Scripture reading Phil 3:13-21
3:13 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,
3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
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.
3:16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.
3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, [that they are] the enemies of the cross of Christ:
3:19 Whose end [is] destruction, whose God [is their] belly, and [whose] glory [is] in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
3:20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:
3:21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.
Intro
My focus text shall be verse 15, and one word in that text, the word “perfect”
Explain: Because we are not surface readers, we are going to dig deep today. What is Paul saying to the Philippians in the text we just read? Paul is admonishing us to strive for this mark of perfection, and this is an admonition that is found all throughout scripture. Strive towards this mark of perfection.
If it is found all through scripture it must mean that it is very important. But how can we intelligently strive towards this mark when we have not the foggiest idea of what perfection is?
My study today shall attempt to clarify this subject matter of perfection.
Body
In Matth 5:48 we find Christ admonitioning us to be perfect; but in his admonition he also gives us a big clue about perfection. Let us read it
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (matth 5:48)
So we establish that God is perfect, but what does Christ mean when he says be like God? To find this answer we still need to go deeper.
Before I move on, I must address this one misunderstanding that some people have. It is the opinion of many that to observe the Ten Commandments is to obtain perfection, but this is could not be further from the truth. (this is merely right living----
Some of you might even quote john14:15 (If ye love me keep my commandments) to re-enforce their argument. But John14:15 is dealing with a lifestyle that is not merely observing the moral law.
Let us look at 2 other texts that makes this abundantly clear.
Let us turn to Heb 6
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,
6:2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.
6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
The second text is found in Matth 19
19:16 And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
19:17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? [there is] none good but one, [that is], God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
19:18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness,
19:19 Honour thy father and [thy] mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
19:20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet?
19:21 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: and come [and] follow me.
These texts make it abundantly clear that there is a higher calling/lifestyle that we must attain to as followers of Christ.
C.O.L pg 393………When this young ruler came to Jesus, his sincerity and earnestness won the Saviour's heart. He "beholding him loved him." In this young man He saw one who might do service as a preacher of righteousness. He would have received this talented and noble youth as readily as He received the poor fishermen who followed Him. Had the young man devoted his ability to the work of saving souls, he might have become a diligent and successful laborer for Christ. {COL 392.2}
……………………….. Christ looked upon the young man and longed after his soul. He longed to send him forth as a messenger of blessing to men. In the place of that which He called upon him to surrender, Christ offered him the privilege of companionship with Himself. "Follow Me," He said. This privilege had been counted a joy by Peter, James, and John. The young man himself looked upon Christ with admiration. His heart was drawn toward the Saviour. But he was not ready to accept the Saviour's principle of self-sacrifice. He chose his riches before Jesus. He wanted eternal life, but would not receive into the soul that unselfish love which alone is life, and with a sorrowful heart he turned away from Christ. {COL 393.2}
This statement says it all. We are sincere in our search for eternal life but we become discouraged, murmur and complain when we find out what the requirements are to achieve it.
Is perfection a requirement?
Some of you might be saying………………”wait a minute brother Greenland….what you saying……………that if I don’t achieve perfection I cannot go to heaven?”
Yes!...This is exactly what I am saying. We are not talking nominal or earthly perfection here folks. We are talking about heavenly perfection. As what Christ was referring to in matth5:48.
Now the question is, “Has anyone apart from Christ achieved this type of perfection on Earth?” Paul was making it abundantly clear that he does not claim to have reached it, but he is striving for it.
Although Christ is our example, still some don’t believe (or rather cannot understand) that Christ was fully man. Some still believe that Christ overcame sin as God and not as man. I will not go into that today but let us look at two individuals that the scripture records as perfect.
Our first individual is mentioned Gen 6:1-9
6:1 And it came to pass, when men began to multiply on the face of the earth, and daughters were born unto them,
6:2 That the sons of God saw the daughters of men that they [were] fair; and they took them wives of all which they chose.
6:3 And the LORD said, My spirit shall not always strive with man, for that he also [is] flesh: yet his days shall be an hundred and twenty years.
6:4 There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bare [children] to them, the same [became] mighty men which [were] of old, men of renown.
6:5 And God saw that the wickedness of man [was] great in the earth, and [that] every imagination of the thoughts of his heart [was] only evil continually.
6:6 And it repented the LORD that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart.
6:7 And the LORD said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them.
6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
6:9 These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.
Of course verse 9 is my focus verse, although the generations of Noah is here described as giants and wickedness, and vile etc verse 5, Noah is described as perfect. We know that the fresh grape juice he brought on board had fermented and gotten him drunk later. But the scripture records him as being perfect. We are not going to get into the how just yet.
For our other perfect person we will go to Job 1
1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.
We know that during his trials that Job says some things that make you wonder however he is described as perfect.
I hope you make the connection that these two individuals represent the people that are alive prior to the falling of the judgment of God on the Earth. They are ensample (types)
1 Corinth 10: 11
The description that they are given will be the description that the people who will be translated will be given.
Perfection can only be attained through Christ
Now that we have a notion of what perfect individuals look like. The next big question is “How do I become perfect”
LUKE 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
VS
EPH 3:19,,,,that ye may be filed with all the fullness of God
CHRISTIANITY IS HUMANITY TAKING ON DIVINITY.
Being perfect is a requirement……………
Conclusion
Heb 13:20-21
13:20 Now 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,
13:21 Make 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.
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