Читать книгу The Gospel Day; Or, the Light of Christianity - Charles Ebert Orr - Страница 27

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Many have stumbled at the command to be perfect. That finite man may be perfect in this sinful world sounds ridiculous to many unregenerated hearts. This is because they do not understand God nor his power to deliver man from sin. With the many exhortations and commands to perfection contained in the Holy Scriptures is it not singular that man will yet say, “We can not be perfect in this life”? Many people who oppose the doctrine of Christian perfection do not at all understand it. They consider it to be an end of all growth, consequently they do not [pg 084] understand its nature. There is a perfection of celestial beings not to be experienced by mortal man; but there is a perfection unmistakably taught in the Scriptures which Christians are privileged to experience and enjoy in this life.

Christian perfection relates to right desires and actions and purity of affections. Paul in closing his epistle to the church at Corinth says: “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” Surely every one must concede that there is a perfection to which Christians can attain. When Christians are exhorted to be perfect is it not folly to say, “They can not be perfect”? Could we not with equal propriety say, “We can not be of good comfort”? “We can not live in peace”? “The God of love and peace will not be with us”? etc.

The apostle in writing to the Philippian brethren uses language which clearly implies that some of them had attained to the experience of perfection. He says, “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded.” Phil. 3:15. Some of them certainly were perfect. In verse twelve he does speak of a perfection to which he had not attained. This he expected to attain in the glory world. Christian perfection is a life that accords with the Holy Scriptures. Whosoever receives the correction, and reproving and the instructions in righteousness contained in the Scripture will become a perfect Christian. 2 Tim. 3:16.

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Whosoever lives as the Word of God says that Christians should live, the same is a perfect man. Paul prays that God would make the Hebrews perfect. Heb. 13:20, 21. Peter petitions the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after we have suffered a while to make us perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle us. 1 Pet. 5:10.

Jesus was made perfect through suffering. God chastens us that we might be partakers of his holiness. The gold and silver to be made pure and perfect must be refined in the crucible. We to reflect the beauty and glory of God must, too, pass through the refiner's fire. The apostle Paul in writing his first epistle to the church at Corinth says: “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect.” 2:6. Certainly there were perfect Christians in the church at that place. To the Ephesian brethren he says that God “gave some, apostles; and some prophets; and some evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints.” 4:11, 12. Now we at once know that this work of instruction and perfection is to be accomplished in this life.

He further says, “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” Ver. 13. By stature is meant the height of any one. Christ is the stature or height of perfection, and we are to measure up to it. This accords with what the Savior himself said: [pg 086] “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Luke 6:40. To the church at Colosse the apostle says: “Whom [Christ] we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Col. 1:28. Again he says, “Epaphras who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” 4:12.