Let us go on to perfection! Hebrews 6:1
(1Pe 5:10) And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you. The subject of perfection is about one of the most dangerous
things to write on if one wants to preserve a good reputation in laodicean
Christianity. On the one side Satan heaps contempt and ridicule among the established theologians regarding it. On the other hand he piles unstable
fanatics to espouse false representations of what it entails, so that they add
fuel to the fire of contempt in those conventionalist and ecumenical haters of
the doctrine. All said Satan is evidently terrified of its proper
attention...an attention which scripture apologetically gives to its
importance. Since most in the modern church are fair weather Christians only,
they are equally as negative regarding its value as a goal to pursue. They heap
unto themselves false teachers to tickle their itching ears and lead themselves
to conclude that one may be perfect enough to be a halfway Christian, trusting
that Christ will make up for the other half by and by. Another class teaches that
their imperfections will simply melt away, effortlessly, as they look to Jesus,
but they ill define what looking to Jesus really means. Looking at Jesus is no
casual sentimental pastime. It will truly lead to a certain agony of spirit
when one sees the desperate condition of the soul. At that point the sinner
will be willing to endure hardship in order to crucify the affections and lusts
which have hitherto consumed the life of the mere lukewarm professor. A life
and death struggle ensues. True beholding will lead to true penitence and true
striving against all evil habits, even through painful effort and self
sacrifice.1Peter 4:12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery
trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: 13
But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when
his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. What is
this perfection that Christ alone achieved and alone is able to minister? That
we shall look into next!
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