2025.10.19 Christian Perfection
Notes
Transcript
Christian Perfection
Christian Perfection
30 And if your hand—even your stronger hand—causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.
31 “You have heard the law that says, ‘A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.’
32 But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery.
Bartlett Chapel
33 “You have also heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.’
34 But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, ‘By heaven!’ because heaven is God’s throne.
35 And do not say, ‘By the earth!’ because the earth is his footstool. And do not say, ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the city of the great King.
36 Do not even say, ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black.
37 Just say a simple, ‘Yes, I will,’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Anything beyond this is from the evil one.
38 “You have heard the law that says the punishment must match the injury: ‘An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth.’
39 But I say, do not resist an evil person! If someone slaps you on the right cheek, offer the other cheek also.
40 If you are sued in court and your shirt is taken from you, give your coat, too.
41 If a soldier demands that you carry his gear for a mile, carry it two miles.
42 Give to those who ask, and don’t turn away from those who want to borrow.
43 “You have heard the law that says, ‘Love your neighbor’ and hate your enemy.
44 But I say, love your enemies! Pray for those who persecute you!
45 In that way, you will be acting as true children of your Father in heaven. For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
46 If you love only those who love you, what reward is there for that? Even corrupt tax collectors do that much.
47 If you are kind only to your friends, how are you different from anyone else? Even pagans do that.
48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Holiness preacher, A.W. Tozer remarked that his people seemed embarrassed to ask the question: “Is there anyone for spiritual perfection?”
Tozer was Presbyterian. We are Methodists, so we use John Wesley’s phrasing: Is there anyone for “Christian Perfection?” Is there anyone today who will speak for Christian Perfection?
How many of you have heard the phrase “Christian Perfection”?
How many of you have ever heard it taught?
How many of you could explain the doctrine of Christian Perfection?
If we’re honest, our struggle is with the word Perfection.
That was true in John Wesley’s day, too. Wesley wrote: “The word perfection, though a cause for offence, is Scriptural, and thus should not be discarded, but explained...” We find it difficult to explain, so we just drop the concept altogether. I don’t know Africa well at all. But most Christians in the West today have likely never heard the phrase, much less heard it explained biblically.
I will not be able to go into deep details today, but I hope you recognize this is a historic Wesleyan doctrine that identifies a thoroughly BIBLICAL expectation of us all.
John Wesley’s 52 Standard Sermons are an important collection in the doctrine of the Global Methodist Church. One of those Standard Sermons is explicitly about Christian Perfection, and several of the others deal with or rely upon the concept of Christian Perfection.
If you hear anything brilliant today, I’m sure it came from Wesley or Tozer not me. :)
So … let’s look at today’s text from Matthew 5.
It’s very long, so I’m not going to read the whole thing, but I do want to walk through each segment in order, because this passage presents a logical argument.
We started reading today at verse 30, but I want to back up a bit further in our discussion.
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:1-12]
Look at the beginning of Matthew 5, and tell me what’s going on here? [Sermon on the Mount]
The Sermon on the Mount is the longest piece of teaching we have recorded from Jesus. It would be way too long to teach on just one Sunday, but I don’t want you to miss the context that’s being laid out here.
What’s the first section of the Sermon on the Mount called? [The Beatititudes]
Is this important? [Yes]
Why? [Because it sets the common understanding of society on its ear.]
The rich aren’t blessed … the poor in spirit are.
Those who celebrate aren’t blessed … those who mourn are.
People who have positions of authority aren’t blessed … the meek are. They’ll inherit the earth.
The warriors and military leaders aren’t the blessed ones … the peacemakers are!
You see, their society’s understanding of blessing wasn’t very different than ours. And The Christian faith has always been counter-cultural! [REPEAT]
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:13-16]
Think I’m exaggerating on that? After the beatitudes, what’s Jesus teaching in verses 13-16? We are salt and light. We are to give spice and light to this dismal, dark world. That’s because, The Christian faith has always been counter-cultural!
What’s next? Verses 17-20 - what’s Jesus saying here? [The Law isn’t going away. It’s being fulfilled in Jesus, but he is not discarding it.]
Then, he launches into specific teachings about the Law:
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:21-26]
What’s the first topic in verse 21? [Murder]
If you continue through verse 26, what’s Jesus saying about murder?
It’s not just the ACT of murder that makes you guilty.
It’s the HEART BEHIND THE ACT
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:27-30]
Verse 27
Topic [Adultery]
What’s he saying?
It’s not just the ACT of adultery that makes you guilty.
It’s the HEART BEHIND THE ACT
Now we’re finally up to where we started the reading this morning.
I know this may feel like a trudge through the mud, but trust me, it’s very important to the point Jesus makes in this chapter!
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:31-32]
Verse 31
Topic [Divorce]
What’s he saying?
This one sticks closer to behavior, but he’s still saying
It’s not just the ACT of divorce that makes you guilty.
It’s the HEART OF INFIDELITY BEHIND THE ACT
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:33-37]
Verse 33
Topic [Oaths]
What’s he saying?
It’s not just the ACT of taking an oath that makes your word valuable!
It’s the HEART BEHIND THE OATH - Just say yes when you mean yes, and say no when you mean no!
Demonstrate FIDELITY in your word!
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:38-42]
Verse 38 (THIS ONE’S A LITTLE MORE CHALLENGING)
Topic [revenge; defense]
We may word this one with words like: “Let the punishment fit the crime.”
A few years ago, someone online convinced Hannah they were her favorite celebrity. They asked her to send them money, and she did … not a small amount.
If I could get ahold of that guy - even today - I’m sure his face would look different when I was done.
What’s Jesus say? Is this a change from the Law?
35 It is mine to avenge; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; their day of disaster is near and their doom rushes upon them.”
17 Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone.
18 If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
19 Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.
The people in Jesus’ day thought this was a radical departure from the principles of the Law, but it isn’t! This teaching is NOT a change in the Law! It’s a change in our UNDERSTANDING of the Law!
Anybody else think this is getting harder the further we go?
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:43-47]
Verse 43
Topic [enemies]
What’s he saying?
It’s not okay for us to love our neighbor and hate our enemy.
We’re supposed to LOVE people who HATE US!
RADICAL! Radical to them … and radical to us!
But this is the same guy who told the parable of the Good Samaritan - where the hero is the enemy who loved someone they should hate.
Jesus doesn’t really turn the law on its ear. He turns our understanding of the Law on its ear.
Even today - we think of the Law as a set of rules based on behavior. Do this … don’t do that. This action is pleasing to God. This action is deplorable.
Jesus is teaching us to go beyond behavior, and become FUNDAMENTALLY DIFFERENT PEOPLE!
Can I know the internal motivation of someone else? [No - certainly not]
So, who is Jesus teaching us to judge? [The only person I can judge motives for - myself.] So the Law is more aimed at SELF judgment than judgment of OTHERS! Getting hard enough for you yet?
Now, let’s wrap up Chapter 5
►►►CLICK [Matthew 5:48]
Matthew 5:48 (NLT)
48 But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
NLT - But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
NASB - Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
NIV - Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
You know how many English translations use the word “perfect” here? I looked at 63 versions. Only 5 used a different word, and three of those were paraphrases, not translations.
►►►CLICK [Wesley Quote]
Remember what Wesley said? “The word perfection, though a cause for offence, is Scriptural, and thus should not be discarded, but explained...”
Jesus challenged the way we look at the Law - he made us look at motive in addition to behavior so we would know we can only truly judge ourselves. Then, he challenges our understanding of the word “perfect” by commanding us to be perfect. This is not a strong suggestion. It’s not a whimsical goal to set. He tells us YOU ARE TO BE PERFECT AS YOUR FATHER IS PERFECT!
►►►CLICK [Title]
Christian Perfection
Christian Perfection
Here’s the logical argument (all non-rhetoricals):
Is our God a compassionate God? [yes He is]
Is Jesus God’s Son? [yes He is]
Do Jesus’ teachings align perfectly with the Father’s heart? [yes they do]
Would a compassionate God command something that isn’t possible? [uh oh. Some of you see where this is going, and you’re hesitant to answer that one.]
You see, we believe Jesus is God’s Son. We believe Jesus’ teachings perfectly align with the heart of our compassionate God. But when we’re confronted with a demand for perfection - we shrink back.
But as Wesley said: Perfection is Scriptural and should not be discarded!
Based on the teaching that leads up to this command, is it possible God’s definition of perfection may be different than ours?
[story time]
Some of you may remember 2008. Anybody remember what was happening in the world in 2008? Our economy ground to a crawl. The housing bubble popped, and oil became a problem for us.
In January, 2007, a gallon of gas averaged $1.46 in Indiana. Prices peaked in June, 2008 - $3.36. In 18 months, gas went up almost 150%! The average may have been $3.36, but I remember paying over $4/gallon, and it changed my behavior.
Ole Pastor Chris dramatically changed his behavior. He started driving the speed limit because driving the speed limit burns less gas.
Let me grant you permission to be honest as I ask you:
Was my motive to obey the speed limit driven by a love for God? [no]
Was my motive to obey the speed limit driven by a love for my neighbor? [no]
Who was I loving by obeying the speed limit? [myself]
So … I decided to OBEY THE LAW - and my decision was JUST AS SINFUL AS MY DISOBEYING THE LAW!
You follow that?!
So Christian perfection is not the same as perfection. Now that you’ve had it explained --- How would you describe Christian perfection to someone who’s never heard the phrase?
[let them talk through it]
Wesley said that Christian perfection is defined as being “perfect in love”, not infallible. We are not commanded to never make mistakes because our Creator knows that’s impossible.
Rather, we are commanded to live under the spirit of the law, and make our life choices based on a love for Him, and a love for our neighbor.
He died for everyone so that those who receive his new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.
We are to be fundamentally different people, that is the heart of God’s law, and that is the underlying principle to Christian perfection.
Now that you understand that a little better ...
Be perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect. Amen.
