Christian Perfection

Hebrews 6:1-8 — Heb 6:1 ¶ Therefore 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, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, 5 And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, 6 If they shall fall away, to renew them again unto repentance; seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh, and put him to an open shame. 7 For the earth which drinketh in the rain that cometh oft upon it, and bringeth forth herbs meet for them by whom it is dressed, receiveth blessing from God: 8 But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and is nigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Matthew 5:48 — Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 — And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

• referring to maturity and growth; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect.

Introduction

1. Some Language

• Do we really think we can become "perfect"? What have God's preachers been getting at with such language as:

• "Do not compromise with the world"

• "True Church" / "True Christian" / "Professing Christian"

• "Carnal Christian" / "Spiritual Christian"

• "Fellowship of the Spirit"

• "Closer Walk with Jesus"

• "holiness of heart and life"

• "Entire Sanctification"

Does this mean there is a "division" in the family: carnal and spiritual? - A person is either saved or they are not. -

2. Quotes on the Deeper Christian Life

The chief danger of the Church today is that it is trying to get on the same side as the world, instead of turning the world upside down. Our Master expects us to accomplish results, even if they bring opposition and conflict. Anything is better than compromise, apathy, and paralysis. God give to us an intense cry for the old-time power of the Gospel and the Holy Ghost! A. B. Simpson

The true church lives and moves and has its being in prayer. – Leonard Ravenhill –

Many times that people judge people by the way they dress or by their stature. Man is not judged by how big he is and how strong his muscles; man's judged by character and character alone. — William Branham

3. What are the Principles?

• repentance from dead works
• repentance of faith toward God
• the doctrine of baptisms
• doctrine of laying on of hands
• resurrection of the dead
• eternal judgment.
• once enlightened,
• tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost, tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come

I. Christian Perfection is A Divine Command

Matthew 5:48 — Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Php 3:15 ¶ Let 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.

Christian perfection in any respect is only possible as we stay connected with God.

1Co 15:1 &mmdash; Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; 2 By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. 3 For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; 4 And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:

II. Christian Perfection is A Practical Development

• "Separate in my heart." - If Noah instead of building an ark or Abraham instead of leaving his father's country.

1 Corinthians 3:1-4 — And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ. 2 I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able. 3 For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men? 4 For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

III. Christian Perfection is Biblically Defined

• a) Does not include amoral "infirmities", absence of "human ignorance" or the possibility of mistakes. (Affliction is human condition ever since sin entered into the world, but is not a sin or evidence of sin in the individual.)

John 9:1-3 — And as he passed by, he saw a man blind from his birth. 2 And his disciples asked him, saying, Rabbi, who sinned, this man, or his parents, that he should be born blind? 3 Jesus answered, Neither did this man sin, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in him.

1Co 15:51 ¶ Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, [most will sleep]

1 Thessalonians 4:16 — — For 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:

• b) Also, Does not include a freedom from temptation, trouble.

John 16:33 — These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Hebrews 4:15 — For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

• c) Does not include a character so strong in itself that it can stand apart from the grace of God. - We must remain entirely in the grace of God from start to finish.

Ephesians 1:4 — According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

Romans 5:2 &mdas; By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Joh 15:5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.

A. Perfect in Love (Matthew 5:38-48)

• not romantic love, but "to will the good" (John 3:16)

Mt 5:38 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. 42 Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. 43 ¶ Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

1 Corinthians 13:1 — Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 ¶ Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things. 8 ¶ Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

B. Perfect in Faith (Hebrews 12:2)

• A ministry of Jesus is to both AUTHOR and FINISH our faith.

Hebrews 12:2 — Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. [finisher: the consumator; the completer]

C. Perfect in Character

Ephesians 4:11-16 — And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 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 fulness of Christ: 14 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; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16 From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

• A Perfect Man
• No Longer Vulnerable Children: carried about
• Growing Up in All things which is the head, even Christ