Sermon: Pinnacle
 by Chris Cumming                                      printer-friendly   MP3
 
I was reading in my Bible the other day a statement by God about firstfruits being perfect [Matthew 5:48].  We have quoted this verse a number of times in recent months and I checked to see I have discussed the subject in 18 sermons and sermonettes over the years.  The subject of perfection naturally raises a number of questions:

1] What is perfection?
2] Is any firstfruit perfect?
3] What does perfection have to do with righteousness, holiness and sanctification?
4] How do we approach or work perfection in the salvation process?
5] What is the definition of perfect?
6] What level of perfection is God wanting in firstfruits?

Today, we will answer these questions as I encourage all of us to be perfect.

Be perfect.

Let us begin with definitions from both the dictionary and the Bible.  Here is what I found in the dictionary.

Noun
1. the state or quality of being or becoming perfect.
2. the highest degree of proficiency, skill, or excellence, as in some art.
3. a perfect embodiment or example of something.
4. a quality, trait, or feature of the highest degree of excellence.
5. the highest or most nearly perfect degree of a quality or trait.
6. the act or fact of perfecting.

I was immediately taken by the first definition.  When most think of the definition of perfection or perfect, we think of someone who has already attained perfection and is currently perfect.  Notice, though, that it has an additional meaning; "the state or quality of becoming perfect."  Remember this definition as we proceed into the Bible scripture.

Here is the Bible dictionary definition of perfection:

Bible definition

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.

In Easton's Bible dictionary under, "perfection" it says, "see Sanctification.  Note:  Many of the referenced verses are in this sermon.

Sanctification
Involves more than a mere moral reformation of character, brought about by the power of the truth: it is the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man (Romans 6:13; 2 Corinthians 4:6; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 4:7; 1 Corinthians 6:19). It is the special [work] of the Holy Spirit in the plan of redemption to carry on this work (1 Corinthians 6:11; 2 Thessalonians 2:13). Faith is instrumental in securing sanctification, inasmuch as it

(1) secures union to Christ (Galatians 2:20), and

(2) brings the believer into living contact with the truth, whereby he/she is led to yield obedience "to the commands, trembling at the threatenings, and embracing the promises of God for this life and that which is to come."

Note: Both items taking place in the salvation process.

Perfect sanctification is not attainable in this life. ~Easton's Bible dictionary

Before we get into the concept of firstfruits striving for perfection, let us establish that, save Christ, when He was here, no human is perfect. 

Ecclesiastes 7:20
For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not.

Proverbs 20:9
Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

1 John 1:8
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

1 John 2:1
My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 

James 3:2
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.

Romans 7:22-23
22 For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.

Romans 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Does God command us to be perfect?

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

Does God command us to be holy?  To what level does He want this holiness"

1 Peter 1:15-16
15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Is God righteous?  If your answer is "yes", then what is true if we practice righteousness?

1 John 2:29
If ye know that he [God] is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.

Notice the commentary on this:

If ye know that he is righteous - That God is a holy God, ye know also, that every one who doeth righteousness - who lives a holy life, following the commandments of God, is born of him, Begotten of him - is made a partaker of the Divine nature, without which he could neither have a holy heart, nor live a holy life. ~Adam Clarke

Should we follow God?

Ephesians 5:1
Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;

Has God established a process of perfection?  That is, is this a process where He guides, molds and leads us to perfection.  Let us look at some scriptures.

Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering [the sacrifice of Jesus Christ] he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

Philippians 3:12
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.

Get the sense of this from the commentary:

Not as though I had already attained - For I have not yet received the prize; I am not glorified, for I have not finished my course; and I have a conflict still to maintain, and the issue [the process] will prove whether I should be crowned. ~Adam Clark

God called us to the salvation process and has begun the development in us toward perfection.  Will He finish this work?

Philippians 1:3-6
3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,
4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Note: This brings up an important concept we need to know, remember and expand within our heart and mind.  Just when does God perform something in us that gives us an opportunity to take a step closer to perfection and salvation?  Is it once or twice a month?  Is it every Sabbath?  Is it a few times a week?  My belief is that He is with us in all assiduity, which means, "constant or close application or effort; diligence; industry.  God is working in us constantly in all diligence, as if you were the only one on the planet.  I often describe the salvation process as a room in which there are only three beings:

1] God the Father
2] Jesus Christ
3] You

That is exactly what is going on in real time.  It is fantastic and a wonderment that God can be in thousands of these rooms at the same time, but He and Christ are with total focus on just you.  Therefore we need to look for and generate opportunities throughout the day and see where it leads us.  The more we do this, the more we will see these opportunities.  Indeed, if you look, God will know you are looking and will open your eyes.

Hebrews 6 is often referred to as the basic doctrines chapter.  Once we have, understand and absorb basic doctrines, what does God want us to do?

Hebrews 6:1-3
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.

Just recently, I gave a two-part sermon, "Her Perfect Work." The key scripture in that sermon is James 1:4.

James 1:4
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

As we learned, the principles of God are perfect and if something perfect is working in us, the result is perfection.  Let us take a look at the commentary on this verse:

But let patience have her perfect work - Let it be fairly developed; let it produce its appropriate effects without being hindered. Let it not be obstructed in its fair influence on the soul by murmurings, complaining, or rebellion. Patience under trials is fitted to produce important effects on the soul, and we are not to hinder them in any manner by a perverse spirit, or by opposition to the will of God. Everyone who is afflicted should desire that the fair effects of affliction should be produced on his mind, or that there should be produced in his soul precisely the results which his trials are adapted to accomplish. ~Barnes Notes

That ye may be perfect and entire - The meaning of this is explained in the following phrase - “wanting nothing;” that is, that there may be nothing lacking to complete your character. There may be the elements of a good character; there may be sound principles, but those principles may not be fully carried out so as to show what they are. ~Barnes Notes

Are the fruits of the Spirit [Godly principles] perfected in us by God?

1 John 4:13-18
13 Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world.
15 Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God.
16 And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.
17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world.
18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Note: This passage establishes the fact that God works in and through us through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit.  Verse 17 states that love [and therefore all principles of God] are made perfect by this Christ living in and through us.  The same verse shows that we know and invoke boldness and give us an end time example.  The message is clear:  Should you be called up before magistrates in the end time persecution, you will be fearless.  Notice the commentary:

Herein is our love made perfect - Margin, “love with us.”  The meaning is, “the love that is within us, or in us, is made perfect.” The expression is unusual; but the general idea is, that love is rendered complete or entire in the manner in which the apostle specifies. In this way love becomes what it should be, and will prepare us to appear with confidence before the judgment-seat.

That we may have boldness in the day of judgment - By the influence of love in delivering us from the fear of the wrath to come, [verse 18]. The idea is, that he who has true love to God will have nothing to fear in the day of judgment, and may even approach the awful tribunal where he is to receive the sentence which shall determine his everlasting destiny without alarm.

Because as he is, so are we in this world - That is, we have the same traits of character which the Saviour had, and, resembling him, we need not be alarmed at the prospect of meeting him. ~Barnes Notes

This example of fearlessness in end time persecution is a tangible model of someone becoming more perfect.  It also shows the power of the perfection process in all other areas of our lives.

Just how are Godly principles perfected in us?  How do we make that happen?

1 John 2:5
But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

What is another way that love is perfected in us?

1 John 4:11-12
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us.

Colossians 3:14
And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness.

Notice what the commentary says on, "bond of perfectness."

Which is the bond of perfectness - The bond of all perfection; the thing which will unite all other things, and make them complete. The idea seems to be that love will bind all the other graces fast together, and render the whole system complete. Without love, though there might be other graces and virtues, there would be a want of harmony and compactness in our Christian graces, and this was necessary to unite and complete the whole. ~Barnes Notes

Sadly many people use the "nobody is perfect" excuse to live in rebellion. Scripture makes it clear that people who practice sin and live in it are not saved and they were never saved.

1 John 3:6
Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.

Matthew 7:22-23
22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

We read in 1 John 2:5 a moment ago that perfection takes place in the individual who keeps the Word of God.  Is God’s Word is perfect?

Psalm 19:7-9
7 The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.
8 The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.
9 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.

Will we be blessed if we keep the Word of God?

James 1:25
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Let us continue to immerse ourselves in the Word of God and continue this process toward perfection.  Before we close, I want to share some quotes related to this concept of perfection and becoming more perfect in the process.  Notice how they relate to scriptures we have read, to the idea of process and the invoking of fervency, diligence and boldness.

Quotes

“God’s will may not be the perfection of the true believer’s life, but it is the direction of it.”

This is the very perfection of a man, to find out his own imperfections.”

“Passion drives perfection.”

Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence. ~Vince Lombardi

Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing more to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.

Looking for perfection is the only way to motivate yourself.

Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection.

Be intent upon the perfection of the present day.

Matthew 6:34 
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

In light of the recent death of Arnold Palmer, I want to give you something he said about this regarding Matthew 6:34 and other scriptures:

The road to success is always under construction.  ~Arnold Palmer

Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you. ~Arnold Palmer

You must play boldly to win.  ~Arnold Palmer

So go now and continue to be perfect.
           

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