Print Page | Add To Favorites | Close Window | Send To A Friend | Save This Page
FAQ # 62
QUESTION 62 : Okay, so perfection comes after being born again.
But didn’t even the Apostle John alluded to Matt 5:48 when he said, “And
every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is
pure” (1 John 3:3). This is after Pentecost, how then are we pure (perfect)
by being born again?
Perfection
is received upon being born again, but 'physically' our perfection is
by faith; and faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence
of things not seen. Therefore, seeing the perfection on the outward is
not always visible and sins can occur. In warning and exhortation, John
tells this congregation to purify themselves even as he is pure. Meaning,
strive to live righteously as how Christ walked and lived. Not that they
are not righteous or pure, but that after being righteous your aim and
spiritual instinct should propel you to live that way.
The very verse above this one said, "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" (1 John 3:2). A popular preacher was expounding on this text and it sanctioned what I just said. He said that in the language it was translated from the word “shall” was added for clarity. It should then read, “it doth not yet appear what we be: but we know that, when he appears, we be like him.” In other words, it’s a now action already enforced, but clearly seen when Christ appears the second time. We already have that status of being pure and perfect, but plagued with finite understanding cannot attain to it until the finite (flesh) is taken off. Moreover, having the former things in us, we sometimes falter and sin. Thus, the exhortation by John to live pure.
Go to top of Page | Get the Book | Buy it here or here or here or here | More FAQ's