Two Are Better Than One

PERFECTION, te-leiOtes, TElos*, 2x (193), Strong’s # 5047

BORNE ON UNTO PERFECTION

One. MAT 19:21 (16-22) PERFECTION: THROUGH FREEDOM FROM ENTANGLEMENTS. “:Jesus said to him, If you would be perfect, go, sell what you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in the heavens; and come here, follow me.” Perfection involves stripping of sin, keeping commandments, and meeting conditions.

Two. 1 John 2:5 (1-6) PERFECTION IN LOVE: KEEPING GOD’S WORD. “But whoever keeps his :word, in him has truly the love of :God been perfected.” Know the conditions for being kept from sin, knowing God, and abiding in God.

Three. 2 COR 12:9 (1-9) PERFECTION THROUGH WEAKNESS: A PARADOX. “And he said to me, My :grace is sufficient for you: for the power is made perfect in weakness.” Weakness is better than visions and revelations; has a valuable relationship to glorying; and is a means of perfecting God’s power.

Four. GAL 3:3 (1-6) PERFECTION: THROUGH THE SPIRIT, NOT THE FLESH. “Are you so foolish? Having begun in Spirit, are you now perfectedin flesh?” We are bound up in foolishness by overlooking crucifixion. It is foolishness to be involved in the wrong source for perfection. Abraham chose wise methods for perfection.

Five. COL 3:14 (12-17) PERFECTION THROUGH LOVE: BOND OF PERFECTNESS. “And above all these things put on :love, which is the bond of perfectness.” The fruit of the Spirit leads to perfection. Peace binds members of Christ’s body together. Deeds in Jesus’ name please the Father. And – love is above all else the way of perfection.

Six. HEB 5:14 (5:11-6:8) PERFECTION: THROUGH EXERCISE OF SENSES. “But the solid food is for perfect men, who by reason of :use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” Milk is the food of the new Christian. But meat is the food of the perfect Christian. The exercise of our senses is the means of reaching the meat stage.

Seven. HEB 12:1-2 (1-13) PERFECTION OF FAITH: THROUGH JESUS ONLY. “Therefore now we also, having so great a cloud of witnesses encompassing us, let us lay aside every weight, and the easily besetting sin, andlet us run with patience the race set before us, 2looking unto Jesus the author and perfecter of the faith, who for the joy set before him endured a cross, despising shame, and has sat down at the right of the throne of :God.” God sets forth Jesus as our example. Then He uses chastening to perfect our faith. He desire that we endure chastening.

Let us avail ourselves of God’s appointed means of bearing us on unto perfection, unto a perfect man prepared for death or resurrection. Let us leave foundation milk, and press on to the meat of perfection.