LOOKING TO PERFECTION
OR
PERFECTED THROUGH SUFFERING
SUNDAY NOV. 28, 2021
Scripture To Consider:
“On that very day some Pharisees came, saying to Jesus, ‘Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You.’ And He said to them, ‘Go, tell that fox, “Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.” Nevertheless I must journey today, tomorrow, and the day following; for it cannot be that a prophet should perish outside of Jerusalem.’”
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, but you were not willing! See! Your house is left to you desolate; and assuredly, I say to you, you shall not see Me until the time comes when you will say, ‘Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD.’” Luke 13.31-35
Something To Consider:
On the very same day that Jesus warned against waiting to enter the kingdom of God and against being a worker of iniquity, some of the Pharisees warned Jesus of Herod’s desire to kill Him. Some commentaries claim that these Pharisees or religious leaders, were like all Pharisees and wanted Jesus to simply leave. But without our having any proof, that claim remains purely speculation.
Assuming that all Pharisees were hostile to Jesus would be like claiming all religious leaders are hypocrites and only concerned for their own well-being and exaltation. And that simply is not true! It is very possible that there were some good God-fearing Pharisees who respected Jesus.
Nonetheless, Jesus had a few words for them to take back to Herod. “Go, tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected.'” Jesus was letting these Pharisees and Herod know that He would continue to do His work with or without Herod’s threat of death. He was not declaring that in three days He would die. God the Father was keeping a close eye on the timetable pertaining to His Son.
Jesus was also aware of the timetable that pertained to the nation of Israel. But because of unbelief, their house, whether that refers to the temple or the nation, or both, in 70 A.D. reaped desolation by the hand of the Roman empire. Though Jesus was not looking forward to that time, He was looking forward to being perfected through His suffering death at Calvary, and His being raised the third day in power. What is it that we, if true end time believers in Jesus, what is it that we are looking forward to?
Something Else To Consider:
The apostle Paul, writing in 2 Corinthians 7.1, declared; “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Are we therefore looking unto perfection by way of holiness? Are we willing to be cleansed from all our filthiness of the flesh? And if not, why not?
Evidently, the Corinthians were willing! For many repented of their sins. The promises Paul mentioned in verse 1 of chapter 7, followed the promises God had made in chapter 6. “I [God] will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My people.” Have we taken advantage of these promises of God? And if not, why not?
But God had more to say to the fleshly minded people of Corinth who were about to repent of their sins, in verses 17-18 of 2 Corinthians chapter 6. “Come out from among them [unbelievers] and be separate [holy], says the LORD. Do not touch what is unclean [false religious doctrines], and I will receive you. I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the LORD Almighty.”
What reaction does that Scripture bring forth from the depths of inner most thoughts? Are we content to remain in a place of so-called worship that teaches false doctrines and false unbiblical concepts because it is the easier thing to do? If we know we are attending a so-called church of which God has removed His Spirit from, are we willing to remove ourselves from unbelievers and be separate or holy as we follow after God in Christ Jesus?
Something More To Consider:
The writer of the book of Hebrews chapter 5 in verses 8-9, spoke about Jesus being perfected through His suffering death at Calvary, when he wrote; “Though He [Jesus] was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” That is always a hard lesson of a lifetime to learn. But the writer added, “And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him [those who obey Jesus].”
So, Jesus was perfected through His suffering for us! As followers of Christ, let us be obedient by faithfully following His example, that we too may be perfected and made more into the image of Jesus of Nazareth even in the midst of our own suffering. For if we are looking to be perfected in Christ, we must be perfected through our suffering as was Christ. That is biblical truth!
According to Jesus in Matthew 5.48, “Be therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” How can we truly become perfect in Christ without truly knowing Jesus? We cannot! There is a most simple biblical test which will easily reveal whether we know God through knowing His Son Jesus.
That biblical test is found in 1 John chapter 2 and in verse 3. There John wrote, “Now by this we know that we know Him [God], if we keep His commandments.” John extended his biblical test of knowing God by stating in verse 4, “He [or she] who says, ‘I know Him [God],’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him [or in her].”
Wow! But John also declared, “But, whoever keeps His Word [God’s Word], truly the love of God is perfected in him [or in her]. By this we know that we are in Him.” Notice that Paul interchanges the word commandments with the word, [Word, His Word]. And John earlier wrote in the introduction to his gospel, “And the Word [Word of God] became flesh [in the person of Jesus] and we beheld His glory, full of grace and truth.”
A Few Final Words:
Are we willing to come out from among anything or anyone that might be causing us to be found living in the filthiness of the flesh? Are we willing to come out from the false teaching of this 21st century religious but not spiritual organized church? Are we willing to allow God to truly become our heavenly Father and us His sons and daughters?
After Jesus’ suffering, and after His being perfected through that suffering, and after being raised from the dead, Jesus stated; “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations.” That is exactly what this website is attempting to do. And according to Jesus, this biblical discipleship program is only accomplished according to His method and according to His written and preserved Word of God.
For according to Jesus and Matthew 28.20, after making disciples of all nations, we are to be found by Jesus; “…teaching them [disciples of all nations] to observe all things that I [Jesus] has commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age”.
Prayer:
Our Father in heaven, give us eyes to see the perfection in Jesus Christ, while His atoning blood and written Word perfects us daily, even unto the end of our lives or to the end of this age. In Him Always, Amen!
According to Jesus 