Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the divine standard. In a previous teaching, we said that the law of the kingdom does not abolish but fulfills that of the Old Testament. And the Lord Jesus Christ opposed the interpretation done by the law-seekers and the Pharisees; he thus restores the just demand which is perfection, of which the indelible mark is love of neighbor and the centre of man’s heart.
Indeed, he denounced by means of six examples, the traditional conception which limited its scope to practices, and which justified guilty attitudes of the human heart such as anger, bad desire, the masculine will of power, the lack of righteousness, resentment and hatred. Such a conception of command could only break down the understanding into a case study, for who is my neighbor? In which case can we divorce? What oath to commit? and the list is not exhaustive.
But the Lord Jesus emphasizes that it’s the requirement of love of neighbor, goodness for others, which constitutes the horizon of all the commandments of the Law, because kindness refuses to consider his neighbor as a fool, to look at a woman in the manner of a thing, to deceive others by speech by means of false oaths, and so on. This is why in Matthew 5.48 he says to us, “Be perfect then, as your heavenly father is perfect.” And that love of neighbor is at the heart of all our actions.
Let’s emphasize the three verses that remind us of the duty of holiness and perfection that the Word tells us: Lev 19.2 “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and you shall say to them, Be holy, for I am holy, the Lord your God “; 1 Peter 1.16 “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”; 2 Corinthians 13.11 “For the rest, brethren, be joyful, perfect yourself, comfort yourself, have the same feeling, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
I. Reminder of the essential elements of perfection:
– Kindness: Mat 19.21 “Jesus said to him,” If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have, give it to the poor, and you will have a treasure in heaven. Then come, and follow me.”
– Love: Col 3.14 “But above all these things, put on charity, which is the bond of perfection.”
-the good works: James 2.22 “You see that faith acted with his works, and that by the works faith was made perfect.”
-Language proficiency: James 3.2 “We all go crazy in many ways. If someone does not flinch in words, he is a perfect man, able to hold his whole body in flange. “
-obedience: 1 John 2.5 “But he who keeps his word, the love of God is truly perfect in him: by that we know that we are in him.” (1 John 4:12) “Nobody has ever seen God if we love one another, God dwells in us, and his love is perfect in us. “)
II. The duty of the search for perfection
Three verses frame this search: Gen 17.1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him,” I am the Almighty God. ” Walk before my face, and be blameless. “(Deut 18.13” Thou shalt be wholly unto Jehovah thy God. “; 1 Kings 8.61″ Let your heart be all to Jehovah our God, as it is today. to follow his laws and to keep his commandments.”)
-Mat. 5.48 “Be perfect then, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
-2 Corinthians 13.11 “For the rest, brethren, be joyful, perfect yourself, comfort yourself, have the same feeling, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.”
-Eph 4.13 “until we have all come to the unity of faith and knowledge of the Son of God, to the state of man made, to the measure of the perfect stature of Christ” ( Phil 3: 5 “All of us who are perfect, let us have this same thought, and if you are in another sense, God will also enlighten you on this.”)
-Col 1.28 “We proclaim him, exhorting every man, and instructing every man in all wisdom, to present to God every man, perfect in Christ.” (2 Tim 3.17) so that the man of God be accomplished and fit for every good work. “)
-Heb 6.1 “Therefore, leaving the elements of the word of Christ, let us tend to that which is perfect, without laying the foundation of the renunciation of dead works,” (Heb 13.21 “makes you capable of every good work for the fulfillment of His will, and do in you what is pleasing to Him, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory for ever and ever, Amen!”)
-James 1.4 “But patience must do its work well, that you may be perfect and accomplished, without failing in any way.” (1 Peter 5:10 “The God of all grace, who called you in Jesus Christ to his glory eternal, after you have suffered a little time, will perfect you, strengthen you, strengthen you, make you unshakeable.”)
III. The need for spiritual growth:
-in bearing fruit : 2 Corinthians 9:10 “He who gives seed to the sower, and bread for his food, shall provide you, and multiply the seed, and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”
-in Christ: Eph. 4:15 “but that, professing the truth in love, we should grow in all things in him who is the head, Christ.” (Col 1:10 “to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord and to be entirely pleasing to Him bearing fruit in all kinds of good works and growing by the knowledge of God, “)
-in love: 1 Thessalonians 3.12 “The Lord increase more and more among you, and to all, this love which we ourselves have for you,” (1 Th 4.10 “and it is also what you do to all the brothers in the whole of Macedonia, but we urge you, brothers, to abound ever more in this love, “)
-to perfection: Heb 6.1 “Therefore, leaving the elements of the word of Christ, let us tend to that which is perfect without restoring the foundation of the renunciation of dead works.”
-by the means of the Word: 1 Peter 2.2 “desire, like new-born children, the pure and pure milk, that through him you may grow for salvation,”
-by addition: 2 Peter 1.5-6 “For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith virtue, to virtue science 6 to science temperance, temperance patience, patience piety,”
– in grace and growth: 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory, now and for eternity! Amen!”
IV. God’s perfection
-Deuteronomy 32.4 “He is the rock; his works are perfect, for all his ways are just; He is a faithful God and without iniquity, He is righteous and upright. “(2 Sam 22.31″ The ways of God are perfect, the word of the LORD is tested, He is a shield to all who trust in him.”)
-Psa 18.31 “The ways of God are perfect; the word of the LORD is tested; He is a shield for all who trust in him. “
-Ecc 3.14 “I have recognized that all that God does will last forever, that there is nothing to add to it and nothing to take away from it, and that God will do it so that we may fear Him.”
-Mat. 5.48 “Be perfect then, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
* holiness of God
-Exodus 15.11 “Who is like you among the gods, O LORD? Who is like you, magnificent in holiness, worthy of praise, performing wonders? “
-1 Sam 6.20 “And the men of Beth Shemesh said, Who can stand in the presence of Jehovah, of this holy God? And to whom should the ark go up, away from us? “
-Psa 99.9 “Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain! For he is holy, the LORD our God!
6.3 “And they cried unto one another, saying, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts! the whole earth is full of his glory! “(Eze 39.7″ I will make my holy name known in the midst of my people Israel, and I will not let my holy name be profaned: and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, The Holy One in Israel.”
Ha 1.13 “Your eyes are too pure to see evil, And you can not look on iniquity. “Why would you look upon the treacherous, and be silent, when the wicked devours the one who is more just than him? “
-Rev 4.8 “The four living creatures each have six wings, and they are filled with eyes all around and within. They keep saying day and night: Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God, the all-powerful, who was, who is, and who is coming! “)
-Rev 15.4 “Who would not fear, Lord, and glorify your name? Because only you are holy. And all nations shall come and bow down to you, because your judgments have been made known. “
* justice / righteousness of God
-Esd 9.15 “O LORD God of Israel, you are righteous, for we are today a remnant of escaped. We are here before you as guilty, and we can not stand before your face. “
-Psa 48.11 “As your name, O God! Your praise sounds to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is full of righteousness. “(Psa 65.6” (65: 5) “Blessed is he whom you choose and accept in your presence, that he may dwell in your courts, and be satisfied with the happiness of your house, the sanctity of your temple. “)
-Psa 97.2 “The clouds and the darkness surround him, justice and fairness are the basis of his throne.”
-Psa 119.137 “You are righteous, O LORD! And your judgments are equitable; “
-Psa 145.17 “The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and merciful in all his works.”
-Jer 23.6 “At that time Judah will be saved, Israel will be safe in his house; And this is the name of which it shall be called, The LORD our righteousness. “(1 John 2.29″ If ye know that he is just, acknowledge that whosoever doeth righteousness is born of him.”)
* righteousness of Christ
-Psa 45.7 (45: 8) “You love righteousness, and hate wickedness: wherefore, O God, your God hath anointed you with an oil of gladness, for a privilege upon your associates.”
-Isa 11.5 “The righteousness shall be the girdle of his flanks, and the faithfulness the girdle of his loins.” (Isaiah 42.6 “I, Jehovah, have called you for salvation, and will take you by the hand, I will guard you, and will establish you to make a covenant with the people, to be the light of the nations, “)
-Isa 59.16 “He sees that there is not a man, He is astonished that no one interferes; Then his arm comes to his aid, and his justice serves him as support. “
-Jer 23.5 “Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise up to David a just seed; He will reign as king and prosper, He will practice justice and equity in the land. “
-Rev 19.11 “Then I saw the open sky, and behold, a white horse appeared. He who ascended it is called Faithful and True, and he judges and fights with justice. “
* perfection of Christ
-John 1.14 “And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; and we have seen his glory, a glory as the glory of the only begotten of the Father. “
-John 19.4 “And Pilate went out again, and said unto the Jews, Behold, I bring him forth unto you, that ye may know that I find no evil in him.
-Heb 2.10 “For surely it is not to angels that he helps, but to the seed of Abraham.”
-Heb 5: 9 “and who, having been brought up to perfection, became for all who obey him the author of eternal salvation,”
-Hebrews 7:28 “For the law establishes high priests men subject to weakness; but the word of the oath that was made after the law establishes the Son, which is perfect for eternity. “
From what precedes, we hold that God commands us to be holy like him, because it’s the divine norm. In the image of Christ our Lord and Savior, we must be perfect and sinless.
By hanging on to Him every day, we know that He will not forsake us into darkness, so long as we put into practice His law and His commandments. This is the meaning of our prayers for you all.
PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR
I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :
Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.
I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.
I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!
I would be glad to revert on your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on the giving.
May the Eternal God Almighty bless you profusely.
David Feze, Servant of the Lord of hosts.