one goal for every believer:
    1. That was the central goal of Paul - "that I may know him" - Phil. 3:10
    2. That is the plan of salvation, "to be conformed to the image of (God's) His Son" - Rom. 8:29
  2. Purity in character - in thought, word, and action:
    1. A wonderful ideal to strive for - Phil. 4:8
    2. The golden rule - Matt. 7:12
  3. A fourfold objective for attaining unto perfection:
    1. Love for God, His word, and for our fellow men - 1 John 4:8, 17; Gen. 22:12; Matt. 22:34-39
    2. Obedience to God, His Word, and the Holy Spirit - 2 Cor. 2:9; 10:5; Phil. 2:6-11
    3. Patience - a virtue developed through trials and hardships - Rom. 5:3-4; Jas. 5:7-12; Rev. 14:12
    4. Virtue - purity of mind, body and soul; that is the true essence of Christian perfection - EXAMPLES -
      1. Joseph was a virtuous person; he could not be bought to betray his moral character - Gen. 39:1-10
      2. Christ could not be enticed to betray virtue - Matt. 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-6
  4. The God chosen means to bring the believer to perfection:
    1. The Word of God - 1 Pet. 1:22; Ps. 119:9-11; Heb. 4:12
    2. The blood of Christ - 1 Pet. 1:18, 19; Rev. 1:5; 1 John 1:7
    3. The Holy Spirit - Zech. 4:6; Hos. 1:12; 2 Thess. 2:13
    4. Trials and tribulations - Mal. 3:1-3; 1 Pet. 4:12


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