Words Of Hope: Scripture And The Doctrine Of Perfection

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"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.  And let endurance have its PERFECT result, so that you may be PERFECT and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

The Bible calls it HOPE.  "What doesn't kill me, makes me stronger."  God uses hardship to produce endurance in us.

Someday we will be PERFECT.

The world denies it.  "No one is perfect."  "There are no perfect churches."  Self-fulfilling.  We lose hope.

Perfect (teleios--goal, purpose).

Not a claim of moral perfection.  Functional rather than categorical.  "It is finished (a form of same word)!"  Accomplished!  Achieved!  Done!

Discouraged age.  Many feel they are (the world is) broken.  Christians don't.  "Can these bones live?"(Ezekiel 37:3).  Yes!

     "Therefore repent and return so that your sins may be wiped away in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19).

 --IT IS NOT TOO LATE

     Trouble is no sign that God is done with you,  Often just the opposite.

     Endurance (hupo meno--"to remain under").  Don't run.  Stay under the pressure.  Face what is hard.  Trust.  Wait.

     "In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures" (James 1:18).  

     Salvation is God's work.  Has He changed His mind?  Given up?

     The Thief on the cross

--HE WILL GUIDE/HELP US

     "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given him.  But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.  For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:5-8).

If He is the Lord, then act accordingly.  Either the Son of God or a fraud.  You must settle in your own mind.

--WE MUST DISCIPLINE OURSELVES

    1)  Deny self.  Turn from world.  Do not be easy on yourself.

     "Why are you in despair, O my soul?  Why have you become disturbed with me?  Hope in God, for I shall again praise Him for the help of His presence" (Psalm 42:5).

     2)  Learn/choose joy.  "Consider it all joy" (v. 2).  "For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross" (Hebrews 12:2).

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     "Go into all the world and disciple them" (Matthew 28:19).   Mathetes--teach.  Particular kind of teaching (apprentice-like).  Spectacular kind of outcome.  Different way to live.

     Many who call themselves Christian are not disciples.  We cannot teach what we do not first learn.   As we learn hope, we are called to teach it.  

     It is not too late.  I will get started.  He will help me on the condition of fully surrendered heart.  I must discipline myself.  Nothing passive or easy.

     Town Hall Meeting this Wednesday night.