Part 2: We start in Hebrews 6 which states in verse 1 let us go on unto perfection: not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of
faith toward God. When we accept Jesus as Savior it is a beginning point. Let us go on. It takes continuing in the faith toward perfection (completion) to be what God
wants. We are complete as far as being right with God, but we are to work on our completeness in service and practical living. We learn where we fail, where we are weak and then how we can improve, how we can go on.
We cannot get stuck. We need to see Christianity fresh everyday. Get involved with God just as we would our family and friends. Build on the foundation of salvation. Ephesians 4:13 says till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man. We cannot know all about God, but we can know more. The verse ends with unto
fullness of Christ. This speaks of growth. We mess up everyday. It does not mean sinless but rather getting involved with God in our day to day lives.
In the midst of all the problems the church at Corinth had, in II Corinthians 13:11, Paul told them to be perfect. Their underlying problem was a lack of responsibility. They blamed someone else for all the things going on and thereby allowed anything and everything
to go on in their lives. Basically what Paul told them was to grow up and be responsible for their own relationship with God. We are all under circumstances but it does not
excuse us from being responsible. We can say "but, God, you know how it is" all we want. Yes, he does know. But we have to take responsibility for ourselves. We have to pray
ourselves. We have to study the Bible ourselves. We have to get involved ourselves. No one can do it for us. We have no one else to blame but ourselves when we fall short of what God wants from us.
The rich young ruler in Matthew 19 told Jesus he had kept all the commandments from his youth up, but he realized he lacked something. Jesus told him to sell all his goods and give them to the poor and come follow him. The young man would not do that. Jesus had pointed out his main problem—his priorities. His treasures were first, not God. We have to keep our priorities straight if we are to be mature in God.
I John tells us that the first area we must deal with as we strive for perfection is our sin. He says in 3:9 that whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin. Back in 1:8 he says
that if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. He is not being contradictory. In this context commit means to deliberately sin, a
premeditated act. It should not be easy for us to practice sin as a habit. But we know from 1:8 that we sin. We will do or not do something. In 2:1 John reminds us not to sin, but tells us that when we do we must confess it. God will forgive us when we do.
Being perfect means to be whole, complete, and mature in Christ. John 17:22-23 records a prayer. Jesus prayed that as the Father was in him and him in the Father, that you and I may be one in them. The more we are one with God and his Son, the more we can achieve perfection of maturity and completeness. God needs more of me. I need to let Him reign in my life.
Ephesians 3:14-16 is a prayer by Paul that needs to be our prayer. For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named … that Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith … that ye might be filled with all the fullness of God. Perfecting our lives is done by the fullness of God. Let him take up the space in our lives. Put him first. Consult him. When we are involved with him to that extent we leave little room for sin. Let HIM be what HE should be; HE is the ONE who is perfect. That is the only way we will reach that goal and be perfect even as our Father in Heaven.
So. Can we be perfect? The Bible says we can.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 