Three Stages of Perfection

Three Stages of Perfection

Holy Spirit Inspired

(1) Perfect Relationship:
We are perfect because of our eternal union
with the infinitely perfect Christ. When we become
his children, we are declared "not guilty" and thus
righteous because of what Christ, God's beloved Son,
has done for us. This perfection is absolute and unchangeable,
and it is this perfect relationship that guarantees that we will
one day be "completely perfect."
Colossians 2:6-10
Freedom From Rules and New Life in Christ
"And now, just as you accepted Christ Jesus as your Lord,
you must continue to follow him.
Let your roots grow down into him and let your lives be built
on him. Then your faith will grow strong in the truth you were
taught, and you will overflow with thankfulness.
Don't let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and
high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and
from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.
For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body.
So you also are complete through your union with Christ,
who is the head over every ruler and authority.
Hebrews 10:8-17
First Christ said, "You did not want animal sacrifices or
other offerings for sin, nor were you pleased with them" (though they are required by the law of Moses).
Then he said, "Look I have come to do your will." He cancels
the first covenant in order to put the second into effect.
God's will was for us to made holy by the sacrifice of the body
of Jesus Christ, once for all time.
Under the old covenant, the priest stands and ministers before
the altar day after day, offering the same sacrifices again and again,
which can never take away sins.
But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice
for sins, good for all time. Then he sat down in the place of honor
at God's right hand.
There he waits until his enemies are humbled and made a footstool
under his feet.
For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are
being made holy.
And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says,
"This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that
day, says the Lord:
I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds."
Then he says, "I will never again remember their sins and lawless
deeds."

(2) Perfect Progress:
We can grow and mature spiritually as we continue to trust
Christ, learn more about him, draw closer to him, and obey him.
Our progress is changeable (in contrast to our relationship above)
because it depends on our daily walk -- at times in life we mature
more than at other times. But we are growing toward perfection
if we "press on."
Philippians 3:12-16
Pressing Toward the Goal
I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things
or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess
that perfection. Fore which Christ Jesus first possessed me.
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus
on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to
what lies ahead,
I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly
prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
Let all who are spiritually mature agree on these things. If
you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to
you.
But we must hold onto the progress we have already made."
These good deeds do not perfect us; rather as God perfects
us, we do good deeds for him.
My Dearly Beloved; please read Philippians 3:1-15.
Thank you. Praise God!

(3) Completely Perfect:
When Christ returns to take us into his eternal Kingdom,
we will be glorified and made completely perfect.
Philippians 3:20-21
"But we are citizens of heaven, where the Lord Jesus
Christ lives. And we are eagerly waiting for him to return
as our Savior.
He will take our weak mortal bodies and change them
into glorious bodies like his own, using the same power
with which he will bring everything under his control."
All phases of perfection are grounded in faith in Christ
and what he has done, not what we can do for him. We
cannot perfect ourselves; only God can work in and through
us to continue his work until it is finally finished on the day
when Christ Jesus returns.

Paul's Thanksgiving and Prayer
Philippians 1:3-6
"Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.
Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of
you with joy,
for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News
about Christ from the time you first heard it until now.
And I am certain that God, who began a good work
within you, will continue his work until it is finished
on the day when Christ Jesus returns.

© Jim Smart

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