14. Perfectionism and the Ongoing Struggle of Growing into Maturity

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1 14. Perfectionism and the Ongoing Struggle of Growing into Maturity Being Made Perfect Paul makes many statements about the work being finished; that we are already being made perfect in Christ. However, these statements do not mean that we are, or already have been, made perfect (i.e., sinless). On the contrary, Paul is always warning of the need to be vigilant, to walk in the Spirit, and so to overcome the flesh. The unfinished nature of the struggle is seen from the following three areas: 1) the ongoing battle; 2) the battle against Satan and temptation; and 3) the battle against the flesh The Ongoing Battle For Paul, the living out of the Christian life in Christ is described as a battle. Christ has already been victorious in the past. The Christian is now seen as having that victory applied to him as Christ leads us in His triumphal procession. 14 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place (2 Cor. 2:14). Diagram 14.1 Christ s Victory Procession Linked to this idea of victory is the idea that we are still in a battle. 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:3-5). 7 Who ever goes to war at his own expense? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not drink of the milk of the flock? (1 Cor. 9:7). 3 You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3-4). Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05

2 Our life, therefore, is one that resembles military service. The Christian fights the moral battle by giving his/her whole life in service to God, joining in the victory already accomplished by our Lord and Savior. Diagram 14.2 The Christian Led to Victory and Still at War The Battle against Satan and Temptation Paul is frequently warning of the battle against temptation of which Satan is the author. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain (1 Th. 3:5). 5 Do not deprive one another except with consent for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again so that Satan does not tempt you because of your lack of self-control (2 Cor. 7:5). 10 Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, 11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices (2 Cor. 2:10-11). Diagram 14.3 The Ongoing Fight against Satan Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05

3 It is clear that Satan and his hosts have been subjected to the rule and victory of Christ, to the comfort of the church. 20 And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen (Rom. 16:20). However, Paul still affirms that Satan still has some power in this world, and he warns those in the church against falling. This is evident from 1 Corinthians 10:1-12 as well as in his covenantal warnings in 1 Corinthians 11 concerning the Lord s Supper. 1 Moreover, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware that all our fathers were under the cloud, all passed through the sea, 2 all were baptized into Moses in the cloud and in the sea, 3 all ate the same spiritual food, 4 and all drank the same spiritual drink. For they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them, and that Rock was Christ. 5 But with most of them God was not well pleased, for their bodies were scattered in the wilderness. 6 Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not lust after evil things as they also lusted. 7 And do not become idolaters as were some of them. As it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play. 8 Nor let us commit sexual immorality, as some of them did, and in one day twenty-three thousand fell; 9 nor let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed by serpents; 10 nor complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer. 11 Now all these things happened to them as examples, and they were written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the ages have come. 12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall (1 Cor. 10:1-12) The Battle against the Flesh The ongoing nature of the battle is also seen in the contrast between the flesh and the Spirit. In Galatians 5:17 there is clearly an ongoing struggle between the two. 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish (Gal 5:17). Diagram 14.4 Man in the Spirit at War with the Flesh The implication from Galatians is that even while we are in the Spirit, we are not completely free from the power of the flesh. The flesh still has some power over us. There is a still a battle between the flesh and the Spirit, and that battle will mean that from time to time the believer will not do the things that He wants. Our victory is in the Spirit; but Spirit-led desire will from time to time be hampered. The consolation is that a Christian will and cannot be kept under the slavery of the flesh for any extended period of time; the powerful ongoing operation of the Spirit is the basis of our overcoming. From this we see that we can only overcome the flesh in the Spirit; therefore, we must constantly bring ourselves under the leadership of the Spirit. This is clear from both Galatians 5 as well as Romans 8: Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05

4 17 For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident, which are: adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, 21 envy, murders, drunkenness, revelries, and the like; of which I tell you beforehand, just as I also told you in time past, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another (Gal. 5:17-26). 1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. 8 So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His. 10 And if Christ is in you, the body is dead because of sin, but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God (Rom. 8:1-14). While Christians are subject to constant conflict, it is not right to think of inner discord as being at the essence of the Christian life. Rather, we are now moving more and more into life in the Spirit with all the fruits thereof Paul s Usage of the Word Perfect or Mature As already noted above, Paul does not see the Christian as already made morally perfect, but Paul often does tell us to strive to be perfect or mature. In this section, we will look at how we are to understand such exhortations. When Paul tells us to be perfect, he is not using the word only in an ethical or moral sense. Perfect also has the connotation of being mature, of being an adult, of one who has unfolded and appropriated the fullness of the revelation of Christ. As Ridderbos says, perfect means full grown or having come to full development. He is perfect who inwardly and in the manifestation of his life has appropriated the content of the Christian faith in the right way (Ridderbos, p. 270) Individual Perfection This distinction between ethical perfection and growing in Christian stature can be demonstrated from Philippians 3: though I also might have confidence in the flesh. If anyone else thinks he may have confidence in the flesh, I more so: 5 circumcised the eighth day, of the stock of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of the Hebrews; concerning the law, a Pharisee; 6 concerning zeal, persecuting the church; concerning the righteousness which is in the law, blameless. Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05

5 7 But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. 8 Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; 10 that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, 11 if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind (Phil. 3:4-16). Paul begins by speaking of perfectionism in the moral sense of the word. In verses 4-6, he describes his own righteousness in the flesh before his conversion. This is contrasted with the righteousness that comes from faith in Christ (vv. 7-9). In conclusion, he states that he has not already attained or already perfected (v. 12). In this section, Paul is clearly dealing with the ethical idea of holiness. Paul asserts that he has not yet achieved perfect righteousness in this present life. However, he does continue to press on towards the goal of eternal life in Jesus Christ (v. 14). In verse 15, Paul immediately goes on to describe the mature as those who have the same attitude he does regarding striving towards ethical righteousness through Christ. To be mature does not mean to be ethically perfect. Rather, it means that one understands the gospel, allows the gospel to frame every aspect of one s life, and applies the gospel in every sphere. It means leaving behind childishness and moving towards adulthood; it means the unfolding and appropriation of the gift of Christ to us Corporate Perfection Philippians 3 stresses the exhortation of the individual to be perfect or mature, but this command also applies to the corporate church. In Ephesians 4:7 16, Paul is talking about the growth of the church and commanding it to grow into perfection. In this context, Paul is not stressing that the church is to reach ethical perfection, but rather that it should leave childhood behind and that it should attain adulthood as a corporate body. Perfect means full grown, having come to full development. 7 But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ s gift. 8 Therefore He says: When He ascended on high, He led captivity captive, And gave gifts to men. 9 (Now this, He ascended what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? 10 He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.) 11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, 13 till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; 14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, 15 but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head Christ 16 from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love (Eph. 4:7-16) Aspects of Maturity Two particular aspects of our development into maturity are faith and love. First, consider love: 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection (Col. 3:14). Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05

6 8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known. 13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love (1 Cor. 13:8-13). These verses show that loves between the brethren is both a means to maturity and a mark thereof. A second means to maturity is faith. 14 For we are not overextending ourselves (as though our authority did not extend to you), for it was to you that we came with the gospel of Christ; 15 not boasting of things beyond measure, that is, in other men s labors, but having hope, that as your faith is increased, we shall be greatly enlarged by you in our sphere, 16 to preach the gospel in the regions beyond you, and not to boast in another man s sphere of accomplishment (2 Cor. 10:14-16). The Christian life then is to be one of growing into perfection, leaving childhood behind and developing in maturity and adulthood. The Christian does so through faith and love, applying the truths of the gospel in every area of life Conclusion When Paul looks at the state of man and the state of his sanctification, Paul does not see the Christian as one who has barely been saved, one who is still so surrounded by the flesh that he has made little or no spiritual progress. Rather, he sees that through the power of the Spirit it is possible to make great strides in holiness. Due to the indicative statements and the ongoing work and leading of the Spirit, Paul does not see the believer as being stuck fast in a small beginning (Ridderbos, p. 270). At the same time, Paul is always pointing to the future. He never espouses the idea that the church has already reached a state of sinlessness or we are able to rest in moral perfection in this life. He speaks of a possibility of perfection but not of sinlessness in this life. Pauline Theology II.doc p Aug-05