THE PERFECT LIFE

Its Distinctive Outworkings -- The perfect life is, of necessity, unmistakable in its manifestation, and also in its restriction. 1. As to its manifestations. We call attention here to one of those outstanding New Testament passages, the importance of which is not generally recognized, namely, Matt. 5:48: "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." The keyword is "therefore," and the force of the word can be realized only as we pause before it and turn it into the question, "Wherefore?" "Be ye therefore . . ." It is immediately evident that the verse is climacteric, relating itself to the entire chapter, which may be regarded as the concrete manifestation of the perfect life. A life of blessedness is declared (ver. 1-16).

Concerning this two thoughts are prominent.

First, this "blessed life" is dependent upon character. There are nine "beatitudes." Some count only seven. Each beatitude is a spiritual quality. Each of these spiritual qualities belongs to this world. Hence, "purity of heart" (ver. 8) is as much a present tense experience as "poverty of spirit" (ver. 3) or "meekness" (ver. 5). All these spiritual qualities have a distinct relationship the one to the other. It must be noted, too, that this pronouncement of "blessedness" is not a benediction merely, but the announcement of a distinct spiritual state. Second, this character will react upon the world around. The blessed life is compared to salt which, for the sake of a needy world, must not be allowed to lose its savor.

The blessed life is compared to light which, because of the existing darkness, must not be hid. Deep spiritual values are insisted on (ver. 17-48). The law is declared to have a permanent value, but with a new spiritual content. Now, instead of an outward letter regulating the actions, it is to be an inward spirit moving the soul. The righteousness of the believer is to "exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees," otherwise he cannot in any case enter into the kingdom of heaven. The Master then exhibits the wonders of the perfect life. By taking selected portions of that timeworn law distinctly universal in their principle, and holding them up to the light of His standard for men, He shows what Christian perfection really is.

The perfect life is a life of sincere intention (ver. 21-30). Its motives are purified and its thoughts are clean. Anger is inward murder (ver. 21-26; 1 John 3:15). Impure thought is inward adultery (ver. 27-30). The perfect life is a life of sacred domestic relation (ver. 31-32). Jesus did not believe in easy divorce, and admitted only one possible ground on which it could be valid. The perfect life is a life of simple truthfulness (ver. 33-37). In speech there is no double meaning, crafty evasion or equivocation. The man is a man of his word. The perfect life is a life of sweet demeanor (ver. 38-48).

Here are verses which have been a battleground of contention for centuries. They embody principles which are realizable only through the possession of that love which "beareth all things" (I Cor. 13). It "turns the other cheek" when smitten (ver. 39). Trusting God to vindicate and defend, it wins' its enemies by kindness. It lets the exactor have "the cloak also" (ver. 40). Foregoing, if need be, even its just rights, it seeks by the spirit of sacrifice to manifest the spirit of Jesus. It goes with the unreasonable person "a second mile" (ver. 41). Helping the ungrateful under most undesirable circumstances, it manifests a cheerful spirit. It maintains and cultivates the compassionate spirit (ver. 42). It returns blessing for cursing, good deeds for hate, and prayer for persecution, proving that it has capacity to endure and grace to manifest "more than others" (ver. 43-48). All this is involved in the "therefore." It is the manifestation of the perfect life.

2. As to its restriction. This will be best seen in the following familiar article which has been so widely distributed in tract form:

"Others May You Cannot"

"If God has called you to be really like Christ, He may draw you into a life of crucifixion and humility, and put you on such demands of obedience that He will not allow you to follow other Christians, and in many ways He will seem to let other good people do things which He will not let you do.

"Other Christians, who seem very religious and useful, may push themselves, pull wires and work schemes to carry out their plans, but you cannot do it; and if you attempt it, you will meet with such failure and rebuke from the Lord as to make you sorely penitent.

"Others may boast of themselves, of their work, of their success, of their writings, but the Holy Spirit will not allow you to do any such thing, and if you begin it, He will lead you into some deep mortification that will make you despise yourself and all your good works.

"Others will be allowed to succeed in making money, or having luxuries, but it is likely God will keep you poor, because He wants you to have something far better than gold, and that He may have the privilege of supplying your needs day by day out of an unseen treasury.

"The Lord will let others be honored and put forward, and keep you hid away in obscurity, because He wants to produce some choice, fragrant fruit for His coming glory, which can be produced only in the shade.

"He will let others be great, but keep you small. He will let others do a work for Him, and get the credit for it, but He will make you work and toil on without knowing how much you are doing; and then to make your work still more precious, He will let others get the credit for the work which you have done, and this will make your reward ten times greater when Christ comes.

"The Holy Spirit will put a strict watch over you, with a jealous love, and will rebuke you for little words and feelings, or for wasting your time, which other Christians never seem distressed over. So make up your mind that God is an infinite Sovereign, and has a right to do as He pleases with His own. He will not explain to you a thousand things which puzzle your reason in His dealings with you. He will take you at your word; and if you absolutely give yourself to be His love slave, He will wrap you in a jealous love, and let the other people say and do many things that you cannot do or say.

"Settle it forever, then, that you are to deal directly with the Lord Jesus, and that He is to have the privilege of tying your tongue, or chaining your hand, or closing your eyes, . in ways that He does not deal with others. Now, when you are so possessed with the living God that you are, in your secret heart, pleased and delighted over this peculiar, personal, private, jealous guardianship and management of the Lord Jesus over your life, you will have found the vestibule of heaven."