“Made perfect.” — Hebrews 12:23
Recollect that there are two kinds of perfection which the Christian needs — the perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the perfection of sanctification wrought in him by the Holy Spirit. At present, corruption yet remains even in the breasts of the regenerate — experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lusts and evil imaginations. But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God shall finish the work which He has begun; and He shall present my soul, not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit, without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Can it be true that…
this poor sinful heart of mine is to become holy even as Godis holy? Can it be that this spirit, which often cries, “O wretched man thatI am! who shall deliver me from the body of this sin and death?” shall getrid of sin and death — that I shall have no evil things to vex my ears, andno unholy thoughts to disturb my peace? Oh, happy hour! may it behastened! When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will befinished; but not till that moment shall I even claim perfection in myself.Then my spirit shall have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit’s fire.Methinks I long to die to receive that last and final purification which shallusher me into heaven. Not an angel more pure than I shall be, for I shall beable to say, in a double sense, “I am clean,” through Jesus’ blood, andthrough the Spirit’s work. Oh, how should we extol the power of the HolyGhost in thus making us fit to stand before our Father in heaven! Yet letnot the hope of perfection hereafter make us content with imperfectionnow. If it does this, our hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is apurifying thing, even now. The work of grace must be abiding in us now orit cannot be perfected then. Let us pray to “be filled with the Spirit,” thatwe may bring forth increasingly the fruits of righteousness.
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Producer: Todd Adkins
Voice Artist: Ian Cullen