As I said in a previous message, Paul’s words in this scripture sound somewhat contradictory. But of course they aren’t. The Holy Spirit, in inspiring the Word of God, cannot give His prophets mutually opposing facts. But that doesn’t mean that we, the readers of those prophets, can’t get confused and imagine contradictions. After saying “I am not perfect,” Paul adds: “Let US therefore, as many as be PERFECT, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Part of our confusion is answered in implementing the Bible’s definition of the Bible word for “perfect.” Paul is not talking about moral flawlessness, but a lack of maturity or completeness. He is not talking about absolute perfection, because that is something belonging only to Jehovah. This same Greek word is found in Hebrews 5:14 – “But strong meat belongeth to them that are of FULL AGE, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.” In another place that word is translated, “men of UNDERSTANDING.” In scriptures like these that word is talking about being full grown – in contrast to being children. The “perfection” of Philippians 3:15 is SPIRITUAL maturity. Again, in verse 12 Paul says that he was NOT perfect. Nevertheless he was striving to reach new heights, carrying the burden of imperfection on his back. This constant effort after a higher level of life was actually a part of Paul’s PERFECT MAN. To recognize that we aren’t perfect is important in the spiritual maturation process.
Adding to our confusion, Paul says, “as many as be perfect” might be at the same time be “otherwise minded.” Good saints be “otherwise minded” each having differing opinions of things – including Bible interpretation. But this doesn’t mean that these “perfect” people were fighting and quarreling with each other. It means simply that their minds were not in complete conformity with each other, because they were not in completely conformity to the mind of the Lord. These “otherwise minded” are not equally mature. But, “God shall reveal even this unto you.” God will straighten out this lack if we are willing to listen to Him.
With this mind, let’s think about the Holy Spirit’s ministry of REVEALING. “Perfect” people are open to the reception of God’s truth. Imperfect people are not open to Holy Spirit instruction. “Mature” people know they fall short of completeness, but they are striving in that direction. And they know that the things they need are spiritually DISCERNED. While in another way, those things are spiritually YEARNED. Even “otherwise minded” people can be mature enough to recognize that…
The things of God must be SPIRITUALLY YEARNED.
By that somewhat silly statement, I mean: To know the deeper things of God, there must be a desire for that knowledge. And it must flow out of a spiritual HEART. In contrast to a curious MIND, there must be a hungry and thirsty REGENERATED heart. But of course, the UNSAVED heart, 98% of the time, is not PROPERLY interested in the truth. And by “properly interested” I mean interested enough to obey what God has to say.
Paul touches on this subject in his epistle to the Ephesians – 4:17: “This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the UNDERSTANDING DARKENED, being alienated from the life of God through the IGNORANCE that is in them, because of the BLINDNESS of their HEART: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that YE HAVE HEARD HIM, and have been TAUGHT BY HIM, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts.” Those who have truly “learned Christ,” and “have been taught by him,” are willing, and even anxious, to put off their former conversation and way of life. And this “learning of Christ” and “being taught by him” must be a deliberate choice. We can’t ACCIDENTALLY learn of Christ in the way in which Paul is speaking.
We often compare the sisters of Lazarus – Mary and Martha. Martha was a willing servant of the Lord; doing what she could for Jesus’ comfort. Yes, the Lord gave her a mild rebuke, but it wasn’t for what she was doing; it was for her criticism of what her sister was doing – or not doing. And usually, I say that Mary was worshiping her Saviour, which is not untrue. But what Luke 10:39 specifically says is “Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.” Mary yearned to learn. She didn’t want to be so distracted by serving the Lord that she couldn’t hear what He was saying. There is obviously a fine line between the two, but many Christians find serving the Lord far easier than applying themselves to hear what he says.
Another new Christian whom the Bible highlights as yearning for the words of the Saviour lived in Gadara. The recently released demoniac was found “sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind.” What was he doing with that newly restored mind of his? Was he worshiping? Most likely. But he was also listening and taking in the words of Christ. In perhaps a smaller way, he was much like Paul was as he expressed himself in Philippians 3.
This learning and growing in the knowledge of the Saviour is not quite like salvation. Salvation is by the miraculous, intervening grace of God. The Lord doesn’t save souls against their will – but He does change unwilling wills into submissive wills. He doesn’t clunk people on the head, then in their unconscious state, perform open heart surgery on them. And similarly, He doesn’t perform open head surgery, pouring in unwanted spiritual information. Rather, the Holy Spirit leads hearts and heads into a desire – a yearning – for more of the Lord. And isn’t this what Paul has been saying in Philippians 3? Since he has been redeemed, he has a yearning “that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings…” This is what prompted all his yearning, all his “following after” all his “reaching forth” and “pressing” forward.
Solomon said in Proverbs 2 – “My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou CRIEST after knowledge, and LIFTEST UP thy voice for understanding; If thou SEEKEST her as silver, and SEARCHEST for her as for hid treasures; THEN – then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find the knowledge of God.”
This “following after” and “reaching forth” is a good test of two things: Those who have been born again, made children of God, will want to know more of their Heavenly Father. Professing Christians, pretending Christians, the “I hope I’m a Christian” kind of Christian are usually satisfied with what they think they already know of Christ. They want a Saviour, for example, but they don’t want to know Him as their Lord. The second test relates to spiritual maturity – “Biblical perfection.” The more spiritually “perfect” you are, the more you will hunger and thirst for the righteous One. So this scripture can be used to test your salvation and your spirituality. How do you stand in regard to this test?
Assuming there is progress in your knowledge and maturity, it is because of the Lord’s blessings on you.
Because the things of God are SPIRITUALLY DISCERNED.
I am referring to I Corinthians 2:9-14 which speaks of a specific subject, but has a more universal message. “Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man’s wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” If we know – really know and understand – any important Biblical truth, it is because the Holy Spirit has graciously reveal it to us. Our growth in the things of God comes not with our mental IQ, but with God’s blessings on our yearning. It is not a gift to the man with the biggest theological library. It is not about a three year degree at the Bible college versus a four year degree at the seminary. Spiritual things are “spiritually discerned” – spiritually given, spiritually judged and spiritually understood.
When the Lord Jesus was encouraging the eleven, He spoke of the upcoming ministry of the Holy Spirit. Again, the reference was in regard to future things, but the application is to all Biblical knowledge. John 16 – “I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, HE will guide YOU into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. He shall glorify me: for he shall receive of mine, and shall shew it unto you.” Anything we might truly learn and understand about the Triune God will be through the ministry of the Spirit.
But remember, not even Paul instantly knew all that he eventually came to know. There is a process to a lot of things we might learn – from math, to cooking, to theology. We have to learn one principle before we can learn the next. Paul tells us in Galatians 1 – “When it pleased God, who separated me from my mother’s womb, and called me by his grace, To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus. Then after three years I went up to Jerusalem…” You could say those three years were Paul’s seminary training. And yet even after that it was some time before he was actually in the Lord’s service.
Christ Jesus was on one occasion teaching in the temple, answering some people’s thoughts, He said – “My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me” referring to God the Father. “If any man will DO his will, he shall KNOW of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.” From there the Lord went on to speak of Moses’ law. “Did not Moses give you the law, and yet none of keepeth the law?” Those proud Jews were never going to understand Christ or the gospel. They were never going to understand their need for salvation until they applied the law as it was meant to be applied – as a schoolmaster to bring them to Christ. Point number one must be learned before God is willing to reveal point number two.
James touches on the idea of this knowledge when he says in 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him…” But there is a caveat – “But let him ask in faith nothing wavering.” In this case there must be an understanding about faith before we can move up the ladder of wisdom. In fact there must be actual trust in the Lord and His truth before He is willing to reveal it.
Many of you know the words of Solomon from Proverbs 3 – “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Part of knowing the Lord is knowing where to go in following Him. “Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?” First of all, lean not to thine own understanding – yes, admit you don’t know the way. And then second – acknowledge me as your Lord and guide. Submit to my leadership and I shall direct your steps.
Psalm 25 adds – “The meek will he guide in judgment; and the meek will he teach his way.” Humility and a mild, tender nature are requirements for both learning and effective teaching. Paul says in I Corinthians 8 – “Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.” Do you think God wants us to learn about Him in order to be able to boast of our knowledge? If that is our purpose then the Lord will not “reveal even this unto you.”
The “perfect man” is someone who loves the Lord, worships the Lord and wants to know Him better. When that person meets the Lord’s criteria, God shall reveal more and more of His blessings to him or her. Is this a desire that you possess?