(Lassen Pines, CA – July 7, 2006)
Introduction
I would like to speak on the subject of perfection, taking it up in three ways: as to our standing, then as to our state, and lastly, as to our final condition. I believe that if we have an understanding of these things it will help to establish us in the “most holy faith” (Jude 2020But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20)) and will also produce solid, practical exercise as to our walk and ways.
I am thankful to say that when God calls us by the gospel and we are saved by His grace, He is not content with anything short of perfection for each one of us. A perfect God would have those whom He saves perfect too! That’s His aim for each and every believer. However, we will not reach total perfection until the Lord comes for us, but we can confidently say that we have a very bright future.
Our Standing
The Perfecting of Our Conscience
Let’s turn first of all to Hebrews 10:11For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. (Hebrews 10:1). “For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect.” And then from verse 10, “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: but this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; from henceforth expecting till His enemies be made His footstool. For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put My laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; and their sins and iniquities will I remember no more” (Heb. 10:10-1710By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins: 12But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God; 13From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. 14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before, 16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:10‑17)).
As mentioned, God’s objective is to make every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ perfect—not only as to his standing before Him, but also in his walk and ways, and in his final eternal condition. But this is where He begins—with the perfecting of our conscience. God has much to teach us, but He also has much to do in us, as far as our moral and spiritual development is concerned. But before any of that can be addressed, the conscience must first be perfected.
Our conscience is perfected when we receive Christ as our Saviour, and we rest in faith on His finished work on the cross. That’s what these verses that we have read are speaking about. Our conscience is awakened as to our sins by a preliminary work of the Spirit (quickening), but, resting in faith on what Christ accomplished on the cross puts our conscience to rest.
It is a once for-all-time thing. When the conscience is perfected as to God’s judgment of sins, a person, under normal conditions, will never again get into difficulty about fearing judgment. When the subject of sin and judgment comes up in conversation, the believer is no longer troubled at the thought of having to meet God about his sins, because his conscience has been purged and put to rest. It says in the previous chapter, “How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?” (Heb. 9:1414How much more shall the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without spot to God, purge your conscience from dead works to serve the living God? (Hebrews 9:14)) This is one of the great blessings that belongs to the believer. A person who is not saved has a conscience that troubles him when he sits under the sound of the gospel and hears of “righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come” (Acts 24:2525And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. (Acts 24:25)). But one who is saved (having a purged conscience) will be at peace when he hears the gospel proclaimed. The sacrifices an Old Testament saint brought to God could not accomplish this. They “could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb. 9:99Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience; (Hebrews 9:9)). But resting in faith on the great sacrifice of Christ perfects “forever” every believer.
Now in the glory He waits to impart,
Peace to the conscience and joy to the heart.
Waits to be gracious, to pardon and heal,
All who their sin and their wretchedness feel.
Another associated blessing of the gospel is that we are justified. Romans 3:2424Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: (Romans 3:24) says, “Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Justification is an act of God, whereby our legal standing in heaven is changed, and thus, we are declared righteous. That new standing, or position that the believer is in before God, is indicated in Paul’s epistles by the expression, “in Christ.” We were once “in Adam” and “in the flesh” before God (1 Cor. 15:2222For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. (1 Corinthians 15:22); Rom. 7:55For when we were in the flesh, the motions of sins, which were by the law, did work in our members to bring forth fruit unto death. (Romans 7:5)), but now we are “in Christ” and “in the Spirit” (Rom. 8:1; 8:91There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1)
9But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. (Romans 8:9)). To be “in Christ” is to be in Christ’s place of acceptance before God. All the favour of God that rests on Christ rests on the believer because he is in the very place that Christ is in.
Romans 5:1-21Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Romans 5:1‑2) speaks of the believer’s formal introduction into that new position before God wherein he now stands. It says, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: by whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.” By simple faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the believer is given “access” into that new place before God wherein he stands. It is a position wherein no charge or condemnation can ever be brought against us. “Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (Rom. 8:33-3433Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. 34Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Romans 8:33‑34)).
This has all been secured for us by that “one sacrifice” that Christ made at Calvary. As mentioned, the believer has no more fear of meeting God. His conscience has been put to rest, and he can look up to God with confidence knowing that he is “accepted in the Beloved” (Eph. 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6)).
The witness of the Spirit is not a feeling that He gives the believer, but what He has written in the Word of God. What better and more competent Witness could we ask for than Him who is “the Spirit of truth” (John 16:1313Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come. (John 16:13))? His words can never be doubted for He is God, and God cannot lie (Num. 23:1919God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good? (Numbers 23:19)). Wherever a Bible is found you can open it and get the witness of the Spirit as to the fact that the believer’s sins are gone before God forever!
God no longer remembers the believer’s “sins and iniquities” (Heb. 10:1717And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. (Hebrews 10:17)). “Sins” are our wicked acts, and “iniquities” are the evil intents behind those acts. All are put away by faith in the one great sacrifice of Christ. It is not that God forgets the believer’s sins—forgetfulness is a human weakness. For instance, we might say, “I lost my keys; I forgot where I put them.” But God never loses track of things because of carelessness, as we sometimes do. This verse tells us that God consciously removes them from His memory on the basis of the claims of divine justice being satisfied in regards to them. They are gone for eternity and will never be remembered in judgment. Knowing this gives the believer “boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:1717Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. (1 John 4:17)). We have this confidence because just as Christ stands before God beyond judgment, so do we! That’s our position “in Christ!”
The truth is, God does not see the believer in his sins. The record of his sins has been erased or deleted. They will never be brought up for judgment again! Years ago there was a wealthy Englishman who went to the continent touring in his Rolls Royce. When he was in France it broke down. Think of it—a Rolls Royce breaking down! Actually, he broke an axle. The man called up the Rolls Royce Company and asked them what he could do, and the very next day they flew out a couple of mechanics with another axle. Upon repairing the car, the man told the mechanics to send the bill to his office, and when he returned he would take care of it.
After returning from his holiday he found that there was no bill in his mail and inquired about it. The company told him that they had no record of such a malfunction. He thought that perhaps they were just behind on their billing and he would wait a little longer for it to come. After a month or so had passed and he still hadn’t gotten a bill, he rang them up again and told them that he wanted to settle his account. And again, they told him that they did not have any such repair on their records. In fact, they said that to date, they had no record of any Rolls Royce breaking an axle at any time in their history! Such things, they said, just didn’t happen with a Rolls Royce. Well, you know what had happened. They had purposely destroyed the record. They didn’t want it to be known that one of their cars had had a broken axle. To protect their name and image they got rid of any evidence of it.
Friends, we want to tell you that God has gotten rid of the record of every believer’s sins, but not through underhanded means like the Rolls Royce Company. He has put away the believer’s sins on the righteous basis of the death and blood shedding of His own Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The claims of divine justice were satisfied in the work of Christ on the cross. This is called “propitiation” (Rom. 3:2525Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:25); Heb. 2:1717Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. (Hebrews 2:17) – J. N. Darby Trans.; 1 John 2:2; 4:102And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (1 John 2:2)
10Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (1 John 4:10)).
I would hasten to say that having a purged conscience—a conscience that has been “perfected”—does not mean that the believer’s conscience ceases to work any more, but that it no longer condemns him as a sinner in the sight of God. If a believer were to carry on badly after he was saved, his conscience would work to convict him about his ways, to the end that he would be brought to repentance and be restored to fellowship with God. After we are saved we are responsible to maintain “a good conscience” at all times (1 Tim. 1:1919Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck: (1 Timothy 1:19)). This is maintained by judging ourselves in the presence of God if we have sinned (1 John 1:99If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. (1 John 1:9)), but that has nothing to do with our standing before God in the acceptance of Christ.
The immediate effect of knowing that our sins are gone, and that we stand in a new position of favour before God, makes every right-minded believer a worshipper. It is only natural that we would want to thank and praise God for all that has been accomplished for us in the great sacrifice of Christ. So, in the next series of verses in Hebrews 10, the believer is seen as a priest coming with holy “boldness” into the presence of God to offer the sacrifice of praise. He does it “by the blood of Jesus”—that is, in virtue of what the blood of Christ has accomplished (Heb. 10:19-2219Having therefore, brethren, boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20By a new and living way, which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh; 21And having an high priest over the house of God; 22Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. (Hebrews 10:19‑22)).
Our State
Now, let’s look at the subject of perfection in regard to the believer’s state. Turn to 2 Corinthians 13:99For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. (2 Corinthians 13:9). “For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish [pray], even your perfection.” And also in Colossians 1:27-2927To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: 29Whereunto I also labor, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1:27‑29). “Christ ... whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to His working, which worketh in me mightily.”
These verses tell us that Paul prayed and laboured in word and doctrine so that the saints would “go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:11Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1)). What could the Apostle mean by this? If we have been perfected, and it is “forever,” as we have had in Hebrews 10, what need have we of any further perfection? Well, I read these verses to show that there is another aspect to perfection that actually occupies a much larger part of Scripture than that of being perfected as to our conscience.
The word “perfect,” as you know, means full-grown or mature. (The margin of our Bibles indicates this in many places.) Hebrews 10 has to do with being made perfect as to our STANDING before God, but these verses that I have now read have to do with being perfect as to our STATE. One aspect of perfection concerns our position: the other concerns our practise. After we’re saved, God wants us to be “perfect,” or full-grown, in a practical way. He wants us to go on to full Christian maturity as far as our moral and spiritual development is concerned.
There are many verses that speak of perfection as something that the believer needs to attain to in a practical sense. When God saves us He has no intention of leaving us in the same state in which He picked us up. He loves us the way we are, but His love is such that He will not leave us the way we are. Therefore, He undertakes to effect a huge moral and spiritual renovation of our beings. It is a work in us to transform us into the image of His own beloved Son (Rom. 8:2929For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. (Romans 8:29)). This is God’s objective with each one of us. It is definitely a work in progress, for none can venture to say that he has arrived and is perfect in this sense. This aspect of perfection will not be complete until the Lord comes for us.
In these verses in Colossians 1, the Apostle Paul tells us that he laboured diligently to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” He was not content to have his converts merely saved from the penalty of their sins, great as that is—he wanted them to “go on to perfection” (Heb. 6:11Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1)). Many are content to know that they are over the line of salvation, so-to-speak, but have little or no interest in going on to Christian maturity. This was not the Apostle’s desire for his converts. And we shouldn’t be content with it either.
Practical progress in our spiritual development is important and should be taken seriously. It reminds me of a little boy who fell out of bed during the night. His parents heard the thud and came running to him asking what had happened. In a daze, he said slowly, “I stayed too close to the getting-in-side.” Friends, there is that same danger in spiritual things. If we stay too close to the getting-in-side—being content with being saved, but not really going on in our souls—we’re likely to have a fall. Half of the problems in our Christian lives are connected with not going on as we should. We drag our feet in the things of God, and it creates problems. Rehoboam is a striking example of this. It says, “He did evil, because he prepared [applied] not his heart to seek the LORD” (2 Chron. 12:1414And he did evil, because he prepared not his heart to seek the Lord. (2 Chronicles 12:14)). He wouldn’t apply himself in the things of God, and consequently, he got into evil. Dear friends, this means that if you don’t go on in the things of the Lord, you’ll go backward and get into sin! You could spoil your life and testimony. What a warning this is! It shows us that there is no such thing as being in a static state of soul. We are either going onward or going backward. Which is it with you?
There are a number of different areas in our moral and spiritual development in which God is seeking to bring us to perfection—maturity. Let’s look at them.
Perfecting the Focus of Our Hearts
Let’s read Philippians 3:12-1512Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. (Philippians 3:12‑15). “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.”
One of the first things that God does after He saves us is to begin a work of perfecting the focus of our hearts. Before we are saved there are usually a lot of different things in our lives, as far as interests and goals are concerned. But when we get saved God’s desire is to perfect our focus until there is just one singular object in our lives—Christ! When a person lets go of the ambitions and earthly goals that once captured his attention and goes single-mindedly after Christ, he has reached Christian perfection as far as the focus of his heart is concerned. That is what Paul speaks about in this third chapter of Philippians. His own experience was such that he wanted to be the top man in the Jewish religion. It was a pursuit that totally engrossed his life. But coming to know Christ in glory changed his course. Thereafter he went single-mindedly after Christ. He said, “This one thing I do ... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (vss. 13-14). He said that those who are “thus minded” with him have reached Christian perfection—full Christian maturity (vs. 15).
God knows that if the Lord Jesus captures our heart’s affections we will “go on to perfection” (Heb. 6:11Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, (Hebrews 6:1)). Therefore, He sets Christ before us as an object of attraction. In the measure in which we are taken up with Him, the moral and spiritual change toward our practical perfection takes place. It says, in 2 Corinthians 3:1818But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord. (2 Corinthians 3:18), “But we all, looking on the glory of the Lord, with unveiled face, are transformed according to the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Lord the Spirit” (J. N. Darby Trans.).
As we grow in grace we will have fewer and fewer extraneous interests in our lives, and Christ will become our one absorbing object. Having our hearts focused on “one thing”—Christ in glory—will make us devoted Christians. Zeal and energy in the things of God are the by-products of having that singular object before our hearts. Friends, that’s what God is working towards in our lives as He seeks to bring us to Christian maturity.
As mentioned, in this chapter (Philippians 3), Paul speaks of his own experience as an example. He shows what simple occupation with Christ can do. It has the power to transform a person’s life! Even if a person is totally committed to doing his own thing—like Paul was—the power of this superior object over the human heart can deliver that person from it. When Christ captured the attention of Paul’s heart, his values and standards totally changed. He began to weigh everything in relation to Christ in glory. He says that he “counted” the things he once lived for and pursued after as “loss” (vs. 7), even as being “dung” (vs. 8). Christ became his touchstone. He measured everything in his life in relation to Christ. Every decision in his life was made in view of his new Object.
He speaks of seven new desires in his life—all of which were centered in Christ.
Seven New Desires of Paul
To win [gain] Christ (vs. 8). He had already gained Christ as his Saviour, but he wanted to reach Him in the glorified state in heaven.
To be found in Him not having his own righteousness (vs. 9). He wanted to be there in the glorified state with Christ having absolutely nothing of his own doing to boast in.
To know Him (vs. 10). He wanted to know Christ more intimately while here on the path to glory.
To know the power of His resurrection (vs. 10). The greatest display of God’s power was the raising of the Lord Jesus from the dead. That power has been placed at the disposal of all believers (Eph. 1:18-10). He wanted to experience it practically in his life and testimony.
To know the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death (vs. 10). Living a life of powerful witness will lead to opposition from the world. There will be reproach, persecution, and even martyrdom. That being the case, he wanted to suffer as Christ suffered, so that he could be more like Him.
To attain unto the resurrection from among the dead (vs. 11). If following Christ would lead even to death, he was willing for it. Then he would be that much more like Christ and would experience the power of literal resurrection.
To lay hold of what he was apprehended for (vs. 12). As he passed along the way to glory he wanted to grow in his apprehension of that glorious end to which he was called.
These seven new desires led Paul to do “one thing”—to forget those things which were behind and reach forth to those things which were before him—namely, Christ in glory. I say it again; this is what simple occupation with Christ will do in our lives!
You might ask, “How does God make Christ more attractive to my heart?” Friends, it’s not something difficult; it happens simply by spending time with the Lord Jesus. The more time we spend with Him, the more precious He becomes to our hearts. And the more His attractiveness captures our hearts, the more we will let go of our other pursuits. The immediate effect of spending time with the Lord Jesus is that the course of our lives will be altered.
So what I am saying, dear friends, is that if you spend some serious time with the Lord Jesus, this transformation will happen to you! Your focus will be refined, and you’ll become a zealous Christian for the Lord. You may be a person who is entrenched in certain pursuits in your life that command your time and attention, but regardless of the power that those things may have over you, you’ll let them go because a greater Object has captured your attention. It’s as simple as that!
Earthly and worldly ambitions hinder us from going on to perfection in this practical sense. I don’t have to tell you that Satan is working overtime to keep those extraneous things in your life. They may not be things that are intrinsically evil, but they are “weights” that hinder us from running the race to glory (Heb. 12:11Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, (Hebrews 12:1)). All the will-power in the world from the best-intentioned Christian will not effectively alter the course of his or her life. The power to let go of things will not come from within. It’s not by your own strength, but by Christ absorbing our attention. And that only happens by spending time with Him.
Even after extraneous things are shed, Satan works to introduce new things into our lives that will clog up our focus on Christ. He wants to fill our lives with all sorts of stuff that will occupy our time and interest so that we do not go on to perfection. This reminds me of a story I heard of a mentally handicapped young man who worked on a farm in the Midwest. The farmers would round up as many workers as they could for the harvest, and this young fellow was one of them who showed up for work. He became the object of the workers’ fun. He had these oversized trousers with huge pockets. To entertain themselves the men would come up to the young fellow and put their arm around him to greet him, and while they were talking to him they would slip a couple of stones into his pocket. They would continue to do this throughout the day until both his pockets were loaded. And he never realized it! After a while he was dragging around many extra pounds of weight as he did his work, which of course, slowed him down.
Dear fellow-Christian, do you realize that that is exactly what Satan is doing with us? He’s trying to introduce things into our lives that will distract us and hold us from going after our heavenly object—Christ in glory. Let’s be on guard about taking on things (projects) in our lives. It could be a ploy of the devil to get us bogged down.
Three Minds
At the end of the chapter, Paul speaks of three minds: those who are “thus minded” (vs. 15), those who are “otherwise minded” (vs. 15), and those who are earthly-minded, or, who “mind earthly things” (vss. 18-19). In relation to pursuing Christ as our sole object in life, every one of us is in one or another of these three states.
1) To be “thus minded” is to be like the Apostle Paul by having one singular object in our lives—Christ. We have no other “irons in the fire,” as far as interests in life are concerned.
2) To be “otherwise minded” is not having let go of everything else in our lives. There are perhaps a few extraneous interests still there. I think that it’s beautiful to see the Apostle’s remarks concerning those who are in this state. He says, “God shall reveal even this unto you” (vs. 15). He understood that there are different stages of development in the Christian experience. Time is needed for each to “grow up into Him in all things” (Eph. 4:1515But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: (Ephesians 4:15)). Paul was confident that the Lord would show those who were such that the only real way to live the Christian life was by being “thus minded.” He knew that God was working to that end with His people and was content to leave them with Him.
He went on and said, “Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Phil. 3:1616Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing. (Philippians 3:16)). He didn’t ask them to walk in his shoes, or in somebody else’s shoes—in a path that they did not have the faith or conviction for— because then it only would be a legal thing for them. He said, “Walk in what you have ‘already attained.’” In other words, walk in the light that you do have, and God will show you, as grace permits. This is important, because if we try to walk in something that we haven’t seen—maybe to get rid of something in our lives that has not been displaced by affection for Christ, because we want to please our brethren—it will be legality. You don’t want to take up things in the Christian path on that line, because you’ll likely throw them over later on.
3) Then, in the latter part of the chapter, he speaks of those who are earthly-minded (“who mind earthly things”). They are mere professors who are not saved at all. They are moving among the Lord’s people as “enemies of the cross of Christ.” Their influence on the saints is only negative. The ways of earthly-minded people have a tendency to rub off on those with whom they associate (1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33)). This was Paul’s great concern—that these mere professors would corrupt the saints with their earthly-mindedness. It’s possible for a Christian to be earthly minded too. We can get so occupied with earthly things that we lose sight of the Lord’s things altogether.
In regard to taking the inheritance in Joshua’s day, we see that there were these same three states among the children of Israel. The two and a half tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and the half tribe of Manasseh answer to the “thus minded” (Josh. 15-17). They went up quickly and took their inheritance. The seven tribes who hesitated to go in and take their portion in the land answer to the “otherwise minded” (Josh. 18-19). It’s interesting to note what Joshua did to encourage them to rise up and take their inheritance. He got three men from each of the tribes to go into the land and write out a detailed description of what they saw. The men brought the report back and rehearsed the beauties of the land before the people (Josh. 18:3-93And Joshua said unto the children of Israel, How long are ye slack to go to possess the land, which the Lord God of your fathers hath given you? 4Give out from among you three men for each tribe: and I will send them, and they shall rise, and go through the land, and describe it according to the inheritance of them; and they shall come again to me. 5And they shall divide it into seven parts: Judah shall abide in their coast on the south, and the house of Joseph shall abide in their coasts on the north. 6Ye shall therefore describe the land into seven parts, and bring the description hither to me, that I may cast lots for you here before the Lord our God. 7But the Levites have no part among you; for the priesthood of the Lord is their inheritance: and Gad, and Reuben, and half the tribe of Manasseh, have received their inheritance beyond Jordan on the east, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave them. 8And the men arose, and went away: and Joshua charged them that went to describe the land, saying, Go and walk through the land, and describe it, and come again to me, that I may here cast lots for you before the Lord in Shiloh. 9And the men went and passed through the land, and described it by cities into seven parts in a book, and came again to Joshua to the host at Shiloh. (Joshua 18:3‑9)). This was calculated to stir up the remaining tribes to go in and take their inheritance. And that’s exactly what happened; seven more tribes went up into their inheritance. This speaks of the Lord raising up gifted men who go into the things of God and learn of the wonderful heavenly blessings that belong to the Christian. He then sends them among His people to minister, and thus, it stirs them up to go in and enjoy those things for themselves.
This left the two and a half tribes of Rueben, Gad, and the half tribe of Manasseh (Josh. 22). They answer to those who are earthly-minded—“who mind earthly things.” They didn’t want a portion in the land of Canaan, which speaks of heavenly things. Instead, they chose to have their inheritance on the other side of the Jordan River, which speaks of earthly things.
Perfecting Our Understanding
Now, let’s look at another thing that God is seeking to perfect in our lives. Let’s turn to 1 Corinthians 14:2020Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. (1 Corinthians 14:20). “Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men [perfect].” The Apostle speaks here of the need of the perfecting of our understanding. You might ask, “Understanding of what?” The answer is this: the divine revelation of truth. God not only wants us to be devoted Christians; He wants us to be intelligent Christians. He has made full provision for it. “He has caused to abound towards us in all wisdom and intelligence, having made known to us the mystery of His will” (Eph. 1:8-98Wherein he hath abounded toward us in all wisdom and prudence; 9Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself: (Ephesians 1:8‑9) – J. N. Darby Trans.; Col. 4:1212Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. (Colossians 4:12)).
One of the great problems in the history of the Church has been ignorance. All kinds of things were brought in after the days of the apostles because the saints lacked knowledge of the divine will. It was the same in the history of Israel. The Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hos. 4:66My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children. (Hosea 4:6)).
A good many difficulties that we get into in our lives today can be traced to our lack of knowledge. The Bible says, “That the soul be without knowledge, it is not good” (Prov. 19:22Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth. (Proverbs 19:2)). While this verse is speaking of knowledge in practical things, still, the Lord would have us to be built up in the “most holy faith” (Jude 2020But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, (Jude 20)). Simply put, He wants us to know the truth and to walk in it.
You might ask, “How does the Lord perfect our understanding?” Unequivocally, we say, through His Word! It says in 2 Timothy 3:16-1716All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. (2 Timothy 3:16‑17), “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” The Christian who neglects his Bible will not go on to perfection, but if we spend time every day in the Scriptures and are subject to the Spirit of God as we read, we will grow in our understanding.
It’s important that we pay attention to doctrine. I remember hearing C. H. Brown say (on tape) that there are people who think that it’s not important what you hold as to doctrine; it’s how you live that matters. They think that it doesn’t make a difference, but he said, “It makes all the difference in the world, because doctrine forms our walk.” He also said, “You can’t live right until you believe right!” Then he asked, “Why don’t I go with the Baptists or Congregationalists?” He said, “In a word, DOCTRINE!” We don’t believe the same things they do as to how Christians should meet together for worship and ministry, and it has led to separate paths.
I’ve met people with similar ideas. They say, “What does it matter what we hold as long as we all love one another and get along? That’s what really counts!” This is a simplistic view of things and betrays ignorance. If we are not grounded in “the faith” we are liable to get “tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine” that comes along (Eph. 4:13-1413Till 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 fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:13‑14)).
Does God care what we believe? Yes, indeed! He wants us to be intelligent in His mind and ways. J. N. Darby said that no Christian knows his proper place without doctrine; and no Christian can walk rightly without it. We must have a clear understanding of “the Mystery” (the calling of the Church, and its nature and unity) so that we know what God is doing in this world in this present day. It is only then that we can accord ourselves properly with God’s program.
Furthermore, doctrine can save us! Paul said to Timothy, “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee” (1 Tim. 4:1616Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee. (1 Timothy 4:16); 2 Tim. 3:1515And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:15)). The aspect of salvation here is a practical thing. You say, “But saved from what?” Saved from the great movement of apostasy afoot in the Christian testimony (1 Tim. 4:1-21Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; 2Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron; (1 Timothy 4:1‑2)). I’m not saying that a Christian can apostatize, but he can get swept along with the current of apostasy and give up certain doctrines and practises. Being uncompromising in doctrine can save us from getting into bad doctrine that will affect our walk and ways. It’s a fact that good doctrine leads to godliness, and bad doctrine leads to ungodliness. 1 Timothy 6:33If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; (1 Timothy 6:3) says, “ ... doctrine which is according to godliness.” But 2 Timothy 2:1616But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. (2 Timothy 2:16) says, “Shun profane and vain babblings (i.e., bad doctrine): for they will increase unto more ungodliness.” This plainly shows that our doctrine affects our walk. This is a good reason why we want to be sound in doctrine.
Now, if you’re like a lot of people, you might be saying that you don’t get much out of reading the Scriptures. Perhaps you say, “I don’t understand much of what I read in the Bible.” God has anticipated this problem, and thus, He has given “gifts” to the Church to help us to that end. Ephesians 4:11-1411And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13Till 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 fulness of Christ: 14That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; (Ephesians 4:11‑14) says, “He (the Lord) gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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: that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive.” This passage sees the saints coming to perfection in a collective sense—that is, as a company of believers walking together. God has made full provision for the saints to reach perfection in this practical sense. He has given us a new nature (new birth) that has the capacity for divine things, the Spirit of God to teach us, and, as this passage shows us, men specially endowed with spiritual gifts to help us.
This means that we need to avail ourselves of the ministry God has given to gifted persons. Their ministry will help us understand the divine revelation and will help us to “go on to perfection.” It may be in the form of written ministry, recorded ministry, oral ministry, or personal conversation. Whatever the medium, avail yourself of as much as you can. To disregard these God-given helps will only slow the process of reaching a fuller understanding of the divine revelation of Christian truth.
Even if a person is not marked by having some special gift (if they have been diligent to learn the truth), we should be willing to receive what they have. God has put them in our path to help us come to the knowledge of the truth. For instance, take the example of Aquila and Priscilla when they met Apollos (Acts 18:24-2824And a certain Jew named Apollos, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, and mighty in the scriptures, came to Ephesus. 25This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in the spirit, he spake and taught diligently the things of the Lord, knowing only the baptism of John. 26And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly. 27And when he was disposed to pass into Achaia, the brethren wrote, exhorting the disciples to receive him: who, when he was come, helped them much which had believed through grace: 28For he mightily convinced the Jews, and that publickly, showing by the scriptures that Jesus was Christ. (Acts 18:24‑28)). It doesn’t say that they were especially gifted, but that they took Apollos “unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.” He profited from it and it made him that much more effective in his ministry. He was willing to be corrected and adjusted on doctrine, and he, therefore, grew in his understanding.
You know, the older we get the harder it is to receive correction and adjustment on doctrine. I used to say that you can’t correct someone over 50 years of age, or at least, rarely. Notice, I said, I used to say that. (I passed that milestone a couple of years back!) In fact, of all the various categories of people that compose the saints gathered to the Lord’s name, it seems that the hardest ones of all to correct are the so-called “labouring brothers!” Perhaps they have been teaching something a certain way for years, and when someone seeks to correct them as to it, they have the hardest time receiving it. I’m not picking on them; it’s just that they’re usually older, and as I’ve been saying, the older you are the harder it is to receive correction. Dear young people, my point is this: the time to learn the truth and get adjusted as to the finer points of doctrine is now while you’re young. A person is generally more flexible and teachable when they are young.
I had a brother correct me on a point on which I was mistaken. It had to do with the judgment seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:1010For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. (2 Corinthians 5:10)). I had been saying that it will be a public exposure before all the saints. Since we would be perfect then, not having the flesh, I was comforted a little by the thought that it wouldn’t be embarrassing. Brother Vern Clark got a hold of me and told me that I didn’t have things quite right. He took five or six different books from my own shelves and showed me that various gifted men taught that it would be a private review between the Lord and the individual only. Well, was I ever glad to get that adjustment! I really didn’t like my doctrine anyway!
Perfecting Holiness in Our Walk
Now, let’s look at another thing that God is seeking to perfect in us. Turn to 2 Corinthians 6:12-7:112Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 1Having 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 Corinthians 6:12‑7:1). “Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. Now for a recompense in the same (I speak as unto my children) be ye also enlarged. Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? And what communion hath light with darkness. And what concord hath Christ with Belial? Or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? For ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. 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.”
Here we have another thing—perfecting holiness in our walk. This passage shows us that there are two parts to perfecting holiness in a Christian’s life. One is outward, and the other is inward. The outward side is to separate from external things and persons of this world (2 Cor. 6:14-1814Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? 15And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? 16And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 17Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, 18And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:14‑18)). The inward side is judging unclean personal habits and ways in our lives (2 Cor. 7:11Having 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 Corinthians 7:1)). Perfecting holiness is not one of these—it’s both. The two go together. I say this because it’s possible for us to come out of the world, but not have the world come out of us. We can separate from some worldly thing or person, but still be very worldly in our ways. Having only the outward side is hypocrisy. God wants “truth in the inward parts” with each one of us (Psa. 51:66Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. (Psalm 51:6)). The priests’ clothing illustrates the proper balance of the two. They were to wear linen “coats,” which speak of outward purity before the eyes of men, but they were also to wear linen “breeches” under their coats (Ex. 28:40-4340And for Aaron's sons thou shalt make coats, and thou shalt make for them girdles, and bonnets shalt thou make for them, for glory and for beauty. 41And thou shalt put them upon Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him; and shalt anoint them, and consecrate them, and sanctify them, that they may minister unto me in the priest's office. 42And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach: 43And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they come in unto the tabernacle of the congregation, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die: it shall be a statute for ever unto him and his seed after him. (Exodus 28:40‑43)). That speaks of inward purity before the eye of God.
There are some old English words used in this passage that might be a little confusing. “Straitened,” means narrowed, or restricted. “Bowels,” refers to our affections. The Apostle told the Corinthians that their affections were being restricted toward Christ and His people—particularly toward the Apostle and his fellow-workers (vs. 12). He entreats them to be “enlarged” in their affections (vs. 13) and traces their problem of being restricted to association with the world. This leads him to beseech them not to be “unequally yoked together with unbelievers” (vs. 14).
Separation is insisted on because holiness cannot be maintained apart from it. The Apostle speaks of four great promises that the Lord Himself makes to all who would walk in separation.
“I will dwell in them.”
“I will be their God, and they shall be My people.”
“I will receive you.”
“I will be a Father unto you.”
These things are set before the believer as an encouragement to separate from everything that is inconsistent with the nature of God. Perhaps some may be saying, “If I separate from my friends in the world, I won’t have anybody to hang out with!” Well, the Lord wants to be your best Friend. He says, “I will dwell with you.” He wants to walk with you in a practical way. It’s true that He is with every one of us (Heb. 13:55Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (Hebrews 13:5)), but this is a special sense of His presence that He grants to those who walk with Him in separation. Maybe you’re saying, “I know that I should separate from certain people in my life, but I don’t think that I have the strength to do it.” Well, by the Lord calling Himself “the Lord Almighty,” He is indicating that He has all the power that you need to do it. He will help you.
Various Unequal Yokes
On this subject, C. H. Mackintosh notes that there are various yokes of which we need to keep clear. There is the social sphere—being linked with unconverted people in various kinds of social activities. Then there is the business yoke—being linked with unconverted people in business partnerships and ventures. There is also the ecclesiastical yoke—being linked with persons in an unscriptural religious fellowship. There is also the matrimonial yoke—being linked in marriage with someone who is not saved. And lastly, there is the political yoke—being linked with unconverted people in a political party or cause.
Whatever the case may be, if we are in one or more of these yokes, and we continue in them, eventually they will squeeze Christ right out of our lives in a practical sense. If we have links in these spheres, it is imperative that we break them. (This would not apply to the matrimonial yoke, for Paul teaches elsewhere that if one is in a mixed marriage, then one is to abide in it, because God might save the unbelieving husband or wife – 1 Cor. 7:10-1710And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband: 11But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried, or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife. 12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away. 13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him. 14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy. 15But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace. 16For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife? 17But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches. (1 Corinthians 7:10‑17); Matt. 19:66Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder. (Matthew 19:6).)
Reasons Why Separation is Necessary
1) First, and foremost, separation is necessary because association with the world will restrict our affections for Christ and His people. To put it as simply as I can, it brings coldness into our souls towards the Lord Jesus—our love for Him will wane! As mentioned in this very passage we have read (2 Cor. 6:12-1412Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels. 13Now for a recompence in the same, (I speak as unto my children,) be ye also enlarged. 14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:12‑14)), our “bowels” (affections) become “straitened” (restricted). This sad effect is seen in the case of Ephraim who “mixed himself among the people [peoples]” of the nations (Hosea 7:88Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. (Hosea 7:8)). The result was he became “like a silly dove without heart” (Hos. 7:1111Ephraim also is like a silly dove without heart: they call to Egypt, they go to Assyria. (Hosea 7:11)). His association with the world took his heart away! This ought to make any right-minded Christian want to run from the world. If this fact doesn’t alarm you, then I’d say that you’ve already been numbed by its influences and have become insensible.
2) Association with the world will take away our appetite for the Word of God. We see this illustrated in the history of Israel when they passed through the wilderness. As you know, God appointed the manna for them as their food (Ex. 16). The New Testament tells us that it is a type of Christ, who is the spiritual food for the Christian (John 6:31-5831Our fathers did eat manna in the desert; as it is written, He gave them bread from heaven to eat. 32Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Moses gave you not that bread from heaven; but my Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 34Then said they unto him, Lord, evermore give us this bread. 35And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst. 36But I said unto you, That ye also have seen me, and believe not. 37All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. 38For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. 39And this is the Father's will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. 40And this is the will of him that sent me, that every one which seeth the Son, and believeth on him, may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day. 41The Jews then murmured at him, because he said, I am the bread which came down from heaven. 42And they said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven? 43Jesus therefore answered and said unto them, Murmur not among yourselves. 44No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. 45It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me. 46Not that any man hath seen the Father, save he which is of God, he hath seen the Father. 47Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. 48I am that bread of life. 49Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. 50This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. 51I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. 52The Jews therefore strove among themselves, saying, How can this man give us his flesh to eat? 53Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. 54Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. 55For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. 56He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him. 57As the living Father hath sent me, and I live by the Father: so he that eateth me, even he shall live by me. 58This is that bread which came down from heaven: not as your fathers did eat manna, and are dead: he that eateth of this bread shall live for ever. (John 6:31‑58)). However, there came a time in their journey through the wilderness that they became tired of the manna. They said, “Now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes” (Num. 11:4-64And the mixt multitude that was among them fell a lusting: and the children of Israel also wept again, and said, Who shall give us flesh to eat? 5We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: 6But now our soul is dried away: there is nothing at all, beside this manna, before our eyes. (Numbers 11:4‑6)). It was because they were lusting after the foods of Egypt which they had eaten before they found shelter under the blood of the lamb. Egypt, as you know, is a type of this world. Hence, Israel’s experience of getting tired of the manna speaks of a believer lusting after worldly pleasures that he once partook of before he was saved. The result is that his appetite for the Manna—Christ in the Scriptures—is spoiled. Every right-minded Christian should want to get rid of everything that would hinder his or her appetite for the Word of God
3) Association with the world will defile and corrupt our morals. It is a fact that if a Christian associates with worldly people he will begin to think and act like them, and thus, their worldly values and morals will become his. Nevertheless, some Christians who are either naïve or self-willed, think that they can associate with the world and not be affected by it. But we’re not wiser than the Word of God which says, “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:3333Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners. (1 Corinthians 15:33)). Any person who thinks that he or she can walk with the world and not be defiled by it is only deceiving themselves. Lot’s morals dropped down to the level of the men of Sodom. This is seen in the alarming fact that he offered his daughters to the men of the city!
Years ago there was a group of teenagers who were going on a tour of a coal mine in Scotland. One girl, who was wearing a white dress asked the guide, “Sir, do you think that there will be anything to keep me from wearing this dress into the mine?” He answered, “Lassie, there is nothing keeping you from wearing that white dress into the mine, but there will be considerable that will hinder you from wearing that white dress out of the mine!” It’s a fact that we are affected by the environment in which we live.
4) Association with the world will hinder our spiritual development. It will hinder us from growing in our souls—from going on to perfection. Again, this is seen in the case of Ephraim who “mixed himself among the people [peoples]” of the nations. The “peoples,” are the Gentiles who don’t know the Lord. The result was that Ephraim was like a “cake not turned” (Hos. 7:88Ephraim, he hath mixed himself among the people; Ephraim is a cake not turned. (Hosea 7:8)). We all know that a pancake must be cooked on both sides before it is done. Ephraim’s association with the people of the world hindered his spiritual progress so that he was only half developed. On another occasion, the children of Israel who mixed themselves with the world and its idols were likened to a “vessel” that was “marred in the hand of the potter” (Jer. 18:1-61The word which came to Jeremiah from the Lord, saying, 2Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause thee to hear my words. 3Then I went down to the potter's house, and, behold, he wrought a work on the wheels. 4And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter: so he made it again another vessel, as seemed good to the potter to make it. 5Then the word of the Lord came to me, saying, 6O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the Lord. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel. (Jeremiah 18:1‑6)). They were spoiled, as far as turning out to be what the Lord intended for them.
5) Association with the world causes a loss of spiritual power in our personal life. Joshua warned the people in his day, saying, “If ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you” (Josh. 23:12-1312Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: 13Know for a certainty that the Lord your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the Lord your God hath given you. (Joshua 23:12‑13)). He told the children of Israel that if they linked themselves with the peoples of the nations, they would sap their strength and then Israel would no longer be able to stand before their enemies. Again, with Ephraim it says, “Strangers have devoured his strength” (Hos. 7:99Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. (Hosea 7:9)).
It’s a fact that if we indulge in the fleshly things of this world, the flesh and its desires will become so strong that it will control us! We will become as weak as a kitten, spiritually speaking, and have no power to stand against it. Romans 6:1919I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness. (Romans 6:19), teaches us that the more a man gives in to the flesh, the more fleshly he becomes. It says, “Ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity [lawlessness] unto iniquity [lawlessness]. ... ” The iniquity he allows in his life builds towards more iniquity. It shows that when the power of sin works in a person’s life, it will, if not judged, work to the point where it will control him altogether! He comes under the power of it.
Samson is another illustration of this. By his association with the worldly Philistine girl (Delilah), he lost his strength. “His strength went from him” (Jud. 16:19). Now let me ask you, “Does that sound like something you would want?”
6) Association with the world will take away our discernment. Again, we could turn to the example of Ephraim to see this. It says, “Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not” (Hos. 7:99Strangers have devoured his strength, and he knoweth it not: yea, gray hairs are here and there upon him, yet he knoweth not. (Hosea 7:9)). Having associated with the world, Ephraim not only lost his strength, but he became insensible. There was spiritual decay, and he didn’t know it! Samson didn’t seem to know that he had lost it either. He said, “I will go out as at other times before, and shake myself. And he wist not that the LORD was departed from him” (Jud. 16:20). Dear fellow believer, do you want your spiritual discernment to be taken away? Certainly not! Then keep yourself “at arm’s length” from the world.
7) Association with the world will eventually turn us away from following the Lord! The children of Israel were told not to mix with the nations of the land who knew not the Lord, for they would turn them away from following the Lord (Deut. 7:1-41When the Lord thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou goest to possess it, and hath cast out many nations before thee, the Hittites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Canaanites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, seven nations greater and mightier than thou; 2And when the Lord thy God shall deliver them before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt make no covenant with them, nor show mercy unto them: 3Neither shalt thou make marriages with them; thy daughter thou shalt not give unto his son, nor his daughter shalt thou take unto thy son. 4For they will turn away thy son from following me, that they may serve other gods: so will the anger of the Lord be kindled against you, and destroy thee suddenly. (Deuteronomy 7:1‑4)). They didn’t heed that warning, and that’s exactly what happened! And friends, it’s no different with us. Once this world gets its claws into a Christian it will turn him away from following the Lord altogether. It may take time, like the thin edge of a wedge working its way in, bit-by-bit, but it will draw a person away from the Lord. Now let me ask you, dear fellow Christian, “Is that something you want to have happen in your life?”
8) Association with the world will destroy our personal testimony. It should be quite obvious why we, as Christians, should walk in holiness. We bear Christ’s name before the world, and our actions are a reflection on Him! The very word “Christian,” means “Christ’s ones.” In Alexander the Great’s army there was a soldier named Alexander who misbehaved terribly. One day the general (Alexander the Great) called the soldier before him and said, “Soldier, change your ways, or change your name!” By his poor conduct the soldier brought disrepute upon the general who had the same name, and he didn’t want that.
As Christians, we can’t change the name we bear; it would be to abandon Christianity altogether. But we can be exercised about changing our ways, with the Lord’s help. Generally, Christians have rendered a poor testimony before the world, and it’s a wonder anyone turns to the Lord and gets saved. Gandhi, of India, said that if it wasn’t for Christians he would have become one! By living in Sodom (a type of this world in its moral corruption) Lot lost his power in testimony. When he went to call his sons-in-law out of that city which was under judgment, his words to them seemed “as one that mocked” (Gen. 19:1414And Lot went out, and spake unto his sons in law, which married his daughters, and said, Up, get you out of this place; for the Lord will destroy this city. But he seemed as one that mocked unto his sons in law. (Genesis 19:14)). They didn’t take him seriously.
As we speak of these two things that go into our “perfecting holiness in the fear of God”—separation and self-judgment—it seems that it begins with the inner side of judging ourselves of “all pollution of the flesh and spirit.” Then having done that, it would lead to the outward side of separation from the things of the world. May God give us the grace to do it.
Perfecting the Love of God in Us
There is more, however, to God’s work of perfecting the saints than holiness. It’s true that “God is light” (1 John 1:55This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. (1 John 1:5)) and that demands holiness in all who walk with Him—hence, separation and self-judgment are necessary on our part (1 Peter 1:15-1615But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. (1 Peter 1:15‑16)). But “God is love,” too (1 John 4:88He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8)), and He would have His love perfected in us as well. We need both. Separation and self-judgment are the negative side of our character change; the positive side is that we would love as He loves. Matthew 5:4848Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Matthew 5:48) says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” This means that God would have us to be morally perfect as He is morally perfect. You say, “Well that’s a pretty tall order!” Yes, God aims high with His people, but one day we will be perfect as He is perfect when we are glorified.
Presently, God is engaged in perfecting His love in us. This would be evidenced, firstly, by our obedience to Him. The more His love is perfected in us the more simple and unquestioning our obedience will be. 1 John 2:55But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. (1 John 2:5) says, “Whoso keepeth His word, in him verily is the love of God perfected.” The character of this obedience is that of the Lord Jesus’ obedience to His Father. The next verse (6) says, “He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” With the Lord Jesus it was not a legal obedience. It was obedience that worked by love. He said, “I love the Father; and as the Father gave Me commandment, even so I do” (John 14:3131But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence. (John 14:31)). That’s the character of obedience we are to have in our lives. It is called “the obedience of Christ” (2 Cor. 10:55Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5); 1 Peter 1:22Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied. (1 Peter 1:2)). Notice, it does not say, “obedience to Christ,” which has a different thought altogether. It is Christ’s obedience reproduced in us. Friends, if you say that you love God, then obedience to God and His Word will be seen in your life! (John 14:15, 2115If ye love me, keep my commandments. (John 14:15)
21He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him. (John 14:21)) It’s easy to say that you love the Lord, but your life proves whether you do.
The perfecting of the love of God in us will be seen, not just in our obedience to God, but also in our love toward our brethren. There will be a deeper, wider love for others. 1 John 4:11-12 Says, “Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth is us, and His love is perfected in us.” When we are first saved our love usually runs in a small circle. We might love and care for those in the immediate circle around us—perhaps our family and friends. We naturally love those who love us (Luke 6:3232For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. (Luke 6:32)). But usually, that’s about as far as it goes. However, when God’s love is perfected in us we will love as He loves.
As you probably know, there are two main words used in the original Greek Scriptures for God’s love. One is “agape,” and the other is “phileo.” Agape love is that which is characterized by having a settled disposition toward its object. It is a decision to love a person whether there is something lovable about them or not. For instance, God loved us when there was nothing in us to love. He loves all sinners that way, and we thank Him that He does! (John 3:1616For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)) But Phileo love is characterized by emotion, affection, and intimacy. God loves us both ways. And we are to love one another both ways. This means that as the love of God is perfected in us we will love someone who is not a pleasant person. There may be a rather unlovable brother or sister whom you know. You may not like them as far as their character is concerned because they are cantankerous and fleshly, or whatever, but you can still love them! It is normal for a child of God to love another child of God (1 John 5:11Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. (1 John 5:1)). If that is not the case with us, then there is something seriously wrong. To put it as simply as possible, a person who harbours hard feelings and hatred toward one of his brethren has not the love of God perfected in him.
Our love should not go out merely to the circle of our Christian family, but to the lost too. We are to love them as God loves them—with the “agape” love. However, it is noteworthy that Scripture never tells us to love unsaved people with a “phileo” love. If we do, we could get emotionally wrapped up in their lives, and through intimate involvement with them, we could get drawn into the things they are involved in and get drawn away from the Lord altogether. Many dear, well-meaning Christians have been tripped up this way.
The love of God being perfected in us will also manifest itself in our walking together with our brethren in practical unity. The Lord prayed, “The glory which Thou gavest Me I have given them; that they may be one, even as We are one: I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one” (John 17:22-2322And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one: 23I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. (John 17:22‑23)). The Lord would have His redeemed people walking together in a practical, visible unity before the world. His love being made perfect in us will give us to walk in step with our brethren (1 Chron. 12:3333Of Zebulun, such as went forth to battle, expert in war, with all instruments of war, fifty thousand, which could keep rank: they were not of double heart. (1 Chronicles 12:33) – “keep rank”). There has been much falling out by the way among Christian friends (Gen. 45:2424So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye fall not out by the way. (Genesis 45:24)). There has also been much forsaking of the assembling of ourselves together (Heb. 10:2525Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching. (Hebrews 10:25)). Today, the Church is in a divided mess. There are hundreds of different denominational and non-denominational groups who do not walk in fellowship together. This is not God’s ideal. It only proves that the love of God has not been perfected in His people. If it were, there would be one unified testimony before the world of Christians walking together.
The love of God being perfected in us will also evidence itself in the controlling of our tongue. James says, “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:22For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. (James 3:2)). A full-grown or mature Christian will be careful not to offend with his tongue. How often we fail in this! By habitually living in the presence of the Lord we will learn His meekness and His lowliness. He said, “Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart” (Matt. 11:2929Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. (Matthew 11:29)). Lowliness is a character, but meekness is a manner. Someone who is meek is careful not to give offence. That’s why it has often been said, “Meekness gives no offence, and lowliness takes no offence.” It is said of the virtuous woman, “In her tongue is the law of kindness” (Prov. 31:2626She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness. (Proverbs 31:26)). Could this be said about us? The way in which we speak about others manifests how much, or how little, the love of God has been perfected in us.
The love of God being perfected in us will also be seen in our generosity. We will be generous with our possessions. Matthew 19:22And great multitudes followed him; and he healed them there. (Matthew 19:2)1 Says, “Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven.” This is a very practical demonstration of the love of God. The Apostle John said, “Whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?” (1 John 3:1717But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? (1 John 3:17)) One who is a giving person has the love of God perfected in him.
Perfecting Our Works of Service
Let’s look at one last aspect of God’s work of perfecting His saints in a practical way. Turn to Hebrews 13:20-2120Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20‑21). “Our Lord Jesus ... make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is well-pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (Heb. 13:20- 2120Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 21Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Hebrews 13:20‑21)). This aspect of things has to do with our service for the Lord. Every one of us has been given a “gift” so that we might effectively fill the place in the body of Christ where we have been put (Eph. 4:77But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. (Ephesians 4:7); 1 Peter 4:10-1110As every man hath received the gift, even so minister the same one to another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. 11If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 4:10‑11); Rom. 12:6-86Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 7Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 8Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness. (Romans 12:6‑8)). Perfecting our service makes us profitable Christians.
The Lord would have us to be effective in our service for Him. As we go on with the Lord we will mature, and our service will become more effective and powerful. It says in Mark 4:2020And these are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred. (Mark 4:20), “These are they which are sown on good ground; such as hear the word, and receive it, and bring forth fruit, some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some an hundred.” In Mark’s gospel, Christ is presented as God’s perfect Servant. As we follow Him in that gospel, we get lessons on how to serve God. In this verse that I’ve read, we have the bringing forth of fruit in those who receive the Word of God and are saved. Notice, there is a forward progression. It goes from “thirtyfold” to “sixty” to “an hundred.” That’s what God desires in our lives as we serve Him. We will become more effective in our service as we “follow on to know the Lord” (Hosea 6:33Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: his going forth is prepared as the morning; and he shall come unto us as the rain, as the latter and former rain unto the earth. (Hosea 6:3)). (In Matthew 13:2323But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. (Matthew 13:23), which is dispensational in it’s teaching, it is “an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty,” which is the opposite order. It is speaking of another side of things altogether, depicting the declining power in the Christian testimony historically. There has been, more or less, a downward trend of less fruit for God in the Christian testimony as the centuries have rolled by.) “Let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear” (Heb. 12:2828Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: (Hebrews 12:28)).
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A Summary of God’s Present Work of Perfecting His Saints
Perfecting the focus of our heart makes us devoted Christians.
Perfecting our understanding makes us intelligent Christians.
Perfecting holiness in our walk and ways makes us godly Christians.
Perfecting love in our lives makes us gracious Christians.
Perfecting our service for the Lord makes us profitable Christians.
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The end of all God’s present dealings with us in grace is to make us more like Himself and more like His Son. That is truly perfection! He uses the circumstances of this life in that work of perfecting us. In the end, we will be like the Shulamite bride in the Song of Solomon 8:55Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness, leaning upon her beloved? I raised thee up under the apple tree: there thy mother brought thee forth: there she brought thee forth that bare thee. (Song of Solomon 8:5). Those who observed her exclaimed, “Who is this that cometh up from the wilderness leaning upon her beloved?” They had witnessed such a change in her that they could hardly recognize her! Knowing this, we should be more submissive in the trials and difficulties the Lord allows in our lives. After all, Christian maturity is being able to rejoice in trial, knowing that He has something of profit for us in it. James says, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-42My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:2‑4)). The spirit of contentment seems to be one of the objectives God is working toward. This perhaps is the thought of being “perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
A Scriptural Profile of a Mature(Full-grown) Christian
• He has left Judaism and all its Judaistic principles (Heb. 6:1-41Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3And this will we do, if God permit. 4For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, (Hebrews 6:1‑4)).
Our Final Condition
Perfecting Our Bodies, Souls & Spirits
The final part of our perfecting is in our bodies, souls, and spirits. Turn to Hebrews 11:4040God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:40). “God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect.” Then in chapter 12:23, “ ... the spirits of just men made perfect.” These Scriptures speak about the final stage of our perfection.
The perfecting of the believer’s conscience is a once-for-all-time thing that happens when he receives Christ as his Saviour. It is the beginning of God’s work of perfecting us. Perfection, in this aspect which we now speak, has to do with the final glorifying of not only our bodies, but also of our souls and spirits (Rom. 8:3030Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. (Romans 8:30)). It is the completion of His work of perfecting His saints.
In Hebrews 11, the Apostle spoke of many Old Testament saints who are now long passed off the scene and are with the Lord. He concludes by saying, “They without us should not be made perfect.” That is, those Old Testament saints will be made perfect at the same time the New Testament saints are perfected. This will take place when the Lord comes for us—the rapture (1 Thess. 4:15-1815For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18Wherefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:15‑18)). At that moment, the “corruptible” will put on “incorruption.” That is, the saints that have fallen asleep in Jesus will be raised in a glorified state. Also, the “mortal” will put on “immortality,” which refers to the living saints being changed into a glorified state. Both will happen at the same time (1 Cor. 15:51-5751Behold, I show you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:51‑57)).
Every believer will experience two quickenings. The first quickening is that of his soul and spirit when he is brought from death unto life by the power of God. The Apostle Paul said, “Even when we were dead in sins, hath [He] quickened us together with Christ” (Eph. 2:55Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) (Ephesians 2:5)). This is something that has already happened to every believer. But there is a second quickening of the believer’s body, and that is yet to take place. Paul also said, “He that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by His Spirit that dwelleth in you” (Rom. 8:1111But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. (Romans 8:11)). This is a future thing that awaits the saints of God at the Lord’s coming.
Our final perfecting will include our souls and spirits. At the very moment of the Lord’s coming, the fallen sin nature in the living saints will be eradicated, and they will no longer have the capacity to sin. What a victory that will be! We will forever be “like” Christ morally (1 John 3:22Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (1 John 3:2)), and “like” Christ physically (Phil 3:21). What a glorious future awaits the saints of God!
B. Anstey
(Adapted)
CHRISTIAN PERFECTION IN THREE WAYS—Our Standing, State & Final Condition
B. Anstey
First Printed Edition – July 2006
Printed Version – 1.0
Printed in Canada
First eBook Edition—May 2021
eBook Version – 1.0
Note: all Scriptures quoted are from either the King James Version (KJV)
or the J. N. Darby Translation, unless otherwise noted.
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