The Harrison times., 1917-07-21

Wllu tue peIlbC-
tion which will come in the future 1t
may seem to some unnecessary that
a man should disavow this final per-
fection 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, 1t seems, that teach
ers arose who declared that even 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 "As far as my own obser-
vation goes, such views g. g. Of per-
fection) are 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 sim
fulness of ordinary, everyday viola
tions 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,
the chief of sinners am,
But Jesus died for me.
The same spirit was manifested by
Charles Spurgeon. who said during the
serious illness, that if he got well he
would have many things 20 preach,
but just at that time four words we're
enough for him, Jesus died for me"
DR. A. J. Gordon was man OF such
sanity character that his very face
gave evidence of the indweiling 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 run
ner in a race. He has not yet at
tanned the prize but forgetting the
things which are behind and reaching
forth unto those which are before he
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
has attained, but forgetting that which
is behind, he presses with neck
stretched forth and every muscle
strained, to the goal It will be seen
at once that this sort of perfection Is
very imperfect and is in no sense
fnality, 1t only prepares us to be
made perfect in the day Of Christ3
coming. Nevertheless we are bound
by the grace OF Christ to fulfil thi3
ideal and not to put him TO shame,
Two matters are involved in the ex.
hortation to be thus minded" First
Of all if we feel like the apostle we
will have the lowly estimate Of our
selves Of which we have spoken the
feeling that we have not attained
Very far from CHRISTIAN perfection is
pride, on the contrary humility is its
very essence. Again, IL we are per
feet in the sense of which the apostle
speaks, we will emulate him in
pressing forward for the prize Of final
glory. This Is the very opposite Of
compacency as to our attainment. 1t
Is said that Thorwaldsen once wept
because he was satisfied with statue
he had made. Alas he said, Il shall
never improve now, for have reached
my ideal" How ought they to be
aroused who because they have come
to Christ and are living with some
consistency are satisfied! Life mani
tests itself by growth and he who is
NOT orouino nav uaII avaripa him