Phil. 3:12-16 - 12Not that I have already attained, or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren,
I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing
I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14I
press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore let us, as many as are
mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.16Nevertheless,
to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
Matt. 5:48 - 48“Therefore you shall be perfect, just as
your Father in heaven is perfect.
What does all of this mean........can we become perfect?....
Is God asking what appears to be impossible, here?.......If
we are not perfect, are we Christians?
A. A lot of confusion has been generated by men who
cannot or will not study this concept out.
1. One thing is sure....either we can become
perfect....no....we MUST BECOME
PERFECT or we cannot become perfect and
these passages must be referring to something
that may not be evident at first glance.
Most of the confusion comes about from an imperfect
understanding of the word that we have, translated into
English as, “perfect”.
A. As confusing as the Greek language may be to
some......there are times when we MUST get an
accurate and complete meaning from the Greek
word or words that are being translated.
1. This is one of those times.
a. If we do not have a proper understanding
and simply operate with the English
word, “perfect”.......we will generate all
kinds of false doctrine.
The Greek word that is used in each of these passages is the
word teleios (Telios). It is translated from several
different forms....teleioths, teleiow,teleiws......
A. Depending on the form used, this word can be
rendered as follows: (In the base form - Telios)-
Complete {in job performed, in growth, in
character}, completeness, of full age.
B. Teleistas - completeness, perfection
C. Teleiao - To complete, accomplish, consummate,
consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect.
D. Teleios - Completely, without wavering, to the
end.
In all of this, are we struck with the idea of infallibility?...
A. A much better word to be used in place of the
English word, “perfect”....would be the English
word, “mature”....which some translations use.
1. Can a Christian become mature in Christ.....
of full age......complete in character....
consecrated.....without wavering?
a. I propose, then, that in many of the
passages in which we encounter the
word, “perfect”.....we simply need to
insert the word, “mature”.
The idea of completeness does also come forth from some
of these passages.
A. In these passages we are seen to be striving or
working towards this end.....this goal.
Heb. 6:1 - 1Therefore, leaving the discussion of the
elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection,
not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead
works and of faith toward God.
1. Has God asked us to strive for something that
we cannot accomplish?
a. Never.......a goal must be obtainable.
1.) So how can we become complete,
totally pure, without spot or
blemish, without mistakes or sins?
I. God wants us to “strive” or work TOWARDS THAT
GOAL!
A. The final judgment will be based, in part, on how
much we strove to do right.
Rev. 20:13 - 13The sea gave up the dead who were in it,
and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in
them. And they were judged, each on according to his
works.
1. Nobody should get the idea, from the
Scriptures, that there is absolutely NOTHING
TO DO..........THAT JESUS HAS DONE IT
ALL!
a. Jesus, Himself left us some instructions
which would involve labor....toil....work..
striving.
Matt. 25:23 - 23“His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good
and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few
things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into
the joy of your Lord.’ “
John 14:15 - 15“If you love Me, keep My
commandments.
1.) After reading these verses and
many more like them, we are struck
with the conviction that there is
something for us to do.
B. We realize that God wants us to labor in the
Kingdom of God....winning others to Christ and
helping to snatch souls from the fiery pit.
1. This work takes prayer and action.
a. We cannot simply stand by and let the
lost world be cast into hell.
Matt. 28:19-20 - 19“Go therefore and make disciples of
all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father
and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20“teaching them to
observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am
with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.
C. There is another task before us, however.
1. This task involves a warfare between our own
physical bodies.....”the natural man”....and
the “spiritual man”.
I Peter 2:11 - 11Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and
pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the
soul.
a. We are at a slight disadvantage in this
battle, being as we are housed IN the
flesh....the body....”the natural man”.
1.) The physical or fleshly things of
this physical or fleshly world have
a powerful pull on us.
D. God has commanded that we resist, fight, over-
come this natural......fleshly man.....with all of his
lusts.
1. Is God being a little bit unfair here......first He
encases us in the flesh and then He tells us to
fight the urges (lusts) of this flesh?
a. God had originally intended for the
fleshly man to live forever in the Garden
.......enjoying all of the flesh, without sin.
1.) Mankind foiled this first plan...
therefore an even better plan was
unfolded.....mankind would live
forever with God in spiritual
realms.
a.) But now we had this sullied
and dirty fleshly carcass to
contend with while on this
earth....in this life...... a flesh
that was irresistible.
E. God provided a power which could win in this
battle.......if we let it work in us.
Rom. 8:1-9 - 1There is therefore now no condemnation to
those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according
to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2For the law of the
Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law
of sin and death. 3For what the law could not do in that it
was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own
Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He
condemned sin in the flesh,
4that the righteous requirement of the law might be
fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but
according to the Spirit. 5For those who live according to
the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those
who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.
6For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually
minded is life and peace. 7Because the carnal mind is
enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God,
nor indeed can be. 8So then, those who are in the flesh
cannot please God. 9But you are not in the flesh but in the
Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if
anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.
1. When we were cleansed of our sins, we were
also given a power.....and enabler....the
HOLY SPIRIT OF GOD!
a. What was impossible for just the fleshly
man to accomplish, was now made
possible and real.....through the Holy
Spirit of God....His gift to each one of
us.
** Is it possible, then for mankind to resist sin?
1. We not only can.....but we must resist sin in our
lives.
a. Our reasoning should not be the reasoning of
the flesh that says.......”I can’t” (which really
means, “I don’t want to”)......
1.) Our reasoning should now be, “I can...
through the power of the Holy Spirit
living and working in me!”
Phil. 4:13 - 13I can do all things through Christ who
strengthens me.
b. The question is.....do we want to?
1.) Do we still allow the “old man of sin”
to influence our decisions?
2.) Do we still desire the lustful things of
this world?
3.) Are we ready and willing to suffer so
that the flesh will not sin against God?
4.) Does God really expect us to work that
hard to fight against the urges of sin?
CAN WE COME TO PERFECTION WITH THE AID
OF THE HOLY SPIRIT WORKING IN OUR LIVES?
A. Theoretically...the answer is yes...BUT......
II. We still lose some battles and slip along the way....even
when we are striving with what we think is all of our
abilities.
I John 1:8 - 8If we say that we have no sin, we deceive
ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
A. So then......how can we truly “strive unto
perfection?”
1. We’re back to square one......it’s a hopeless
case that we could ever become sinless.......
B. Part of us must understand that we NEED
JESUS!
1. If we could attain to perfection by what we
do......if we could, with the help of the Holy
Spirit working in us.....resist all sin and
become sinless.....we would have no need for
Christ.
a. God could have simply sent the Holy
Spirit to all of mankind and some of
mankind would have worked out their
own salvation by resisting sin.
1.) Granted those who lived and died
before the Holy Spirit was sent,
would perish......but so many who
were born and lived under this
influence would be saved and
God wouldn’t have had to
sacrifice His Son.
a.) If this is true.....Jesus Christ
died in vain!
C. THE ONLY THING THAT TRULY WILL
SAVE US IS THE SHED BLOOD OF JESUS
CHRIST!
I John 1:7 - 7But if we walk in the light as He is in the
light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood
of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
1. It is this blood that cleanses us from our sins
from the start.......and it is the blood of Jesus
Christ that will cover our fallible
transgressions.......because of our weakness....
as we walk the straight and narrow way.
D. We strive for perfection....we work towards that
goal.....but Christ makes it a reality with His
sacrifice.
1. There will come a day when we will become
perfect.....perfect in every way.........but that
day will not come as long as we are housed in
this tent of flesh.
** Strive for.....work towards....labor for.....that day, but
know that until that day comes, our perfection comes
through the blood of Jesus Christ.
III. If this is the case, why do we have to work at all....if
the blood of Christ will perfect us?
A. The blood of Christ did not come without a cost.
1. Our sins have caused the suffering.....the
sacrifice......the torment of our very best
friend....the creator of the universe.
a. How could we, who have realized the
goodness of Christ and the mercy of
God.......want to live for one second
longer in the filth of sin?
Romans 6:1-2 - 1What shall we say then? Shall we
continue in sin that grace may abound? 2Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?
B. Now we come to the meaning of the word that
is translated into English...the word, “perfection”
1. To consecrate - To set apart as holy; to
devote; to dedicate.
2. To grow in character - To grow in
responsibility and truth.
3. To accomplish - The end to the labor and
work and striving.
4. To come of full age - To grow up, spiritually,
to be able to nurture others and not
constantly need to be fed and corrected.
5. To be mature, in the Lord - To put away
simple and childish spiritual things and to
move forward in the Christian walk.
I Cor. 13:11 - 1When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I
understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I
became a man, I put away childish things.
a. We will suffer....we will strive (against
powerful odds).....we will sacrifice....we
will continue to resist the lusts that war
within us.............BECAUSE..........
1.) Because our love “compels us”.
II Cor. 5:14-15 - 14For the love of Christ compels us,
because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all
died; 15and He died for all, that those who live should live
no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them
and rose again.
2.) Because His love has touched us.
3.) Because He is our friend who has
laid His life down for us and we
could do no less for Him.
CONCLUSION:
We can become perfect and yet, there is a perfection that
we will not attain to until we have drawn our last breath.
A. We certainly can grow to the point where we
realize......deeply realize......personally realize......
what our sins have cost and the price tag that they
still bear.
1. We need to realize that we are not our own....
we have been bought with a price and we need
to consecrate our lives to God.
2. We can grow in character.....we can come to
full age.....we can grow to the point that we
will be able to resist the pull of this flesh.
a. And yet, we know that our human weak-
ness will cause us to slip and fall, from
time-to-time..........our loving Savior has
even covered this contingency with His
blood.
Should we.....can we.....simply depend upon the blood of
Christ to take away sin-after-sin?
A. If we have grown to maturity.....if we have grown
in our love and appreciation.....we couldn’t
possibly continue in willful sin.
1. Our hearts should break every time we sin....
every time we fail our Lord.....every time we
listen more to our flesh than we listen to the
Spirit of God that has been so richly and
freely given to us.
Phil. 3:12-16 - 12Not that I have already attained, or am
already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that
for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13Brethren,
I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing
I do, forgetting those things which are behind and
reaching forward to those things which are ahead,14I
press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of
God in Christ Jesus. 15Therefore let us, as many as are
mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think
otherwise, God will reveal even this to you.16Nevertheless,
to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by
the same rule, let us be of the same mind.
