God’s Eternal Purpose Has Been the Same Since Creation

Posted on by BETH

God has always had the same eternal purpose for each person.  Whether it was Noah or Abraham–many years before the Old Testament law, David under the law, or Christ, the apostles or his children under the new the law, he aimed to have his eternal love in each mind and heart.  He said: Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus (Phil. 2:5), Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind (1 Pet. 4:1).

His plan is for every child to be thoroughly prepared for every good work is based in the perfection (completion) of a good heart (2 Tim. 3:17).  His plan to furnish his children unto every good work is accomplished by first purging the evil out of the inner man (2 Tim. 2:20, 21).  His plan to prepare the church as a bride for her husband (Rev. 21:2) is accomplished by taking out every spot, wrinkle and blemish (Eph. 5:26, 27).

PERFECT LOVE PRIOR TO CHRIST’S TIME

Posted on by BETH

God provided a way for men to be perfect before Christ, even though the Old Testament law could not make anyone perfect.  The Old Law itself was never meant to accomplish this purpose and goal.  However, the Father was able to give his truth through his prophets to accomplish that purpose.  Abraham was one of these prophets.  Consider the purpose God had for Abraham.

And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.  And I will make my covenant between me and thee, and will multiply thee exceedingly  (Gen. 17:1-2).

Notice Abraham’s part of the covenant God made with him to walk before God and be perfect.  Some would redefine these words, as do some of the modern translations.  We need to be honest enough to listen to the words that proceeded from the mouth of God and not change the words it to fit our preconceived notions.

The radical (literal) definition of the Hebrew noun tamiym is entire, complete or whole.  It comes from the verb tamam which is literally defined as to complete, finish or end.  Another major noun translated perfect is the Hebrew word tam (tawm), which is also literally defined as complete and comes from the same verb as tamiym.   These Hebrew words are almost identical to the Greek noun teleios (complete) which comes from the verb teleo which is literally to end.   It is very interesting to note God’s purpose for his children as described in James 1:4 “…that you may be perfect, and entire, lacking in nothing…” is identical to these words.  Let us keep in mind that the complete expression in the New Testament is “the complete love,”  which is the complete love of Christ and God.  This word is used of material things as well as of spiritual things.  He shows his definition of this Hebrew word used in a physical context.

But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you.  And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect (tamiym) to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein.  Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD.  Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted (Lev. 22:20-21).

The offering had to be perfect to be accepted.  He defines that physical perfection as having no blemish or spot, and as “…nothing superfluous or lacking in his parts….” Without all the parts it was unacceptable to God, and if it had more than all of its parts, it was not accepted.  This is the word perfect in the Old Testament.  Spiritually, it is the same way.  Anything less than all of the parts of God’s love in the heart is unacceptable, and anything more is unacceptable.

Another major noun translated perfect in the Old Testament is the word shalem (shaw lame) and is also literally defined as complete.  It comes from the verb shalam (shaw-lam’) which is literally translated as to be safe.  In our study we want to center on the most commonly used words, tamiym and tam listed above.

God testifies that several godly men were perfect (tamam, tamiym or tam) during the Old Testament era.  Noah was “…perfect (tamiym) in his generations…” (Gen. 6:9).  As noted above, Abraham was commanded to be perfect (tamiym) as his part of the covenant of promise.  Abraham must have obeyed God’s command to become perfect for he inherited the promises (Heb. 6:12).  We will also inherit if we walk in Abraham’s steps (Rom. 4:17-24).  God himself says “. . . and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil” (Job 1:1, 8, 2:3).  Satan did not deny the truth when God reminded him of it (Job 1:8,9).  David said “I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psa. 101:2).  He testified that he would behave himself in a perfect way, which is understandable because he had a perfect heart (Psa. 101:2).  No doubt this is the reason that God testified that he was, “. . . a man after mine own heart,” which indeed is a perfect heart (Acts 13:22).  David testifies “. . . he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve me” (Psa. 101:6).  We must conclude that there were others in David’s day who were also of a perfect heart.   Our Father is calling us to walk in the steps of these good men.

WHY A NEW LAW?

Posted on by BETH

The book of Hebrews repeats a central reason that God gave a new law four specific times.  He first tells us that if it were not weak and unprofitable, we would not have had a need for a High Priest to arise after the order of Melchisedec.  What did its weakness and unprofitableness prevent the Law from doing?

If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?  (Heb. 7:11).

We note the problem.  Perfection was not possible under the Levitical priesthood.  Thus there had to be a new high priest who could give the New Testament. He gives the same reason again for stating that the Old Testament law was weak and unprofitable.

For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.  For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God (Heb. 7:18-19).

We note here that the same clarification is offered again for giving the New Testament.  The law made nothing perfect.  A third time he gives the same explanation – the Old Testament priests were offering “. . .gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience” (Heb. 9:9).  A fourth time he offers the same truth:

For the law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (Heb. 10:1).

Who could rightly deny that making men perfect is a primary reason for giving the New Testament?

He prefaces these statements above in chapters 7 through 9 by directing God’s children to the goal of the disciple in chapter 6 when he said:

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God (Heb. 6:1).

His purpose is clear and obvious.  Jesus is our example and captain of our faith who attained that very goal.

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings (Heb. 2:10).

Our Father made Jesus perfect.  He was not born perfect, for he was made perfect ‘through sufferings.’  He learned obedience by the things which is suffered (Heb. 5:8).  Though he was a Son, he had to learn the same way all of God’s children learn.  As he ran the race ahead of us (was ‘made perfect’) he became the author of eternal salvation to all who will obey him (Heb. 5:9).  “For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God” (Heb. 7:19).  Jesus and the new covenant is that better hope which does make men perfect, like Christ (Luke 6:40).  Thus the Old Law had to be done away to make way for the New Law, the perfect law of liberty.  Only a perfect law can make men perfect.

New Testament Discipleship Includes Every Command of God

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Paul said “For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God” (Acts 20:27).  It is clear that he taught all of the truth. When Jesus commanded the apostles, he said “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20) he commanded them to teach much more than first principles.  When Paul told the Corinthians “For I delivered unto you first of all . . .” (1 Cor. 15:3), he made it clear that the death, burial and resurrection of Christ was first but there was much more after that. The first principles are basic, but they are only the first principles.  Babes in Christ are commanded to grow.  They are commanded to long for God’s milk so they can grow (1 Pet. 2:2).  Milk is food that establishes the first principles (Heb. 5:12,13).  The first principles are defined as the foundation for the rest of the building.

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,  Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment.  And this will we do, if God permit.  (Heb. 6:1-3)

A good foundation is necessary, but it is folly to continue to lay the foundation and never intend to finish the entire building.  The command is to “go on unto perfection.”  Perfection is the complete building – the heart of Christ (Luke 6:40).  The writer of the book of Hebrews himself was determined to go on unto perfection, for he said “. . .let us go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1).  Are we also determined to go on unto perfection?  Keep in mind that the book of Hebrews is not solid food.  It is milk (Heb. 5:11-13).  The determination to go on unto perfection is not solid food.

Those who preach only first principles have a good foundation but do not intend to have a building.  They believe the first principles of the foundation are enough.  They either don’t know or ignore the last part of the great commission “…teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you” (Matt. 28:20).  Jesus taught a great deal more than the first principles.  In teaching the sermon on the mount Jesus concluded the first part with the aim and goal: “Be ye therefore perfect as your heavenly father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).

Perfection, the determination to be like the master, is part of the first principles (Luke 6:40). The rich young ruler wanted to know what he lacked to inherit eternal life.  He said that he had obeyed the Royal Law and the ten commandments, which was the first step.  Jesus then pointed him to the ultimate goal saying,  “If thou wilt be perfect…”  (Matt. 19:21).  Perfection, being like Christ, is the major aim and goal throughout the New Testament.  Consider one major reason that God gives for dis-annulling the Old Testament Law.

The Power of a Good Heart

Posted on by BETH

The power of God is found in our hearts.  He shows us that our mouths speak “out of the abundance of the heart” (Matt. 12:34).  Look at the power of the heart!  Most of us have much evil in our hearts.  The heart is the source of the evil and good that we do. “But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.  For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies” (Matt. 15:18, 19).  The evil abides in the heart and is manifested when the temptation arises.  It is our responsibility to remove all of this evil out of our hearts.  He command us to: “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).

Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry.  But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth (Col. 3:5, 8).

It is also our responsibility to renew the new man we put on in baptism:

And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him: Where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcision nor uncircumcision, Barbarian, Scythian, bond nor free: but Christ is all, and in all.  Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (Col. 3:10-12).

We have put on Christ (Gal. 3:27) which is our ‘new man.’  The ways he commands us to put on (above) are all part of the love of Christ, which is growing in his image.  If all of the evil is taken out of our hearts and the love of Christ is put into our hearts, our mouths will speak from the abundance of hearts like Christ’s heart.  Our actions will naturally follow our tongues, for the tongue is the bridle or rudder for the whole body (James 3:3-5).  There is great power if the perfect love is in the heart.  Those with the perfect love do not err in word (James 3:2).  His heart controls his tongue because his heart has been formed with all of the parts of Christ’s love.  That same man is  “. . . able also to bridle the whole body also” (James 3:2).  When would we not obey God if our hearts are full of Jesus love and we are able to bridle the whole body?  If we are unfaithful in the least, we will be faithful in much (Luke 16:10-12). Why?  If our heart is faithful, whether we have little or much, we will be faithful.  God’s power in our hearts is found in the love of Christ!

Consider two examples of the power of a good heart.  God testifies to David’s heart – “I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will” (Acts 13:33). David’s heart was formed and thus he was able to fulfill all of God’s will.  God inspired David to write: “I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart” (Psa. 101:2). David would have to have a complete heart because he was a man after God’s own heart–and God’s heart is surely complete!  We need to remember that David was not born with a complete heart.  No doubt this Psalm was written toward the end of his life.  After David died, God gave him a tremendous testimony concerning the power of his heart:

Because David did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, and turned not aside from any thing that he commanded him all the days of his life, save only in the matter of Uriah the Hittite (1 King 15:5).

With the one exception, David did what was right and did not turn aside from anything God commanded him all the days of his life (1 Kings 15:5).  Who could claim that sort of record but Christ himself!  Some scorn David because of the horrible sin he had, but do they have a record where they have not turned aside from any command all the days of their lives except for one lapse?  There are different degrees of temptation.  We have the promise now that we will not be tempted above what we are able.  David did not have that promise.  Peter was sifted like wheat, and Jesus knew he would fall (Luke 22:31).  The promise not to be tempted above what we are able was written after Peter was sifted like wheat.  How strong was David’s temptation?  We will not know until Judgment Day.  Others claim that God’s testimony is false,  and that David did sin more than in the matter of Uriah the Hittite.  Keep in mind the statement: David did not turn aside from “any thing that he commanded him.”  When David counted the people, his heart smote him.  This was not something God had commanded him to do or not to do.  There was no law about counting or not counting the people in the Old Law, which David was under.  Sin is transgression of law.  If there is no law, sin is not imputed (Rom. 5:13).  We must walk by faith.  God made the statement above, and we need to trust God enough to believe it.  David has a marvelous record, because he has a marvelous heart after God’s own heart.

The Lord testifies: “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body” (James 3:2).  This is a marvelous statement.  The phrase in this scripture, “If any man,” would include Job.  God testified that Job was a perfect man, not once but three times, and one of those was to the Devil himself (Job 1:8).  If it were not true, Satan would have contradicted God.  But he did not.  Satan knew that Job was perfect.  We would expect Job not to offend in word according to the definition in James 3:2.  God gives Job this very testimony: “In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly” (Job 1:22).  Even after Satan removed all of his possessions and flooded him with boils, God testifies: “In all this did not Job sin with his lips” (Job 2:10).  Keep in mind that God said that “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man. . .” (James 3:2).  Some, like Job’s friends, would accuse Job of sinning, but there was no proof except their allegations.  In the end, Elihu was angry with the three friends because they could not answer Job (Job 32:1-3).  The worst that Job did (or came close to doing) was to condemn God and dis-annul his judgment (Job 40:8). Sin is transgression of God’s law.  Job lived long before the Old Testament law, and even if he were under the law, there is no such command not to dis-annul God’s judgment.  God did not accuse Job, but asked him if that were what he was doing (Job 40:8).  In the end, God himself justified Job:

And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends: for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath.  Therefore take unto you now seven bullocks and seven rams, and go to my servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and my servant Job shall pray for you: for him will I accept: lest I deal with you after your folly, in that ye have not spoken of me the thing which is right, like my servant Job (Job 42:7-8).

Truly David and Job are examples of the power of a good heart.

Look at the hope of glory!  The hope of glory is to have the eternal marvelous and beautiful love of Christ in our own hearts.  (Col. 1:26, 27)!  Love never fails (1 Cor. 13:8).  God is love.  God is eternal.  His love is eternal.  What is unseen is eternal.  If we grow in that love, we grow in what is unseen and thus in was is eternal (1 Cor. 4:18).  If we do not grow in that love, but keep the hatred and/or evil we have in our hearts, those unseen things will also last eternally.  If we grow in the heart of Christ, we will have that love forever and ever.  If we inherit the new body and a new mansion in heaven, and have the heart of Satan, what can God expect?  “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks” (Matt. 12:34).  God can expect us to speak evil from the abundance of an evil heart. Heaven will not be heaven if we arrive there with an evil heart.  There is no glory to having an evil heart or even an empty heart.  If we are filled with the heart of Christ we will surely be faithful as Christ was faithful (He 3:1,2).  It is no wonder that “perfect love” gives boldness on the day of judgment and casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).  The heart of Christ is truly the hope of glory (Col. 1:26, 27).  There is a way to overcome the world!  There is a way to obey all the commands of God.