Declared “Righteous,” not “Perfect”
(Matthew 5: 48, Ephesians 4: 12-13) In these passages,
perfect “Kaliyl” (Aramaic-the language of Jesus) means
mature, complete, lacking nothing in your care for others
as the Lord God cares for His creation. In no way does
this passage imply sinless perfection.
1. The vehicle for this “perfection” is the grace of God in
Jesus Christ, afforded His children because of their faith
in Jesus Christ and the Word of God. The means is not
faith, but grace. The only qualification is childlike faith or
dependence and trust in Christ, His work and His Word;
resulting in the believer following through on that faith.
2. Since God’s grace is the vehicle or means, and faith in
God is the only qualification, what is the true link to God
the Father in the life of the believer? (One of the most
important principles we can discuss) Christ, His Spirit,
takes up residence within the heart, soul, mind and spirit
of that believer. When Scripture says in Matthew 22: 36-
40, "Teacher, which is the great commandment in the law?
Jesus said to him, 'You shall love the Lord your God with
all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.
This is the first and great commandment. And the second
is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On
these two commandments hang all the law and the pro-
phets." All of the believer's life is wrapped up in this
great command. Since man is incapable, on his own, to live
this command, Christ must be the one who empower the
believer through His indwelling presence. When Christ,
God the Son, does this, He brings with Him the ability to
“...love your neighbor...” See passage on "rest," Hebrews
3:7-14, (10) As we enter into the “rest” provided as Christ
takes residence within, we cease “the works, of flesh.” and
Christ takes up His work within. We no longer work, but
Christ does it all. (Any good we might do is “in Christ.”
Questionable “works” are our reversions to the “flesh.”
In us, Christ produces the fruit of the Spirit, not works.
A vine produces grapes by being a vine, not by working.
**************************************************
“Slipping of the believer” (Reversion to flesh)
1. When we take our eyes off Christ and focus on anything;
self, the world, men’s opinion, the “Law,” we begin to
serve self in the flesh. (Used to be called “backsliding”)
2. When we undertake to do anything (no matter how high
sounding or good,) that is not the expressed “will of God,”
as outlined in the Word of God, we have slipped into the
“works of the flesh.” (Iniquity)
3. Anything we do that is SIN, as described in God’s Word,
is a work of the flesh and slipping.
4. When we know something should be done and fail to do it,
it is sin, or slipping.
“Restoration of the Believer”
1. 1 John 1: 7-10
"...if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship
one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanseth
us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive our-
selves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is
faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from
all unrighteousness."
2. Return to Matthew 6 : 33 (Our Lord was referring to all the
things needful for an individual to live a life that honurs Him,
when he said;
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all
these things shall be added unto you." kjv
“Back to basic doctrine of justification” Being made right
with the Lord God.” Read Romans 5: 1-10
1.Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God
through our Lord Jesus Christ.
8.But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we
were yet sinners, Christ Died for us.
*See "Justification" October 14, 2013...
http://biblicalclarity-don.blogspot.com/2013/10/justification-romans-5.html
donporter 9.20.12, edited 2.12.18
No comments:
Post a Comment