The Perfection of the Church

[Guest Steve101]

When mention is made of a perfect Church, people have a tendency to interpret the meaning according to various opinions. Those who hold that the Church is invisible, and made up of certain elect ones known only to the Lord, think of perfection only with respect to the hearts of those elect individuals. Those who teach that all born-again believers are in the Church by the new birth can hardly teach a perfect Church at all.

Since the Bible does not teach an invisible Church, but rather a literal, functioning, visible body of chosen ones, bound together by covenant, it is evident that Church perfection means something more than the perfect holiness of individuals. The Bible teaches both individual perfection and Church perfection. Individual perfection results from the grace of sanctification and walking in the light.

On God's part, the rightly divided Word says, "For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10:14) Christ, of course, was that offering. "Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate." (Hebrews 13:12)

On the individual's part, because of this inward grace, he gladly lays aside every weight, and the sin that would

beset him, as he keeps looking unto Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Hebrews 12:1, 2) He willingly and joyfully cleanses himself from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. (2 Corinthians 7:1) He makes no boast in himself of being perfect. However, his life may testify of the fact to others, for David said, "Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright

(Psalm 37:37)

TO BE CONTINUED

[His son]

Thats good preaching,

We have got to overcome a false doctrine that satan has planted so firmly in the midst of Truth that has a lot of Christians deceived and they don't know it. They have bought His lie that there is only one perfect and that is Christ. And then they pull Scripture out of conctext of all The Scriptures that deal with Holiness, purity, perfection, righteousness, and sinlessness, and lull themselves into a false sense of security. And then there are other false doctrines that make them feel more secure in there deception, such as OSAS, seperation of Church, and state, dispensations, seperatism, and the list goes on and on. Christ when He comes back for His Bride is coming for those who are without spot or wrinkle, and most Christians in their false sense of security hide under the biggest deception of all that God is such a loving God that He won't see this little spot or that minor wrinkle. And they totally ignore The Scripture that tells of one who had entered without the proper gown and was cast out. Thats pretty sad. But it is their own fault because God has given them The Whole Truth, and The Holy Spirit to reveal it all to them, but they chase after those who will tickle their itching ears, and stroke their egos, and entertain them. But I see many coming out of the deception and are becoming God chasers, seeking His face, and not His Hand, and my hope is that we can get many more to start on that pursuit.

[Guest Calamity]

Are you two saying that we can be perfect while still in the flesh?

[Guest yod]

Gee Calamity...

I can't figure it out either. Are they perfect?

[His son]

Are you two saying that we can be perfect while still in the flesh?

Did you read Those Scriptures that were posted? It doesn't matter what we say, what matters is what God Wrote in The Scriptures. And for your edification Jesus said That we can do ALL THINGS He did and more. And I for one intend to be walking totally at the direction of The Holy Spirit before I end this pilgrimage. Study all of The Scriptures on Holiness, purity, righteousness, and perfection, and without ever adding a word, or taking any words away from them there can be only one conclusion. This is what Paul was talking about when he said it is no longer I that live but Christ who lives in me.

[His son]

Gee Calamity...

I can't figure it out either. Are they perfect? 

My friend you need not be concerened about the state of our perfection, that is The Holy Spirits purpose. You need to be concerned about your own, and you will have to start with The belief that because Christ said it that you can be. Just the same as you had to start your salvation process with The Belief That God can complete it in you. This also holds true for all the fruits of The Spirit, and all the callings God has put on your life.

A little warning for you. Be careful that when you blink, you don't open up to see the true believers on there way up to meet Christ in the air as he returns to do His Fathers Will here once again.

[Guest yod]

Maybe you should study Greek?

The word translated as "perfect" means "MATURE"

"Mature" means that you aren't so arrogant that you think you are perfect.

Don't worry...I'll have a seat at the marriage supper. Then we can laugh about it.

[Guest Steve101]

More of church perfection:

The above standard is the goal of every member of the Church, but Church perfection goes beyond this to the perfection of the body of Christ in doctrine, unity, and government. This seems impossible only to those who do not have a divine revelation of the Church of God as set forth in the Scriptures. Since the Church is visible and literal, Church perfection must be attained visibly and literally, but by the power of the Holy Ghost.

One meaning of "perfection" is complete. But completeness comes short of the full meaning. However, if we hold strictly to the Bible standard, the two words may mean the same, for in God's sight the Church will not be complete until it has reached Bible perfection. Therefore, completeness does not mean that the Church has reached a certain number, as some believe, and is therefore complete. Rather, it will reach God's requirements in purity and doctrine.

In the days of Noah, the ark was a type of the Church. Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations, and he walked with God. God told him to build the ark, and how to build it, and the Bible says, "Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he." (Genesis 6:22) In other words, the ark was completed, and all was in order according to the requirements of the Lord for that day. Only those who believed God, and who carried out His plan to completion or perfection, were in the ark.

To be continue

[Guest yod]

Only those who believed God, and who carried out His plan to completion or perfection, were in the ark

yeah...and when they got off the ark, Noah got drunk and Ham humiliated him.

Perfect.

[His son]

Maybe you should study Greek?

The word translated as "perfect" means "MATURE"

"Mature" means that you aren't so arrogant that you think you are perfect.

Don't worry...I'll have a seat at the marriage supper. Then we can laugh about it.