Sparkling, shining for the Lord,
Polished by the great Refiner,
Washed and winnowed through the blood.
Christian perfection includes soundness and inoffensiveness of speech. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Jas. 3:2. We consider this a very strong text, and an abundance of grace is required to enable us to perfectly fulfil it.
God's Perfection Is The Standard Of Christian Perfection.
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Mat. 5:48. The perfection which God designs that Christians shall have equal with his own relates to the purity of his nature and affection. In the immediate preceding verses the Savior commands Christians to love their enemies, bless them that curse them, do good to them that hate them, and pray for them which despitefully use them and persecute them. As Christians this is our nature. We will not “render evil for evil.” We will befriend our persecutors, feed our enemy when he hungers, and give him drink when he thirsts. In verse forty-five the Savior tells us of the Father's behavior toward his enemies: “He maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.” Here we behold [pg 088] the merciful nature of God and how he does good for evil. If we love only those who love us and do good only to those who do good to us (ver. 46, 47) we are not in the nature of God; we are no more than publicans and sinners. But if we love our enemies and do good to those who hate us, we are reflecting the character of God. In this respect he would have us to be “perfect, even as he is perfect.” O beloved, see that you entertain right feelings toward all men. Do good to your enemies; love them, pray for them, and convince them that you are more than the ordinary sinful man, and God will bless you now and eternally.
In the parable of the sower and its explanation the Savior said the seed which fell among thorns are they which hear the word and go forth and are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and bring no fruit to perfection. Luke 8:14. Christian fruit is loving our enemies, doing them good, doing good unto all men, speaking evil of none, manifesting love, faith, meekness, gentleness, joy, etc. This is Christian fruit, and may God help every reader to bring it forth to the highest degree of perfection.
Purity.
“Keep thyself pure.” 1 Tim. 5:22. In such commands there is something animating and ennobling. To enable us to have some conception of purity we have only to think of heaven and of the angels. This [pg 089] world has been betimes visited by celestial beings. They are spoken of as being clothed in white and having countenances shining as the light. Mat. 28:3; Mark 16:5; John 20:12; Acts 1:9, 10. White is an emblem of purity. These transient visitors from above robed in white raiment represent the purity of heaven. Purity is not ascribed alone to heavenly beings, but it is a characteristic of the redeemed upon the earth. Purity is effected through the atoning blood. The sweet singer David said: “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
The beloved John in a vision saw “a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and the Lamb.” Rev. 22:1. This “river of water of life” is the cleansing stream of God's salvation. “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Rev. 22:17. This means salvation. “I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely.” Rev. 21:6. This is the cleansing fountain of salvation. This stream is pure. It flows from the throne of God. It is as pure as its source. Whosoever enters this crystal stream will be made as pure as its waters.