May I help you here in regard not only to the ultimate, but goals involved in the process of attaining or coming into the realization of “all things to the glory of God?” We must ever keep before us the final or supreme goal for all living which is the glory of God. But there are goals and objectives to be aimed at and realized while we are in the process of becoming. For instance, the goal of perfected Christian character and balanced integrated personality, is right now the desire of God for us and He is working toward that end in the lives of all who will surrender to the necessary discipline and training. Such a goal we will find is the present interest of a consecrated believer. It is not final here and now, but is a requisite part of the great scheme of creation and the heritage of the redemptive process. To separate this goal and make it final would only defeat the supreme purpose. But it relates as a working factor toward the whole. To sit down and concentrate on becoming holy or perfect as an individual, would isolate one and he would lose his sense of proper relation to the other members of the body.
The building of a Christian character and seeking to perfect the personality is indeed highly personal and needs must be. No one else can do it. But it relates itself to more than the one involved. He is a cell, as it were, or as Paul says, a member of the great mystical body, an intelligent factor in the great over-all kingdom of God. This perfection must find expression not in an isolated person but in a social order and place in God’s kingdom. Some may ask, “Did not Jesus say, ‘But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you’? (Matt. 6:33) So is not the kingdom the objective?” Yes, for the kingdom of God is, after all, the glory of God. I use the expression, the glory of God, since it is more commonly used in both the Old and the New Testaments. Some may think that if he seeks the kingdom first then Christian character will be added since He says, “all these things shall be added.” But look at the context again. He is not talking about character or perfection-that was just the trouble.
The disciples were distressed over the material things and needs. Such things were to be added. Christ was discovering to them a law in the spiritual realm as real and operative as any law in the natural realm. It is the law of spiritual adjustment. When we understand this law and are obedient to it, all temporal and necessary material items fall into perfect order and come in due season. Christian character is not added as a gift might be given. It is built and developed by intelligent cooperation with God as one is obedient to the laws and principles in the new order or realm of the Spirit. So there are goals within goals, and objectives involved in attaining a greater objective. So when we discover that God makes the development of Christian character a goal it does not mean the final glory of God, but a goal set within the general framework of God’s glory over all.
In finding the goal we will skip the field of tradition, forget many of the hymns which may have thrilled us but which were not scriptural. First, let us consider Paul’s concept and teaching concerning the goal for the Christian. In both Paul’s letters and recorded prayers we find clear evidence. If anyone had a right to think along the lines of service none could be more worthy than he. In this field he has no equal. Not only did he see the great need and feel it keenly, but he threw himseH into it and spent his life freely for the accomplishment of God’s will in most consecrated service. But in no place do we find him laying the emphasis in life upon that department. The theme of Paul’s letters is always the redemption and spiritual adjustment of personality. In Paul’s philosophy the worker is always greater than his work. The author is always greater than his story; the artist is greater than his picture, and the musician is greater than the fleeting vibration of his music. He has a place for service, of course, but gives it a correct emphasis.
Read again the lofty bit of truth in Ephesians 4:11-13:
*“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: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (full-grown) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” “Till we all come”-we are on our way now; we have not yet arrived, for we are in the process of becoming. Note that he does not say, “Till we all get to heaven.” Whither then do we come? He says, “unto a perfect ( or full-grown) man.” Here is something sublime, elevated and worthy of the thought of God, the death of Christ and the ultimate ideal God has for man. Romans 8:29:
“For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren."
“But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord” (II Cor. 3:18).
“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is” (I John 3:2).
All these texts have elevation; they give purpose for the persistency of personality.
Listen to Paul in his own words, Col. 1:28, 29: “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Notice the objective, please. It is neither to make them efficient servants nor to get them to heaven, but “That we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.” Here is magnificent perspective in Paul’s thinking and ministry. Of course in the process there were any number of comings and goings, revivals, letters, troubles, blessings and varied experiences along the way, but Paul is thinking of the final perfection ahead.
In Paul’s prayers let us find the burden and inner desire of his heart. What is he most concerned over in the lives of his followers-Christians? Right here let us get away from the traditional notions and be honest. Colossians 1:9-11:
“For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God; Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and long-suffering with joyfulness."
Also Colossians 1:14-19:
“In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins: Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature: For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him: And he is before all things, and by him all things consist. And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence. For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell."
Ephesians 1:15-20:
“Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers; That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints. And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places."
Galatians 4:19:
“My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you."
In none of these prayers do we find the burden to center upon the service of his followers. It is not primarily a burden for external manifestation of power as one would generally think. He prays for the development and maturing of the saints. He longs and prays that they may come into all the fullness of a real experience in God. It is their character he is after-their inner life. Paul’s idea of a spiritual life and ministry was not labor and work as the human generally thinks. It was the normal and spontaneous expression of divine life flowing through a believer in forms which accomplished God’s will in whatever field He chose to order it. It was like fruit which is the perfection of a growth. Service to him was God’s will wrought out through him. He was a transmitter. How it would simplify our lives could we but take that attitude. We are reflectors and transmitters. The new life in Christ will have expression correctly motivated and executed.
Paul knew that the greatest need then, as it ever will be, was not external demonstrations of power—they will come—but it was the need of a divine, dynamic miracle to be wrought in the inner life of the believer.
If ever anyone had a right to long for heaven and desire to make it a goal, I am certain Paul had a perfect right to do so. The trials, testings and general persecution for truth were enough to overwhelm him. We could scarcely blame him had he made heaven his object of supreme desire. But Paul is not of that type. He is rich in sentiment, profound in faith and daring in the demonstration of his conviction. Paul is at once, not only an idealist but also a realist. He is a philosopher, and I am glad. He could not rest short of the highest concept for creation and the process of life that God could offer. He discovered this vision and objective and it became a life challenge, invitation, conviction, vision and glory.
Listen to him in Philippians 3:12-14, “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. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” What is the prize? Surely not good service-he has that. Not heaven-he knows that he is bound for heaven. He tells us what it is. He says he has not already attained it.Of course not, but he is pressing on, still in the process of becoming what?-perfect. It is a perfection or completeness he is discussing. Had he not been laid hold of by Christ for the very selfsame thing? He says so. It is the objective which Christ has for him, and therefore his also. And what a field the perfection covers! With some it means limitless service; for others a perfection of fellowship and heart life in Him; to others still, knowledge and understanding of the infinite purposes of God; and to others, the complete satisfaction the heart may give to God. Paul had a consciousness deep at the root of his being that he had been created for, called to, and was being shaped for some point of completeness in the final universe-holy and complete and to the glory of God.
Now let us see what Christ says in regard to the goal. No safer place could be found for teaching than what we call, The Sermon on the Mount. Here we find the manifesto of the Kingdom. Remember that Christ also said there was one phase of the kingdom of heaven which was within us. H that be true, and the kingdom of heaven has come into the heart of a believer, then we should find the principles and laws of the same operating. Also remember the ideal standards, principles and requirements for the fine, clear-cut, superb character, are all for Christians. These ideals and standards are not to be taken from their setting and place of application, and saddled over upon the un-regenerated, natural life of an unbeliever. Here is where endless confusion and tragic defeat have marred the patterns of civilization-Christian, so-called. (See chapter 6 for fuller discussion of this point.)
Here Christ sets forth the ideal as it is to be found and demonstrated under the dynamic power of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer. I know that some like to project this ideal life of a Christian to some millennial age. That is all very good, but it has its first application right here and now. It is for the Christian and not for the sinner. We cannot go into detail as he stresses the idea of human personality. He is ever after man. He loves the latent possibilities in the broken, needy life. Man was originally made for God and he is not at home or contented until contact is made afresh and the new creation life started. Christ knew that and therefore lays stress upon the sacredness and value of a human being-a man. He builds up a most wonderful ethical and moral ideal for him. He draws back the curtain of human limitations and impotency and lets us see what a real man is. Of course Christ is after all The Sermon on the Mount personified. He was the actual demonstration, at once beautiful and tragic in full sweep of what may be demonstrated in a life once surrendered to the high calling of “becoming.”
He lifts the life from the natural and usual standards of living (the old law), to a plane of spirituality, gleaming with the flashes of truth. He holds up this concept to a full-orbed, glowing reality of perfection. Watch Him lift life from the shadowy and uncertain plane of mere conduct-the deed-to the higher and more certain field of motivation. In the life of the yielded Christian it is not so much the actual deed, but in the new order it is the motive that counts. The sweep of His teaching is comprehensive; it touches upon the personal relations to God, to himself, and to his neighbor. It touches all the manifestations of life, be it religious, social, civic, or personal. The requirements for its realization seem absolutely impossible. They are! They are supposed to be-to an unbeliever. Christ is not showing us the pattern and product of perfected flesh. It is not a natural man trying to be good. No, He makes the standards high and wants them exactly as they are and He means exactly what He says.
The Christian life is a supernatural life. That is, above the laws and limitations of the natural man and cannot be perfectly expressed by him. When one seeks out some of the ideals, teaching and principles, and tries (0 so hard) in his own power of will and good endeavor ( disciplined flesh and energy of the old creation) to get some result, I feel sorry for him. He usually gets what I call, “a colossal Adamic ruin.” Christ is the center of the new ideal and life. He lives it through the surrendered life of a believer. “Christ in you the hope of glory.” “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me” ( Gal. 2:20).
Then, as a climax to this lofty, sublime scheme and design for living, He makes the astounding statement or command, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matt. 5:42). In view of all that has preceded and in the face of the needy, perishing world, He does not say, do anything, as far as service is concerned. He does say, “Be.” This little word is full of potential qualities, it suggests growth, development and a coming into new forms. It is so much easier to do than to be. Here we find that the goal toward which God is working is the consummation, completion, perfection of an ideal-even a perfected Christian life.
First it is begun in the individual, then lived out collectively in the body called the Church. No doubt some will take issue with me at the idea of individual salvation and personal religion and contact with God and really knowing Him. With many today the idea of personal salvation is quite outmoded. But as long as it is not outmoded by God’s Word I am not worried. The Word still teaches it and the world is crowded with healthy, revolutionizing testimonies as wonderful as those in Scripture.
Let us look at the text again—“Be ye perfect” As a rule the idea of being and the process of becoming suggested by the word, be, are thrown into eclipse by the word, perfect. That is the word that causes trouble. Here is where many stumble. What a lot of controversy and difference of opinion that word has caused!
I shall not at this time discuss the moral content of this word, but will help you concerning that in chapter 8, “I Ought—Responsibility.” Here I simply want you to notice the word, be, as being of greater significance in the plan, than do. “Be” at once involves a process of growth, maturing and flowering eventually into a full blown ideal. “Be ye therefore perfect.” With this before us, life takes on a new and fresh meaning; it lifts it to a place of dignity and deep spiritual value. It is exactly worthy of the new creation. It is becoming the kind of God we have and links life even here and now to a sublime and majestic sweep of living. “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.”
Let us remember that the new creation ( a real impartation of the divine nature) holds vast potential powers not wholly realized _in the present manifestation of life. Here, someone who is not willing to venture his element of faith, will say, “All too idealistic, ethereal, romantic and fantastic.” I am always sorry for such a person whether he be a carnal Christian or unbeliever who limits his field of truth to the censorship of sense perception, scientific deductions and natural reasoning.
“Be ye perfect” calls for discipline, trial, control, testing, surrender, renunciation, restraint and teaching. These are all quite common working words in the vocabulary of an overcomer.
One who makes a business of living will learn where to place emphasis and make correct evaluations of situations. He will not only like the “process of becoming” but he will love the thrill of Christian adventure into fields of glorious possibility. The flesh will never fully understand, let alone enjoy, these words. And what a tragic time some have, in trying to explain them, fit them into a system of living, avoiding them or escaping them! To the one who is not yielded in will to God, all these suggested experiences are like a hand full of sore thumbs, always sticking out and getting hurt. A spiritually minded person of faith with perspective of vision and thought will relate them properly.
When once we can discern this goal it provokes faith, courage and confidence in the heart of the believer. Now we have something really worthwhile, glorious and inviting. Are there still some who think that personal salvation and dedication of life to so glorious an ideal, is an outmoded form of Christian thought? Do some still think it to be an escape mechanism from the reality of life, or from some frustrated and disillusioned ego? Do not think it does not call forth the noblest there is in one. It not only calls forth all there is in the conscious dedicated soul, but that plus the most intelligent and spiritual cooperation with the Holy Ghost who indwells the believer and who will interpret life and build a man.