WISDOM FOR PERFECTION
(week 48/12)
OLUBI JOHNSON
In our article last week, we saw that God wants to make us like Himself, not only the nature (which we have when we are born-again and so partake of the divine nature (2 Peter. 1:4, Jn. 3:5-6)), but also to be like Him in character, wisdom and power.
As we become like God, we can set other men free to also grow to become like God.
It takes the diligent application of the blood, the Word and the power of the Holy Spirit, using the wisdom of God to grow up spiritually to become like God.
We are in the 3rd day: the third millennium from the birth of Christ.
The Lord Jesus speaking symbolically and prophetically says that the Church will be perfected in this 3rd day.
Cleansing perfection: the total cleaning out of the sin-nature from the soul and body is presently available; and manifesting perfection: the manifestation of the power of the Spirit without measure that was on the Lord Jesus is imminent.
It is instructive to note that when we get born-again, the nature of God is planted in our spirits (just like when a woman conceives a new human being in her womb: a new spiritual divine nature is conceived in our spirits making us new creations in Christ).
2 Corinthians 5:17 AMP: Therefore if any person is [ingrafted] in Christ (the Messiah) he is a new creation (a new creature altogether); the old [previous moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come!
1 Peter 1:23 AMP: You have been regenerated (born again), not from a mortal origin (seed, sperm), but from one that is immortal by the ever living and lasting Word of God.
John 3:6 MKJV: That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.
2 Peter 1:4 MKJV: through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
So the divine nature is in our spirits; it is not in our souls: wills, minds, emotions and bodies. The residual sin-nature in our souls and bodies is in constant conflict with the divine nature in our spirits:
Romans 7:17-23 MKJV: But now it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. (18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh) dwells no good thing. For to will is present with me, but how to perform that which is good I do not find. (19) For I do not do the good that I desire; but the evil which I do not will, that I do. (20) But if I do what I do not desire, it is no more I working it out, but sin dwelling in me. (21) I find then a law: when I will to do the right, evil is present with me. (22) For I delight in the Law of God according to the inward man; (23) but I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin being in my members.
Galatians 5:17 NIV: For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.
So we must use the blood of Jesus, the Word and power of Holy Spirit to ‘clean out’ the sin nature from the soul and body; when it is totally cleaned out, then we have entered a state of cleansing perfection.
2 Corinthians 7:1 MKJV: Then having these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilements of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
This cleansing perfection is not a utopia: it does not mean we can never sin. Adam was created perfect in the Garden of Eden and yet sinned (Gen. 3:1-21): you still have a free will in the state of perfection. Secondly, it does not mean you know everything God knows: the last Adam (1 Cor. 15:45), the Lord Jesus was born perfect: He had no sin-nature in His soul and body because He was born of a virgin (Is. 7.14), yet He had to grow in wisdom and stature (Lk. 2:52).
So cleansing perfection has to be maintained in the same way it is attained: diligent application of the blood, Word and Spirit.
As we maintain this cleansing perfection, we will grow in this state and gradually mature in it.
When we mature in perfection, having been thoroughly instructed and tested, like the Lord Jesus was during the 40-day fasting and temptation (Lk. 4:1-14); God will entrust us with and so release upon us the Spirit without measure.
This release of the Spirit without measure will enable us to perform spectacular miracles on a consistent basis, like the Lord Jesus: turn water to wine (Jn. 2:1-11), feed 5000 with 5 loaves and 2 fishes (Jn. 6:8-14), walk on water (Jn. 6:19), raise the dead after 4 days in the grave (Jn. 11:4-44).
Next week, we will see how to use the wisdom of God to grow into perfection.
