VI PERFECT LOVE AND JUDGMENT DAY

Posted on by BETH

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (1 John 4:17).

Why will having the perfect love cause us to have “boldness in the day of judgment” (1 John 4:17)?  If we ever need boldness it will be on Judgment Day.  As already noted, we gain that perfect love by obeying all of his commandments (1 John 2:4).  It is reasonable that we would have boldness before God if have obeyed all of his commandments.  Obeying every command of God, is to please him in everything (John 8:29)!  Only when we disobey the commands of God do we need to fear him.  This is why the perfect (complete, ‘teleios’) love casts out all fear (1 John 4:18).

Some have no fear to cast out.  Why fear, they ask, when we are already saved?  For some, faith alone casts out fear.  For others, baptism and worshipping faithfully alone casts out all fear.  For others, ignorance prevents them from knowing their real situation and thus having natural fear.  None of these is said to cast out all fear in scripture.  In fact, the scripture commands us to have fear.  Read what the Lord commanded one of the most faithful, favored and ‘already saved’ congregations in New Testament times:

Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. (Phil. 2:12)

Some counter – this is only “reverence fear.”  That definition can not be correct.  He told the Philippians to fear and tremble.  True, Daniel and others in a vision trembled and fainted, but these brethren in Philippi were not seeing a vision.  They were commanded to work out their own salvation.  Why work out their own salvation if they already have it?  They did not have the crown yet.  Paul testified to these same Philippians that he did not have the crown yet.  They were like Timothy who was told to lay hold on eternal life (1 Tim 6:12).  He did not have eternal life or he would not have been commanded to lay hold on it.  True Timothy was directed not to fear (1 Tim 1:7) but this referred to the fear of man (1 Cor. 16:10).  We are told that “The fear of man bringeth a snare” (Pro. 29:25), but Jesus was very clear that there is a fear we must have.  We must fear God:

And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.  But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him  (Luke 12:4-5).

Fear of being cast into hell is not reverence fear – it is the fear that has terror!  We are commanded to “. . . pass the time of your sojourning here in fear” (1 Pet. 1:17).  The only thing in the scriptures that will cast out “the fear that has terror,” is the perfect love (1 John 4:18).  Herein lies our incentive to run diligently, as if only “one receiveth the prize” (1 Cor. 9:24-26).

SCRIPTURAL LOVE: Comprised of Many Parts

Posted on by BETH

Love is not merely one entity but is made up of many different parts.  There are many different kinds of love.  Bible love is by no means the same as the world’s love.  “God is love” (1 John 4:8, 16).  God is surely not the same as the world!  God’s love is comprised of many different parts.  He lists several of these parts in what has been called the ‘love chapter’ (1 Cor. 13).

Love  1)  “suffereth long, and  2)  is kind; charity  3)  envieth not; charity  4)  vaunteth not itself,  5)  is not puffed up, 6)  Doth not behave itself unseemly,  7)  seeketh not her own,  8)  is not easily provoked,  9)  thinketh no evil;  10)  Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but  11)  rejoiceth in the truth;” (1 Cor. 13:4-8).

Someone may counter that these qualities are mostly negative. Though many of these parts are negative, we can understand that for every negative there is generally a corresponding positive. if love does not vaunt itself, it must be humble.  If it does not behave itself ‘unseemly,’ it must behave itself ‘seemly.’  If love does not seek her own, then  it must seek other’s good, etc.  There are many other parts of God’s love which are not listed in 1 Corinthians 13.    Every good part of God is a part of his love and the love of Christ, who is “. . .the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Heb. 1:3). If we grow in Christ’s love we are growing in the love of God.

If our love lacks kindness, longsuffering, humility, or any other part, it is not the complete (perfect) love of Christ.  We need to acquire each part to be “in the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.”  We grow into that complete love by keeping his commandments – which is the third part of the great commission – “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you”  (Matt. 28:20).   We note what happens when someone has completely fulfilled the third part of the Great Commission.  He declares: “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him” (I John 2:5).  Full obedience to the great commission ends in forming the perfect love of God in the disciple’s heart.  Willing obedience to even one of the commandments of God, will give us a part of the love of Christ.  Willingly obeying all of his commands will surely perfect (complete) all of the parts of Christ’s love in us.  This is in line with the definition of love that Jesus gave the apostles just before his crucifixion.

He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.  Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world?  Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.  He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.  (John 14:21-24)

Loving God with some of our heart, soul and mind, means obeying some of his commandments.  Obeying the greatest command to “. . .love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind” (Matt. 22:37), is to keep all of his commandments.  Obedience to all of the commands will produce the complete love in our hearts (1 John 2:5).  This is identical to John’s definition in the last chapter of first John.

By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God, and keep his commandments.  For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous (1 Jn 5:2-3).

Thus, if we obey the first part of the great commission, we will make disciples whose aim and goal is to be like their master by obeying all things whatsoever Christ commands (Matt. 28:19, 20).

The New Commandment Contrasted with the Royal Law

Posted on by BETH

“A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another” (John 13:34).

The ‘new’ command is not the same as the ‘Royal Law’ (love thy neighbor as thyself) (Lev. 19:18; James 2:8).  They are very different.  The Royal Law has a different subject of its love.  The Royal Law directs its love toward the neighbor.  That can be anyone in need (Luke 10:29-37).  The new commandment directs that love only toward ‘one another,’ God’s children, ‘the least of these my brethren,’ not just anyone (John 13:34,35).

Neither is the ‘new’ command the same as the Royal Law in the content of that love.  The love of the Royal Law, is to love as we love ourselves – ‘love thy neighbour as thyself.’  The ‘new’ command  is to love ‘as I have loved you.’  Jesus’ love and our love are very different.  His love is far greater.  The Royal Law is satisfied with our love, but the new command requires us to grow to have Jesus’ love.

The new command is not all-encompassing.  It does not direct us to have Jesus’ love for his Father, his enemy, his neighbor or his friend.  The new command singularly directs us to love each other as Jesus loves God’s children (“as I have loved you”).  Jesus’ love toward God’s children is ‘perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4).  As long as we are lacking in any one part of Christ’s love, we can not love God’s children with Jesus’ complete love. He did not lack any part.  We must grow to have all of the parts of Christ’s love in our hearts in order to obey the new commandment.  This is identical with the ‘perfect love.’

We can not obey the new command the first day we hear it.  We can immediately obey the Royal Law.  Our love for ourselves already exists.  It is merely a question of redirecting that same love toward our neighbor.  However, loving one another as Christ loves us, can not be accomplished the same day.  To love as Christ loves, takes 1)knowing the love of Christ and 2) growing into that complete love which Christ has.  This surely is a new and beautiful commandment.  This is New Testament discipleship, the aim of the great commission, the purpose of God.

Called to Partake of the Divine Nature

Posted on by BETH

“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:3-4)

What is the divine nature? He tells us plainly that the divine nature is love – God’s love.   “God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (I John 4:16).  If God dwells in us, it is divinity dwelling in us.  Love is God’s divine nature.  Christ “is the image of the invisible God” (Col. 1:15).  Jesus said “. . .he that hath seen me hath seen the Father” (Jn 14:9).  If we are partakers of the divine nature we are like Christ. In the sermon on the mount, Jesus concluded his teaching on our being like God in love by saying “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).  This also is describing the nature of God and directing us to be partakers of it.

Whether he describes his purpose as making us like Christ, filling us with all of his fulness (he is love), making us partakers of his divine nature, making us perfect, or giving us the perfect love, it is all the same – namely, he wants to form his love in us.  This is the mark, goal, purpose and aim for the race he has set before us.  He describes this mark in yet another way.

PERFECT LOVE

Posted on by BETH

‘Perfection’ in the scriptures seen in the last posts seems to be an abstract description.  In what are we to be perfect?  He identifies his perfection as he describes what it means to be perfect.  “Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world” (I John 4:17). The complete expression is “perfect love.”  The “perfect love” is defined in this scripture as being “as he is,” that is, like Christ.  This is not after judgment day.  He says “Herein is our love made perfect . . . in this world” (I John 4:17).  Earlier the Lord gave the same definition for perfection as being like Christ in his letter to the Ephesians:

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: (Eph. 4:11-12).

He first lists the gifts Christ gave which comprises the entire teaching force of his church.  Then he describes the purpose of his giving these teachers to the church.  The first purpose listed is “for the perfecting of the saints.”  The word ‘Perfect’ here (katartismos) is the noun form of the same word for perfect in Luke 6:40 (katartizo) – which is to be like Christ.  The teaching force of God’s church was thus to make us like Christ.  This same teaching force wrote the scriptures – which, he states, were written for the same purpose: “All scripture is inspired of God and profitable. . .  That the man of God may be perfect (artios)” (2 Tim. 3:17).

He states this same truth in yet another way.  The description is even more specific in his definition in the next verse.

Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  (Eph. 4:13).

His ultimate purpose – is to go on “unto a perfect man.”  In verse 12 he used the word ‘katartismos’ but in 13 he uses a different Greek word; ‘teleios.’  ‘Teleios’ is the most common word which is translated ‘perfect’ in the New Testament scriptures.  He then defines this word ‘perfection (teleios)’ as being in “. . . the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ” (Eph. 4:13).  No matter which Greek word is used, perfection is defined as being like Christ.  Nor is that all.  This is the identical purpose he gives in the previous chapter – stated in different terms.

For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named,  That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,  May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;  And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us (Eph. 3:14-20).

The Lord’s ultimate purpose is that the Ephesians would be “filled with all the fulness of God.”  This is the same as being like Christ.  Christ has all the fulness of God in him (Col. 2:9) for he is “the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person” (Heb. 1:1-3).  Whether his disciples are “filled with all the fulness of God,” “partakers of the divine nature,” ‘perfect’ (artios), “perfect” (teleios), or are in “the image Christ,” it is all one and the same.  This is God’s purpose, aim, goal, or mark for the race, for each of his children.  The automatic response is often: “I can’t do it.”  That is correct.  We can not fulfill God’s purpose – alone.  The power is not in man but it is in the God who, immediately after he states his ultimate purpose states that He is: “. . . able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us” (Eph. 3:20).

We can not do it, but God can work in us!  What is our part?  He is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask!”  We can not do it, but we can ask God to work this in us.  We can ask to become like Christ, and God is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask. . .”  We can ask to be rooted and grounded in love and to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height.  We can ask to know the love of Christ that passes knowledge.  Our Father is “able to do exceeding abundantly above all we ask. . .”  The power of God is not what is lacking!  The faith in us is what is lacking!  We need to seek and trust him!  If we ask for a fish, he will not give us a scorpion.  If we ask for the heart of Christ, “. . .  how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him” (Matt. 7:11)?  He knows how to give good gifts to his children.  He knows how to give eternal gifts (2 Cor. 4:18) which includes the hope of glory, which is Christ in us (Col. 1:27).  This was Paul’s ultimate goal. Paul pointed to this very mark in his description of his race to the mark (for the prize).

Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 3:12)

Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Col. 1:28).

Paul’s aim for all of God’s children was to “present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.”  If that were Paul’s goal, it ought to be our goal also.  This was God’s purpose, for Paul said: “Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Col. 1:29). God was working mightily in Paul for the same purpose – to present every man perfect in Christ.  The Hebrew writer encouraged God’s children to go on unto the same goal: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection” (Heb. 6:1).  Paul told the Corinthians: “For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection” (2 Cor. 13:9). “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect” (2 Cor. 9:11). Paul’s testified to his fellow-laborer’s prayer: “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Col. 4:12). James shows God’s highest purpose for each of his children when he says:

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:2-4).

Peter was used to teach the very same purpose:

 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you (1 Pet. 5:10).

John tells how to attain perfection and shows the power it has on judgment day: “But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him”  (I John 2:5).

No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us (I John 4:12).

Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world (I John 4:17).

One major reason that the New Testament was required to replace the Old Testament is because the Old Testament law could not make the comers perfect.

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) “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).

Which was a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect, as pertaining to the conscience (Heb. 9:9).

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)

Four times the Lord states that the reason there had to be a new covenant is because the Old Testament could not make a man perfect.  What was his goal in the Old Testament?  What is his goal now?  Paul was used to show us that the New Testament scriptures were given for that very purpose, “That the man of God may be perfect” (2 Tim. 3:17).  Thus far we have seen that God used Matthew, Luke John, Paul, Peter, James and (if it were not Paul) the writer of the Hebrew letter, to direct us to go on unto perfection.  Keep in mind that “perfection” in the scripture is to be like Christ (Luke 6:40).