The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1915-12-24

with the pert0c-
ton which will come in the future. It
may seem to some unnecessary that
a man should disavow this final per-
lection since he is evidently not yet
raised from the dead; but the human
mind is capable of very strange things,
and this same apostle Paul speaks Of
some in his day who taught that the
resurrection is past already. On
some such basis. it seems, that teach
ers who declared that ever now
we may reach the perfection which be-
longs to the resurrection state. The
apostle is clearly against such a doc
trine.
Bishop Moule, one Of the most saint
ly men the modern church has pro-
duced, in commenting upon this pas
sage says: CAS- far as my own obser-
walton goes, such views Il. 9. of per-
~fection) r not uncommonly attended,
in those who hold them, by a certain
oblivion to personal shortcomings and
Inconsistencies; by an observation of
consciousness, and of conscience,
more or less marked, towards the sin
fulness Of ordinary, everyday viola;
lions of the law of holiness in respect
Of meekness, humbleness of mind, long
suffering, sympathy, and other quiet
graces."
Indeed, the saints Of all the ages
unite with Paul in declaring that they
are not already perfect. The apostle;
after suffering many things for
Christ's sake so that he bore in his
body the marks Of the Lord Jesus;
writes of himself as chief of sinners,
John Bunyan although he spent twelve
years in Bedford jail for his Lord,
calls his life story Grace Astounding
to the Chief Of Sinners" When John
Wesley thought, he was dying, he re-
viewed his labors Of sixty years, but
could find no peg upon which to hang
any hope Of salvation; he could only
repeat the sentiment Of the hymn,
I the chief Of sinners am.
But Jesus died for me.
The same spirit was manifested by
Charles Sturgeon. who said during tho
serious illness, that IL he got we'll he
would have many things to preach,
but Just at that time four words were
enough for him, Jesus died for mel
DR.. A. ]. Gordon was q man Of such,
sanity character that his very face
gave evidence Of the indwelling light
But the other portion Of our text
speaks of a sense In which we may
be perfect. The context shows that
the apostle is using the figure of a run1
ner in q race. He has not yet at
tanned the prize, but forgetting the
things which are behind and reaching
forth unto those which are before, hd
presses toward the mark. It is this
attitude to which the word "perfect%
is applied. The man has laid aside
the weights and the easily ,besettinG
sin; he is not content with what he
has attained, but forgetting that which
is behind, he presses with neck
stretched forth and every muscle
strained, to the goal. 1t will be, seen
at once that this sort Of perfection is
very imperfect and is in no sense a
finality. It only prepares US to be
made perfect in the day of Christ's
coming. Nevertheless we are bound
by the grace Of Christ to fulfill this
ideal and not to put him to shame.
Two matters are involved In the Ok
hortation to be thus minded" First
of all II we feel like the apostle. we
will have the lowly estimate Of our
selves Of which We have spoken, the
that We have not attained.
Very far from Christian perfection is
pride; on the contrary, humility is its :
very essence. Again II We are per.
feet IN the sense Of which the apostle
Bpeaks, Ne will emulate him in
pressing forward for the prize Of final
gIlofy. This ID the very opposite OF
eomplacency % to our attainment. II
u said that Thorwaldsen ones wept
because AZ was satisfied with . statue
10 had made. ALAS" he said, II shall
mover improve now, for ! have reached
my ideal" How ought they to be
aroused Who. because thew have come