CHRISTIAN PERFECTION
PART II

MATTHEW 5:4

A. MEANING OF PERFECTION
  1. Being complete:
    1. We are complete in Christ - Col. 2:10; Eph. 3:19; Heb. 12:23
  2. Having been accepted in the Beloved:
    1. Examples - Job, Daniel, and Enoch are recorded in the Bible as God's ideal - Job. 1:1-3; Ezek. 14:20; Rom. 8:1-3, 31-33
B. CHRISTIAN PERFECTION THE GOAL OF THE GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST
  1. Paul's constant goal for himself and his fellow believers:
    1. "Let us go on to perfection" - Heb. 6:1
    2. "We wish even your perfection" - 2 Cor. 13:9
    3. "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." - 2 Cor. 7:1
  2. Other gospel writers emphasize the same objective - Christian perfection:
    1. "And every one that has this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure" - 1 John 3:3
    2. "Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness." - 2 Pet. 3:11
    3. "But yet, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life." - Jude 20, 21
  3. That is what our Saviour means when He admonishes us, "be ye also ready: for in such an hour when ye think not the Son of man cometh": Matt. 24:42-51
C. THE BIBLE EMPHASIZES A DUAL PERFECTION
  1. One is by accreditation:
    1. The believer is credited with the life of Christ -- righteousness is imputed to the believer - 1 Cor. 1:30
    2. It is the free gift of God, without our own worthiness of it - EXAMPLES -
      1. The penitent thief received this perfection - Luke 23:42-44
      2. The woman of Samaria is still another example of this free gift - John 4:23-36
      3. Mary Magdalene is another trophy of God's grace - Matt. 27:56; John 19:24
  2. The other is the work of the Holy Spirit in cooperation with the believer:
    1. This perfection affects our life; it is the perfection of character - 2 Cor. 7:1-3; 2 Pet. 1:2-11
    2. It is the work of a lifetime for many reasons -
      1. Because of human limitations - Prov. 4:18; 1 Cor. 13:17, 18; Phil. 3:13, 14
      2. Because our inherent weaknesses slow down the progress of the work of the Holy Spirit - John 16:12; 1 Cor. 3:2; Heb. 5:12, 13
      3. This fact is recognized by our Lord and informed teachers of the Word - John 16:12; Heb. 5:12, 13
      4. It is an experience that involves growth; that means that it is progressive - 2 Thess. 1:3; 2 Pet. 3:18
  3. How do people act when they are in the process of obtaining Christian perfection?
    1. Not pharisaical - Luke 18:10-14; Num. 12:3; Job 42:5, 6
    2. Keep their eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of their faith - Heb. 12:1-12; Gal. 1:15
    3. Work out their own salvation with fear and trembling - Phil. 4:8
    4. It is by beholding Jesus, and not their own sinful self, that the believer is changed.


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