PERFECTION OURS?

PERFECTION OURS?

Monday, February 27, 2017

  Sinless perfection is a false doctrine. Sinning less should definitely be resultant practice for born-again followers of Christ, but so long as we live this side of dwelling physically in the presence of Jehovah we will sin, for it is our old nature conflict with our new mature. (Rom.6; Eph.6:13-18; Heb.12:1-4)

  But doesn’t Scripture contradict itself when Jesus said “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.“? (KJV Mt.5:48)

  God’s Word is neither capricious or contradictory. Scripture is harmonious. The problem is aged vocabulary.

  In the olden days of yore the connotation of “perfect” was different than our interpretation of perfect, our thinking in terms of precise exactitude . . . which experience and observation (Too often in the reverse order) without doubt reveals that our concept of perfection will not realized in this body.

  The Apostle Paul exhorts that we are to count ourselves dead to sin though we are not. And then gives testimony of his personal spiritual warfare. (Rom. Chapters 6 & 7)

 So what is this perfection that Jesus speaks of?

·         Read in context we see that we, as does the Father in heaven, are to treat all people with equality of civility and consideration. Note Matthew 6:9-15.

·         Strong’s (G5046) tells us the Greek is “τέλειος; teleios; tel'-i-os From G5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with G3588) completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.”

  Paul learned the lesson the hard way on the road to Damascus and responded in corrected belief with a surrendered attitude and drastically changed lifestyle. (Acts 9) After he humbly received further enlightenment from others, Paul wrote to the Colossians explaining “If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is sitting at the right hand of God. Be mindful of things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life has been hidden with Christ in God. When Christ our Life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness (which is idolatry), on account of which things' sake the wrath of God is coming on the sons of disobedience, among whom you also once walked, when you lived in these. But now also put off all these things: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, shameful speech out of your mouth. Do not lie to one another, having put off the old man with his deeds and having put on the new, having been renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision and uncircumcision, foreigner, Scythian, slave or freeman, but Christ is all things in all. Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender feelings of mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering, forbearing one another and forgiving yourselves, if anyone has a complaint against any. As Christ forgave you, so also you do. And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfectness.[(ESV)  And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.] And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which you also are called in one body, and be thankful. Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And everything, whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him.“ (MKJV Col.3:1-17, underlining mine.)

  Harmony with the Father, a major goal.

EBB4