Thursday, March 20, 2014

HOW THE IMPERFECT SINNER CAN BE MADE PERFECT - J. C. O'Hair



HOW THE IMPERFECT SINNER CAN BE MADE PERFECT
Pastor J. C. O'Hair

Two very interesting and significant statements are made in Hebrews 7:19 - “The law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.”

Before considering these statements let us note in Romans 5:20 why the law entered. That the offence (or sin) that entered by Adam, and passed upon the whole human race, might abound. 

(Romans 5:12). “Death reigned from Adam to Moses.” (Romans 5:14). From Adam to the time Moses received the law at Sinai (Exodus 20) was about 2500 years. The law that was given at Sinai was good, spiritual, just and holy. (Romans 7:12 and 14). “The law of the Lord is perfect.” (Psalm 19:7). And the Son of God on earth was a perfect Man.

From Adam to Moses the human race was so imperfect that, about 2350 B.C. God had to destroy the entire human race with the exception of one family; (Noah’s family). (Genesis 6).

Some years after the flood God again sent an awful judgment upon the human race, because they were awfully wicked. (Romans 1:18 to 30). “God gave them up.”

Then some years later, about 1500 B.C., the people whom God chose for His glory were down in Egypt. Because of the sin of the Egyptians God smote the first born of that land and then put many of the Egyptians in the bottom of the Red Sea. That was a few weeks before God gave to Moses His holy, perfect law, which no one ever perfectly kept except the perfect Man, Christ Jesus. Christ said, “None of you has kept the law.” (John 7:19). Peter said the same thing. (Acts 15:10).

When God gave His perfect law to Israel He gave them a religious program, with sacrifices of animals which could not take away sin but only cover them for a year. (Hebrews 10:1 to 12).

Neither the ten commandments nor the sacrifices under the law could make any one perfect. The imperfect sinner could not perfectly keep God’s perfect law. The very best human being had to confess, “For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin.” “For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.” (Romans 7:14 and 7:19).

Christ said, “Be thou perfect.” (Matthew 5:48). Christ was under the law at the time (Galatians 4:4); and He was perfect. He offered Himself without spot unto God; a perfect sacrifice. (Hebrews 9:12 to 14). This was the bringing in of the better hope by which believers are made perfect. (Hebrews 7:19). “For by one offering He hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.” (Hebrews 10:14). “But now, in Christ Jesus, ye who sometime were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13). “By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ.” (Hebrews 10:10).

God’s perfect law demanded a sinless life. A sinless life is the expression of a sinless nature. Jesus Christ, the Righteous, was born with such a nature. The Bible has much to say concerning God’s perfect law and God’s perfect Son. The perfect Christ perfectly kept the perfect law and then was made sin when He died between two law-breakers. Because of this perfect sacrifice believing sinners are made the righteousness of God in Christ. (II Corinthians 5:21).

A perfected believer is a saint. God gave gifts for the perfecting of saints; for the perfecting of believers who were perfect in Christ. (Ephesians 4:10 to 13). There are saints who are called perfect, or full-aged, because they have gone from the milk of the Scriptures on to perfection, the strong meat. (I Corinthians 2:6 - Hebrews 5:12 to 6:2). What the law could not do on account of human imperfection, the perfect Christ did. (Romans 8:3). Believers are perfect in Christ. And for the finished work of perfection read Ephesians 5:26 to 28.




Posted By- Cecil and Connie Spivey
Cspivey1953@gmail.com

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