[Biblemat] Truth Between Extremes

[kenneth Thomas]

    The following is a copy of an article that once appeated in "Gospel
Anchor" magazine edited by Gene Frost. Use it to His glory
 
The Truth Between Extremes
by Kenneth E. Thomas
It is amazing to me to consider how often folks come to conclusions that
aren't justifiable, due to a misunderstanding or the misuse of a particular
Bible passage or passages. Having said that, I do not mean to imply that I
have never come to any erroneous conclusions myself, because I certainly
have been guilty of doing exactly that: No doubt there are those who would
say that I presently hold a view or some views which they believe to be
erroneous in the light of their own understanding of that subject or of
those subjects. Laying aside those thoughts for a moment, let us consider
some of the statements we hear which are often used (even if unwittingly) by
some Christians which tend to undermine our living the kind of righteous
lives we are commanded to live to please our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Paul admonishes us in Romans 6:1 with a question: "What shall we say then?
Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?" He then answers his own
question with "Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin, live any longer
in it?" (Romans 6:2). Later in the same chapter he admonished them (and us)
not to allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies that we should obey it and
the lusts thereof (V-12).
Some, however, in their attempts to "justify themselves in living a life
filled with sin," are often heard to say things like:
1). "Well, after all, "nobody's perfect." If by such a statement folks mean
none of us live sinlessly perfect lives, we would all agree as does the New
Testament with such an evaluation: See (1 John 1:8-10; Romans 3:10, 23;
Ecclesiastes 7:10). Do such passages give "license to sin?" Absolutely not!
We must balance the Scriptures and not array one passage against another. To
do so is faulty exegesis, or improper interpretation. It is a failure to 
rightly divide" or to "handle aright the word of truth" as we are commanded
to do in (2 Timothy 2:15). A failure to do so leads to the "twisting" or 
perverting" the word of Christ and Peter as well as Paul, informs us that if
we do so, it is "to our own destruction" (2 Peter 3:16; Galatians 1:6-9).
Let us consider the word "perfect" as used in the Scriptures. We have
already stated that we know better than to use the word in our cases at
least to mean "sinless" since none of us so lives, for whatever the reasons.
It could be ignorance, it could be choice, it could be weakness, or whatever
 I shall not go into the arguments made by the "perfectionist" among us at
this time. Suffice it to say that the word "perfect" is used in more senses
than one in the New Testament. In one usage of the word, we are commanded 
be ye perfect.." (Matthew 5:48). The context will show how the word "perfect
 is being used. If we are able to do as our Heavenly Father who sends the
sun and the rain on the just as well as the unjust, that is, if we reach the
point that we are able to love even the unlovable, having their best
interest at heart, even though they are our enemies, we have reached 
perfection" in this regard. We have accomplished "maturity," we are "full
grown" Christians.
SOME PERFECT PEOPLE IN THE O.T.
1). Job: "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that
man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil
.And
the Lord said unto Satan, hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is
none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth
God, and ensheweth evil?" (Job 1:1, 8) (KJV)
2). Noah: "These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and
perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God" (Genesis 6:9).
3). Abram: "And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared
to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be
thou perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and thee, and will
multiply thee exceedingly
." (Genesis 17:1-5). This was a renewal of God's
earlier promise when He called Abram. (Genesis 12:1-4). On this occasion God
changed Abram's name to Abraham and told him he would be a "father of many
nations." Clue: read other versions of the Bible and you will see the word 
perfect" translated "blameless" or "mature." However, even the word 
blameless" doesn't carry the idea of "sinlessness or perfection."
4). When instructing the priests and the Levites as to how they were to not
partake in the ungodly activities of the people into whose land they were
coming, the land of Canaan, Moses informed them, "Thou shall be "perfect"
with the Lord thy God" (Deuteronomy 18:13). If you are of a mind to do so,
look up and consider each of the following; (this list is by no means
exhaustive). (1 Kings 8:61; 15:14; 2 Chron. 15:17; Job 2:3). A complete list
of folks who were either admonished to be perfect, or who were said to be
perfect would be of considerable length. I believe these from the Old
Testament will suffice for our purpose in this lesson.
SOME PERFECT PEOPLE IN THE NEW TESTAMENT
(ALONG WITH SOME WHO WERE NOT PERFECT)
1). The "Rich Young Ruler": Some of the illustrations I shall use, while
found in the New Testament, have to do with folks who were still under the
Old Testament dispensation of course, folks whom Jesus encountered and whom
He taught. My first illustration is a man whom we call "The Rich Young Ruler
" Not all of those things are said about him in any one context where he is
spoken of. It takes a combination of all the Scriptures say about him to
label has as the above. This man came to Jesus desiring to learn from Him
what he must do to inherit eternal life? Since they were living under the
Old Testament dispensation (Hebrews 9:15-16; Colossians 2:14), the answer
Jesus gave is proper. He told him to keep the ten commandments. He affirmed
that he had done all this from his youth and wanted to know, "what lack I
yet?" Knowing the man's heart (John 2:25), Jesus told him "If you would be
perfect, go sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have
treasure in heaven; and come follow Me. But when the young man heard that
saying, he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions." (Matthew
19:16-21). He could not be "perfect" so long as he "trusted in his riches."
Are you "perfect" when it comes to material things and their place in your
life? See (Matthew 6:19-33; Mark 10:24; Colossians 3:5-6).
It isn't riches per se that will keep one out of heaven, no, it is when we
put our "trust" in riches (1 Timothy 6:6-11, 17). God gave great wealth to
many of His worthy servants of old. If wealth in and of itself were evil or
sinful, God would have been the cause of some of their downfall! Surely none
believe this. Read all of the passages just cited please! Those who "trust
in riches" can no more enter into the eternal kingdom of God than a camel
can go through the eye of a needle (Matthew 19:24; Mark 10:25; Luke 18:25).
2). We are to "be made perfect in one," said Jesus in His intercessory
prayer, first for His chosen apostles, then later for those of us who would
believe on Him (John 17:20, 23). In writing to the Ephesians we learn of how
we come to be the "perfect man" when the full revelation of the will of
Christ was made known (Ephesians 4:11-16). Then we should no longer be 
tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine
" (V-13).
3). Paul wrote of his former life in the Hebrew religion in more passages
than one. As he wrote of his manner of living under that system. He said "I
am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet
brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the
"perfect" manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as
ye all are this day." (Acts 22:3) Notice he was taught after the "perfect"
manner of the law.
4). Paul wrote: "Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are "perfect:" yet
not the wisdom of this world, that come to naught." (1 Corinthians 2:6).
(KJV). Let us read the passage from the NIV. "We, do, however speak a
message of wisdom among the "mature," but not the wisdom of this age, who
are coming to nothing." It doesn't take a rocket scientist to understand
that the translators understood that the Greek word translated by the old
English word "perfect" in 1611, corresponds to our present word "mature" in
1999.
"I WRITE THESE THINGS UNTO YOU THAT YOU SIN NOT
"
(1 John 2:1-3) (KJV)
The little books of 1-2&3rd John are interesting as we consider our topic of
discussion. Only such as "walk in the light" are in fellowship with God and
with others who are likewise in their fellowship (1 John 1:6-7). To claim to
be in fellowship with God and to walk in darkness is living a lie. However,
even in these verses which demand that one walk in fellowship with God, you
will notice that there are sins that need forgiveness! The conclusion must
of necessity be that "walking in the light" isn't speaking of "sinless
perfection," or there would be no sins needing forgiveness don't you see?
We must conclude that a "step in darkness" therefore isn't "walking in
darkness," but is the occasional accidents when we "miss the mark of sinless
perfection" as we all do from time to time for whatever the reason.
How then do we stand justified before Christ? By doing like the old song we
have sung for years, "If I walk in the pathway of duty; if I work till the
close of the day. I shall see the great King in His beauty, when I've gone
the last mile of the way. If for Christ I have earnestly striven, if I've
tried all His will to obey will enhance all the raptures of heaven when I've
gone the last mile of the way." Or, "Forgive the sins I have confessed to
Thee; Forgive the secret sins I do not see;.." (S.S. Pg. 35).When we see or
learn that we haven't measured up, we repent, confess and pray and we stand
justified, not by performance, but by forgiveness (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:9).
Now let us notice 1 John 2:1-4. Remember now that we have already read that
if a child of God claims that he doesn't sin he is a liar, and that the one
who claims he has not sinned makes God a liar. Now we come to a passage
which says that we are not to sin. How are we supposed to reconcile the two
contexts of passages from the same book? We know that "God cannot lie"
(Titus 1:2). Any interpretation we put on these passages therefore must
agree, Right? Right! "My little children, there things write I unto you,
that you do not sin." What can this mean in light of the passages that say
to so affirm is to be a liar? It means that one doesn't live a sinful
life-style, one who is in fellowship with Christ doesn't have to ask, 
forgive me of my many sins
" if he has "many sins," such a one is not 
walking in the light." Those who walk in the light may have some sins such
as sins of weakness or sins that have escaped their conscious recollection.
We read earlier that we are not to "continue in sins that grace may abound"
(Romans 6:1).
This very passage which admonished us not to sin, makes provision for us
when we do sin. "And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father,
Jesus Christ the righteous. And He is the propitiation for our sins
" (1
John 2:2). A part of "keeping His commandments" as Vs-3-4 teaches, involves
the provisions of using our advocate who is our propitiation (to gain or to
regain favor with the Father) for our (occasional) sins.
This little book gets even more interesting as one continues reading. We
learn that a man who "abides in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not
seen Him, neither known Him" (1 John 3:6). I could really impress the reader
by going into my "on line" Greek word studies and lexicons showing the
continual action under consideration when it says "sinneth not" but most
folks have only their English translation on which to depend and we believe
that is sufficient. Now we read- "Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of
God" (1 John 3:9).
In the light of what we have already learned, we know that this must mean
that one cannot continue in a sinful life-style. It isn't impossible for
such a one to sin, not literally. Sin is simply out of character for the one
who is truly "born of God." Sin in the life of the faithful child of God are
those occasional slips and blunders brought about by any number of
influences and forces at work. Remember Satan is ever vigilant and so must
you and I be if we would live the life that will be rewarded at last (1
Peter 5:8-9; James 4:7-8).
If such a great man as the apostle Paul had to "buffet" his body to prevent
being disqualified (1 Corinthians 9:27); If angels could fall and await
judgment (Jude 6); And since we are admonished to "take heed lest you fall,"
then certainly, we must be careful.
Those who have made Jesus "a mere man" in their attempts to prove that we
can know all and do all flawlessly, just have to be wrong! Let us all be 
perfect" as we are commanded. Perfect through Christ by forgiveness in His
precious blood (1 John 1:1-10; 2 Timothy 4:1-8; Revelation 14:13; 22:14;
Hebrews 5:8-9; Hebrews 3:12-19; Colossians 1:18-28).
It is important for many reasons for the Christian to live a Godly lifestyle
 for we are to be "light" and "salt" in the wicked world, leading others to 
the Christ" by example and by teaching (Matthew 5:13-15; Philippians
2:15-16).
Paul's admonition to the Romans (and consequently for Christians today-2
Timothy 2:2) was that we-"be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that
good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). Does this
depict you, my brother/sister in Christ? 
 
 
Kenneth E. Thomas
Pekin church of Christ
1451 Valle Vista Blvd.
Pekin, IL 61554
1 (309) 347-3582 - Office
1 (309) 347-5645 - Home
 
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