12/31/17 RESURRECTION PERFECTION

12/31/17 RESURRECTION PERFECTION

THOSE WITH A PERFECT HEART TOWARD GOD SHOULD FOLLOW AFTER THE PERFECTION OF RESURRECTION.

This passage calls us to keep moving forward in our relationship with Christ. In fact we are to keep moving toward the perfection of the resurrection. This is our choice and our responsibility. It is not something we can do on our own. It requires the empowering of the Holy Spirit, but the Holy Spirit will not do it without our submission and our desire.

Someone will say, "but Paul says that he himself was not yet perfect."

That is correct. Paul was not yet perfect in resurrection perfection. That is his point. Until we have attained to the resurrection then we are still required to seek and submit to the leading and the changes that come with spiritual growth. Paul said that he must continue, that he must follow after, so that he may apprehend that for which Christ had apprehended him, which is the resurrection.

But notice too, he recognized that some were already perfect, at least to the degree that God's grace would perfect them in this present evil world. He also points out that those who are perfect in their heart and in their relationship with God should also be of the same mind with one another. This is where some people refuse to enter into perfection of heart and purity of life. They do not want to give up their own will to the will of God.

Paul goes on to say that those who have been perfected in their hearts and minds should live in such a way that they can say, DO AS I DO, not only do as I say do.

If you have not surrendered your will completely into the will of God, you are not ready for tomorrow with all of its trials and all of its opportunities. If you have surrendered fully and been filled with the Holy Spirit, you need to keep on keeping on as you follow Jesus. You need to live in oneness of heart and mind with other believers. You need to live a surrendered life if you want to be constantly victorious. You also need to live in such a way that you can boldly say, by the power of God working in you, that others should follow your steps because you are following Christ.

Philippians 3:12-17
12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.
17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.