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It is a
very common utterance in the camp of formality that no one
may hope to be perfect in this life. But what says the
Word ?
1. Perfection is commanded both in the Old and New
Testaments.
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the
Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the
Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.
"—Gen. 17: 1.
"Thou shalt be perfect with the Lord thy
God."— Deut. 18: 13.
"And thou, Solomon my son, know thou the God of thy
Father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a
willing mind: for the Lord searcheth all hearts, and
understandeth all the imaginations of the thoughts: if
thou seek him, he will be found of thee; but if thou
forsake him, he will cast thee off for ever. " —1
Chron. 28: 9.
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which
is in heaven is perfect. "—Matt. 5: 48.
"The disciple is not above his master: but every one
that is perfect shall be as his master. "—Luke
6:40.
"Having therefore these promises dearly beloved, let
us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and
spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."— 2
Cor. 7:1
"For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are
strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.
"
"Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good
comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace shall be with you."—2 Cor. 13:9, 11.
" Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of
Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the
foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith
toward God. "—Heb. 6: 1.
2. Perfection is fully provided for.
" It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh
my way perfect. "—Psa. 18: 32.
" The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me.
" —Psa. 138: 8.
Since it is God himself who proposes to make us perfect,
can there be any lack of power to accomplish the work?
"As for God his way is perfect."— Psa. 18: 30.
"And the meek he will teach his way." —Psa.
25: 9. Yea he " shall set us in the way of his
steps."—Psa. 85:13. And "give his angels
charge over us to keep us in his way."—91:11.
Therefore the righteous " do no iniquity: they walk
in His ways."—119: 3. "And they shall sing in
the ways of the Lord. "—138: 5.
What a beautiful wreath of heavenly truth these Scriptures
compose: and the same might be much enlarged They show us
that God's way is perfect, and he makes known to us his
own precious way, and sets our feet in the same, and keeps
us therein. Praise his name ! First, then, among the
provisions for our perfection may be set down the infinite
God Himself. All the power and wisdom of the Omnipotent
are pledged to make us perfect, and preserve us blameless.
Who then can say we can not be perfect in this life?
But this is not all. Speaking of "his
saints,"—are you one of them!—we read, "To
whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory
of the mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you,
the hope of glory: whom we preach, warning every man, and
teaching every man in all wisdom that we may present every
man perfect in Christ Jesus"— Col. 1: 27, 28. The
revelation of Christ is given to make us perfect.
"Epaphras, 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."—Col. 4:12 The ministry of Christ are
commissioned to make the saints perfect, and complete in
all the will of God. "And he 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."—Eph. 4:11, 12. "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,
thoroughly furnished unto all good works.''—2 Tim. 3
:16, 17. All scripture is given us of God for the purpose
of making every real man of God perfect. Are you a man of
God? If not, that accounts for the fact you can not
believe in and receive this state of Christian perfection.
"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing
in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto
God. "—Heb. 7: 19.
"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them
that are sanctified."—Heb. 10:14.
"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, 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, 21. Surely we have provisions
adequate to make us perfect. All the fulness of the
God-head. The inspired Word, the living ministry, Jesus
Christ himself, his perfect sacrifice, and precious blood,
all vouchsafe to us this beautiful grace. And is it still
true that no one ever attained perfection? We shall next
prove that it has been attained both under the old and
present dispensations.
3. Perfection has been attained.
"Nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the Lord
all his days. "—1 Kings 15: 14.
"For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout
the whole earth, to show himself strong in the be half of
them whose heart is perfect toward him."— 2 Chron.
16:9. Would the all wise God be looking about in all
the earth to show his power in men whose hearts are
perfect, if no such ever lived in the world?
"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."—Job. 1:1.
"And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered
my servant Job' that there is none like him in the earth,
a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and
escheweth evil 7 "—Job 1: 8. It appears from what
follows the above that Satan was no believer in perfection
of holy character. He ascribed Job's righteousness to
selfish motives, as a means of earthly prosperity. He
suggested that if God would put forth his hand and touch
all he had Job would curse him to his face. But God, who
knows what is in all men, had confidence in Job's holiness
as being pure and unselfish.. So he subjected the man whom
he pronounces perfect to all the tests that Satan had
asked for. He permitted the devil to take all his
property, and with it his children and his health. Though
great and unaccountable affliction and mental distress
made him wish he never had been born, yet in all this
great trial, "Job sinned not, nor charged God
foolishly."—1: 22. But he came out of the furnace
as he went in, accepted of God—42: 8, 9. So God's
testimony of Job's perfection proved good and Satan's
derogation a lie. Thank God for the book of Job ! Among
other precious things it clearly shows us that God is on
the side of perfection, and Satan and his cursed unbelief
stand against it. Reader, this feet will help you to
determine whether you are of God or of the devil. God's
truth teaches and his saints live out Christian
perfection. While Satan, even after proved a liar in Job's
ease, and in thousands of others whom he has questioned,
is still base. enough to keep up the cry, "none
perfect," "none perfect." And it is a
lamentable thing that he has in his employ even many
professed ministers of the gospel, all well trained in
Sinumust College.
Let us now hear the testimony of David: "Mark the
perfect man, and behold the upright; for the end of that
man is peace."—Psa. 37: 37.
" Who—the wicked—whet their tongues like a sword,
and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter
words: that they may shoot in secret at the
perfect."—Psa. 64: 3, 4.
"Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land,
that they may dwell with me: he that walketh in a perfect
way, he shall serve me. "—Psa. 101: 6.
Why the command to "mark the perfect man," if
none be perfect? And how could the wicked shoot at the
perfect, if no such characters exist on earth ? Again, how
could God's eyes be upon the perfect of the land, if there
be no perfect in the land?
Hear now the testimony of Hezekiah: "Remember now,, O
Lord, I beseech thee, how I have walked beforethee in
truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which
is good in thy sight."—Isa. 38: 3.
Dear reader, can you look God in the face, and with
confidence make such an appeal ? If you have walked before
God in truth and with a perfect heart, you can testify to
him in the same holy boldness.
The following texts abundantly prove the attainment of
Christian perfection under the new covenant.
"Howbeit, we speak wisdom among them that are
perfect."—1 Cor. 2: 6. "And ye are complete in
him, which is the head of all principality and power.
" —Col. 2:10. The word pleroo here rendered
"complete, " means to be filled up, fully
supplied, wanting nothing, etc., and is equivalent to
perfection. Paul had the privilege of preaching to perfect
men, hence there were such in his day.
"Let us, therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus
minded."—Phil. 3: 15. In verses 11, 12, the
apostle, speaking of the "resurrection of the
dead," calls it a perfection which he had not yet
attained. Many either willfully or ignorantly pervert his
words into a denial of perfection in Christian grace, when
all can see he speaks of the resurrection of the body, and
final rewards. But these are careful to pass by in silence
his words in verse 15, where he speaks of perfection
already attained.
We have now proved that there is a state of grace called
perfection, clearly commanded, fully provided for, and
actually attained and witnessed to in this life. This
leads to the inquiry, What is it? Doubtless many
disbelieve in perfection because they associate it with
something which is not provided for in this life. But
while we accept the plain scriptural statements of present
perfection in Christ, let us also qualify and apply the
term as the scriptures do. We will here confine ourselves
to the New Testament. The standard is raised by the Lord
in Matt. 5: 48. "Perfect even as your Father which is
in heaven is perfect." It is evident that the state
consists in being like God in some particulars. Let the
Word point out what they are.
1. "Pure even as he is pure. "—1 John 3: 3.
2. "Righteous even as he is."—Matt. 6: 33. 2
Cor. 5:21. 1 John 3:7.
3. "Partaking his holiness."—2 Cor. 7: 1. Heb.
12: 10.
4. "Perfect love."—1 John 4:17.
5. "Perfect patience."—Jas. 1:4. Col. 1:11.
6. "Perfect faith."—1 Thess. 3: 10. Heb. 12:
2. Rom. 1:17. 1 Cor. 13:7.
Perfection of Christian character is then a present
experience, and is the result of salvation. Hence it is
not the result of any extraordinary birthright, nor is it
through education, growth or self culture. But "by
one offering he—Christ—hath perfected forever them
that are sanctified."—Heb. 10:14. It is here
declared identical with entire sanctification, and
sanctification is salvation. "Because God hath from
the beginning chosen you to salvation through
sanctification of the Spirit, and belief of the
truth."—2 Thess. 2:13. We praise the Lord our God
that the perfect Christ has provided us with a perfect
salvation which makes us perfect Christians, and preserves
us "holy and unblamable and unreprovable in his
sight. "
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