WHEN THE PERFECT COMES

"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away." (1 Corinthians 13:10)

Devotion 14 of 17

WHEN THE PERFECT COMES -- MATURITY

When it comes to the matter of maturity, the experience of humanity is the point--not the Word of God. That is, the glorification of believers is more the focus than the completion of the Scriptural text. In a very real and precise sense, we are the ones that need perfection, not the Scriptures. It seems to me that a mere modicum of thought will confirm that to be obvious.

This does not permit the Word of God to be open-ended, so to speak, allowing for further written revelation. We have already been given "all things that pertain unto life and godliness" (2 Pet 1:3). No person honors God or displays faith by saying or thinking God must issue periodic updates to His Word. Such a God is too small to save or sustain us.

The appropriation of the "things" that have been given requires our subjection to the Word, to be sure. There are no valid thoughts of God, Christ, salvation, sin, or the world to come, that have not come from the Scriptures.

However, the appropriation "things pertaining to life and godliness" is accomplished "through [or by means of] the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence" (2 Pet 1:3). That is, out of the experience of Divine fellowship spiritual understanding is acquired. The sophist will not be able to receive this, imagining his natural capacities are sufficient to decipher the Word of God. But such person is tragically wrong! God has, after all, "called us into the fellowship of His Son Jesus Christ our Lord" (1 Cor 1:9). Jesus spoke precisely of this fellowship. "He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him" (John 14:21).

The Spirit challenged the Ephesians concerning their experience of Christ's tutelage. "This I say, therefore, and testify in the Lord, that you should no longer walk as the rest of the Gentiles walk, in the futility of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart; who, being past feeling, have given themselves over to lewdness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But you have not so learned Christ, if indeed you have heard Him and have been taught by Him, as the truth is in Jesus" (Eph 4:17-21). Do not miss the point here! Ephesian believers were not reminded of a future completion of the Bible canon, but of the present ministry of Jesus Christ. Their spiritual life depended upon that association, as well as their continued ingestion of the Word of God, by which we live (Luke 4:4). The advance was to be in the believers, not in the revelation. They were the ones being perfected, not the Bible.

Jesus indicted the rulers of the Jews for thinking they had life "in the Scriptures" (John 5:39). That is an up-to-date word! Many, professing to be wise, have actually become guilty of Bibliolatry--worshiping of the Book. Let no person berate me as though I did not have the most profound love for, delight in, and honor for the Word of the Living God. Our ministry revolves around that Word. However, true advantage does not come by merely having the Word of God. Rather, it comes from appropriating, by faith, the Christ of Whom the Word witnesses. That was precisely the point Jesus made. "But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life" (John 5:40). They were the ones requiring work, or perfection, not the Bible!

Referring to maturity, Paul stated the Divine objective will not be met "until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ" (Eph 4:13, NASB). Who among those advocating "that which is perfect" has come, will presume to demonstrate this state before us? I can tell you that those most strongly affirming the completed canon is "that which is perfect" display a miserable example of "the unity of the faith" before the world--and even more lamentably before the God who purchased them.

The word translated "perfect" means "complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness: of full age, manhood, perfect." This particular word is used at least twenty-one times in the New testament Scriptures.

This is the word Jesus used in Matthew 5:48, when admonishing His followers to "be perfect" as their Father in heaven is perfect. It was also used by the Lord when He told the rich young ruler to go "sell" his possessions and give them to the poor, if he wanted to be "perfect" (Matt 19:21). There is a remarkable consistency in the use of this word by the Holy Spirit. Nearly always, it pertains to people, not the text of Scripture (1 Cor 2:6; 14:20; Eph 4:13; Phil 3:15; Col 1:28; 4:12; Heb 5:14; James 1:4; 3:5; 1 John 4:18).

Other uses of the word apply to:
(1) The "will of God" (Rom 12:2)--already perfect.
(2) The perfect tabernacle in which Jesus now ministers (Heb 9:11)--already perfect.
(3) Every perfect gift coming down from God (James 1:17)--already perfect.
(4) The perfect law of liberty (James 1:25)--said long before canon-completion.
(5) The end for which we hope (1 Pet 1:13)--exists now, but is to be revealed.

The point is that the word is never used of the Scriptures-in-process--or a point in time at which they would be completed. There is a remarkable consistency in the representation of perfection. The saints are the ones being matured, or brought to perfection. The Word of God plays a vital and in dispensable role in that process, as well as various other ministries performed through members of the body of Christ. There is, however, a unique difference between the Word itself and the various gifts employed by the Spirit in the body. The Word of God "lives and abides forever" (1 Pet 1:23). The other means, wrought through vessels of clay, will have no further use when the saints are glorified.

The period lying between imperfection and perfection is described in First Corinthians as "NOW." It is mentioned in direct association with "the coming of that which is perfect." Three superior graces dominate during this time. One of them is "greater," or superior, because it will blend perfectly with the perfect that is to come. "And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Cor 13:13).

If, in fact, "the perfect" has already come, we need some theological expert to explain to us why faith and hope are still present and requisite. Both of them assume imperfection, and postulate a longing for perfection. The very state of imperfection is what requires their presence and dominance "NOW." We are not yet perfect, not yet mature--but we are looking forward to the appointed time when we will be! Praise the Lord!

PRAYER POINT: Father, thank You through Jesus Christ for the dominating hope of being glorified, even while we remain in a vile body and a cursed world.

-- Tomorrow: FACE TO FACE --