ENDING PERFECT? HOW?

ENDING PERFECT?

It is possible to end up perfect? God thinks so.

Jude 24 to “keep you from falling”

Philippians 3:21 to “subdue all things unto Himself”

Romans 16:25 “stablish you”

Ephesians 3:20 to “do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think”

Heb. 7:25 “able to save to the uttermost those that draw near unto God” 

All by the unending and total ministry of the Savior.

This atoning and propitiating ability in Heb. 7:25 is based upon two things:

1. His Melchizedekian Priesthood, and

2. Our availing ourselves of it.

No other priest is equal to such complete saving of men. He, however, is only able to complete the work of saving, when men draw near to God through Him. There are very remarkable truths involved in this glorious declaration. Let us note two of them.

First, the assumption of the statement is that it is only when men are near to God that the priesthood of Jesus is operative in all those continuous activities of intercession through which the saving of men can be carried out to its consummation. Not being perfect, not yet having attained, we may yet remain near to God, Who is the God of all patience. As that nearness is maintained, our High Priest is the Mediator through Whom all the resources of the Divine Wisdom, Strength and Grace are communicated to us, that, growing up into Him in all things, our saving to the uttermost is completed. Departure from nearness to God separates us from the operation of our High Priest. That is a truth that we must never forget. Standing alone, it is liable to discourage us.

Second truth, and that is that our nearness to God is through Him. It is through Him we draw near and it is through Him we abide in nearness. Thus the two phases of His priestly work are in view. The first is atoning. Through that we draw near and abide in nearness. The second is intercessory and perfecting. That operates as we are near to God through His atoning work.

Continuous sanctification ends in perfection.