A. CAN ANY CHRISTIAN BE PERFECT?
“That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus” (1:28). Jesus said, “Be ye perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:48).
1. Answer: No! “There is none perfect, no not one” (Rom. 3:10, ELT).
2. We can do nothing good. “All our righteousnesses are like filthy rags” (Isa. 64:6).
3. Christians who think they are perfect, change the definition of sin. “Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a knowing law of God.” John Wesley.
4. Declared righteous. Christians are only “perfect through Jesus Christ” (Heb. 13:21). To be justified by God is to be declared righteous. “Being justified by faith” (Rom. 5:1).
B. IF WE CANNOT BE PERFECT, WHAT IS OUR GOAL?
Jesus Christ wants “to present you holy, and blameless, and above reproach in His sight” (1:22).
1. God’s nature (positive holiness) is given us.
2. Unblameable is a sacrificial word that means free from defects or without blemish.
3. Unreproveable means no one can make an accusation against you.
C. CAN OUR SUFFERINGS FOR SOMEONE “TAKE CARE” OF THEIR SINS BEFORE GOD?
“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church” (1:24).
1. No. ‘There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Tim. 2:5).
2. Paul was suffering in prison and chains because he tried to get people saved.
Jesus provided the gospel, Paul proclaimed it.
Jesus was the atonement, Paul announced it.
Jesus completed salvation, Paul communicated it.
3. Paul suffered for the body-the Church-not for Jesus’ physical body.
D. WHAT IS A DISPENSATION OR A DISPENSATIONALIST?
“Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God:” (1:25, KJV).
1. The word dispensation (oikonomia) means administration or household stewardship. “A dispensation is a period of time during which man is tested in respect of obedience to some specific revelation of the will of God” (Scofield p, 5).
2. Not different test for salvation, but for living.
THE SEVEN DISPENSATIONS
1. INNOCENCY- in the Garden of Eden.
2. CONSCIENCE - before the flood.
3. HUMAN GOVERNMENT - from flood to Abraham.
4. PROMISE - from Abraham to Egypt.
5. LAW - rest of Old Testament.
6. GRACE - the Church Age.
7. KINGDOM - the millennial 1000 years.
3. Only one way to be saved, i.e., the blood of Jesus Christ.
E. HOW DID THE OLD TESTAMENT PEOPLE HAVE THEIR SINS FORGIVEN?
1. The blood of an animal temporarily atoned for sins. “Sacrifices, which can never take away sins” (Heb. 10:11). “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by His (Christ) own blood . . . obtained eternal redemption” (Heb. 9:12).
2. Jesus’ blood took away all sin. “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
F. WHAT IS A MYSTERY?
“The mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Col. 1:26).
1. Not something completely unknowable, i.e., mysterious religions.
2. Something not known in the Old Testament.
3. Something now shown in this dispensation. This is the dispensation of the Holy Spirit who shows us new things.
G. WHAT (MYSTERY) HAS GOD SHOWN TO US? SEVEN POINTS
1. Salvation in Christ. “Mystery . . . God ordained before the world” (1 Cor. 2:7).
2. God incarnate in Jesus. “The mystery of God and the Father of Christ” (Col. 2:2).
3. Israel is blinded “Blindness in part is happened to Israel” (Rom. 11:25).
4. Jesus’ indwelling. “This mystery . . . Christ in you” (Col. 1:27).
5. The Church is the body of Christ. “The mystery . . . that Gentiles should be fellow heirs and of the same body” (Eph. 3:3-6).
6. The Church is Christ’s bride. “A great mystery . . . the church” (Eph. 5:32).
7. Saints’ transformation at the rapture. “I show you a mystery . . . we shall all be changed” (1 Cor. 15:51).
H. WHAT SHOULD I TAKE AWAY FROM THIS LESSON?
1. I have a wonderful new position in Christ.
2. I should exercise my spiritual inheritance.
3. I should behave on earth according to my standing in Heaven.
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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