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Wiser than the Ancients

11/26/2019

"...It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life;
for I am not better than my fathers." - 1 Kings 19:4

Elijah was a student of Church History. From a place of deep conviction he aspired to advance beyond the status quo hypocrisy prevalent among his fathers. His standards of life and godliness were born from Holy Scripture. Therefore, at a crisis moment of weakness, when Elijah came to believe he had failed God and succumbed to the cowardice of hypocrites, he lamented, "...I am not better than my fathers" (1 Kings 19:4).

Can you relate? Indeed! Gray hairs should speak and young men should keep silent. I agree. The hoary heads should be honored and the youth should pay their respect. Aged men should instruct and children should hearken diligently. However, in the process, only let God speak while all flesh remains silent (1 Pet. 4:11). Only let God have the honor and get all the glory (1 Cor. 1:29). Only let all earthly fathers conform themselves to our Heavenly Father (Rom. 12:2).

"I said, Days should speak, and multitude of years should teach wisdom. But there is a spirit in man: and the inspiration of the Almighty giveth them understanding. Great men are not always wise: neither do the aged understand judgment." - Job 3:7-9

Nowadays, in order for God to be honored aged men must be dishonored. In order for God to be heard the status quo hierarchy of authority must be disrupted. This proves true for all man-made structures of authority prevalent in the Church, or those which are imposed upon the Church. In other words, this proves true with our fathers and our forefathers - the living and the dead. For, as is often the case, when men of renowned in Church History reach a certain level of notoriety and fame among believers, they become "icons". The sense of reverence is so strong that the status of these men is somehow immortalized with iconic glory.

These are "the ancients". A handful of top-tier men redeemed by grace. Call them Calvinists or Arminians, or whatever you please. Call them Reformers or Puritans; it makes no difference to God. They made an impact upon their generations, and now they are the icons of our generation. Men think they are doing God a service by etching their images in stone (Ex. 20:3-5). They see no shame in this. Exhilarated pilgrims pay homage and go away happy. They brag about the experience and imagine themselves to be more godly at having made the journey.

The faults and errors of "the ancients" are either discredited or practically irrelevant because they are generally unknown by the Church. Therefore, the common perception among believers is radically exaggerated. A culture of intolerance thickens in the air. The unspoken rule is that no one should dare to cross the counsel of "the ancients", nor should anyone humbly criticize their confessions of faith. Albeit, not so much could be said of the young man, Elihu.

"Let me not, I pray you, accept any man's person, neither let me give flattering titles unto man. For I know not to give flattering titles; in so doing my Maker would soon take me away." - Job 32:21-22

We should all aspire to be like our fathers and forefathers, only inasmuch as they are like our Father in Heaven. Anything else amounts to a growing culture of flattery in the Church. A fever of idolatry is paralyzing the Body of Christ, and this makes for a sick Church in a dying world. The circumstances couldn't be more tragic. The Bride of Christ wouldn't dare to think she could be wiser than "the ancients". Her estimation of grace is severely dwarfed (Eph. 3:20-21) while her reliance upon Scripture is diminishing by the year (Acts 20:32). Albeit, not so much could be said of the young man, David.

"MEM. O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.
Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me.
I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation.
I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts." - Psalm 119:97-100

David was severely oppressed while growing up in the Kingdom of Saul. Yet, by the grace of God, he didn't succumb to the pressure heaped upon him by backsliders and compromisers, and neither should we. The breath of God has recorded and preserved the jubilee of this worshiper in Psalm 119:97-100, and we would do well to take heed. Even if it is to the dismay of modern day oppressors who feel threatened by our exclusive and seemingly radical trust in Scripture.

"The tragedy of this late hour is that we have too many dead men in the pulpits giving out too many dead sermons to too many dead people. Oh! the horror of it. There is a strange thing that I have seen "under the sun," even in the fundamentalist circles; it is preaching without unction. What is unction? I hardly know. But I know what it is not (or at least I know when it is not upon my soul). Preaching without unction kills instead of giving life. The unctionless preacher is a savor of death unto death. The Word does not live unless the unction is upon the preacher. Preacher, with all thy getting - get unction." - Leonard Ravenhill

“Salvation of America does not depend upon the White House it depends upon God’s House, and before God does anything He will clean up the Church. When He was on earth He cleaned up the Temple, when He comes again He will clean up the pulpit - Judgment must begin at the House of God; judgment must begin with the preachers! I think the most awesome task in the world tonight is not to be the President of the United States or the King of an Empire, but to be a man who stands between a Living God and a dying people. I’d like to send a notice to all the deacons of every Church in America: ‘If your preacher doesn’t weep over the congregation - weep over your preacher!’" – Leonard Ravenhill

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Until the Iniquity is Full | 2,000 Years of Church History

11/26/2019

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"But they mocked the messengers of God, and despised his words, and misused his prophets, until the wrath of the LORD arose against his people, till there was no remedy." - 2 Chron. 36:16

"And in the latter time of their kingdom, when the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce countenance, and understanding dark sentences, shall stand up." - Dan. 8:23

The ruins of ancient times have a story to tell. Albeit, mankind is bound to misinterpret the moral of the story if the infallible record of Scripture isn't consulted. The disobedience of the Jews warranted Babylon of old (2 Chron. 36:16) and every cyclical appearance of the Beast thenceforth (Medo-Persia, Greece, & Rome; Dan. 7). In every case the Day of the LORD tarried until the iniquity was full (Dan. 8:23, Gen. 15:16). Babylon is God's last resort for the backslidden Church. Even so, today, "there is no new thing under the sun" (Eccl. 1:9). God's judgment by this means hasn't expired. Many voices of Church History for the past 2,000 years wouldn't agree, but that doesn't matter. According to the apostles of the New Testament, they don't have any credibility to join the conversation. Anyone who lived beyond the days of the apostles and/or outside of their direct authority (as recorded in Scripture) simply cannot be trusted.

For, as of nearly 2,000 years ago, the apostles were acknowledging the spiritual rise of Babylon as a devastating force upon the saintliness of the Church. With a growing sense of anticipation and urgency, they spoke of the darkness of night steadily increasing upon the Church (1 Thess. 5:1-8; Rom. 13:11-14). Nighttime wasn’t merely about them; it was encroaching upon them (Eph. 5:6-17)! As a people marching towards their fate, the apostles knew the midnight hour would come (Matt. 25:1-13). The Day of Darkness couldn't be stopped. Even as Isaiah foretold in the ancient time ("Watchman, what of the night?" - Isa. 21:1-12), or as John later elaborated (Rev. 8:12, 9:1-11), they believed it was inevitable. This is exactly why Paul said that the Day of the LORD “shall not come, except there come a falling away first” (2 Thess. 2:3).

Evidently, the apostolic testimony of nighttime darkness wasn’t a miscellaneous use of metaphorical rhetoric. These weren’t relativistic acknowledgments that are disconnected from the rest of Scripture. The apostles were alarmed at the dogmatic fulfillments of Biblical Prophecy as they observed the increasing blackout of spiritual light in their days (Matt. 5:13-16). Plainly spoken, John said, “whereby we know that it is the Last Time” (1 Jn. 2:18). In one statement, simply put, the apostolic acknowledgement was twofold: (1) Backsliding saints (2) deserve Babylon. For, whether of old, or anew, only backsliders are deserving of Babylon. Not just physically, but spiritually. In other words, only those who are overcome by spiritual Babylon are deserving of physical Babylon. Thus, in beholding the saintliness of Christians turning into worldliness for lack of abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:1-7, 1 Jn. 2:15-19), John acknowledged that this could be none other than the work of antichrist (1 Jn. 4:1-6).

“…this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come;
and even now already is it in the world” - 1 Jn. 4:3

John is speaking of the “spirit” of antichrist, or, the rise of a spiritual antichrist. He isn’t acknowledging the coming of the physical antichrist. The former precedes the latter. According to the apostles (speaking under divine inspiration), the antichrist will rise spiritually before he comes physically. Yet, who is the antichrist, but the figurehead of Babylon (Rev. 13)? Therefore, let the reader understand, this is one and the same as acknowledging the rise of spiritual Babylon.

Spirit of Antichrist -> Physical Antichrist
Spiritual Babylon -> Physical Babylon

Just as the antichrist will rise spiritually and then physically, even so does Babylon rise spiritually and then physically. This is what Paul called “the mystery of iniquity” (2 Thess. 2:7); and, how hardly will the backsliders of any generation come to a sober acknowledgement of it! According to the apostles, the casualties are among the Church. Expressly, John is affirming that this is the cause of backsliding among the saints. As an indicator of the Last Time (1 Jn. 2:18), lo, this is bringing about a falling away from Christ (2 Thess. 2:3)! Or, in terms of John’s Gospel, this is bringing about a severance of the branches from the Vine as they are being broken off for their lack of abiding in Christ (Jn. 15:1-17; Rom. 11:21-22). Literally, this is a discontinuance of saints in the Son of God (1 Jn. 2:24). Therefore, in departing from the Church (John argues), it is visibly evident that these individuals are no longer “of” the Vine (1 Jn. 2:19, 24; Jn. 15:1-7).

Therefore, in Paul saying, “the mystery of iniquity doth already work” (2 Thess. 2:7), he was acknowledging the manifestation of a prophetically foretold scenario that would directly precede the physical arrival of Babylon & its antichrist. Thus, in acknowledging the mystery of iniquity already at work, he was acknowledging the rise of apostasy; and, in acknowledging the rise of apostasy, he was acknowledging the rise of spiritual Babylon. As of the 1st Century, some 2,000 years ago, the foretold spiritual battle was at hand. Spiritual Babylon was the real and present danger among them. They knew that “many” would be “offended” in the spiritual rise of Babylon, or that “many” would be deceived, and “because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold” (Matt. 24:10-12). Therefore, Paul was compelled to testify how spiritual Babylon was already on the rise (“the mystery of iniquity doth already work” - 2 Thess. 2:7), even as John acknowledged the spirit of antichrist (1 Jn. 4:3).

The same acknowledgements were made when Paul, beholding the casualties ("the Last Days" - 2 Tim. 3:1-5, 4:3), informed Timothy by letter, saying, “This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be turned away from me” (2 Tim. 1:15). Even so, fearfully, all the virgins of the Gentile Church Age will be asleep in the darkness of Babylon directly preceding the 3 ½ Year Great Tribulation (Matt. 25:1-13). For, “He who now letteth will let, until He be taken out of the way” (2 Thess. 2:7), until the future scenario is exactly as foretold. Therefore, like Ezekiel beheld, it must needs be that the Glory of God will depart from the Churches of this current age of redemption (2 Thess. 2:7). Soberly consider it, my reader: the invisible God will depart from the visible Church in the days preceding the End of the World.

I know many zealous Christians who have spent a lifetime studying the past 2,000 years of Church History. However, in doing so, their outlook of "the Church" for the past two millennia is radically different than that of the apostles. This is what happens when we let the Church tells us about the Bible instead of letting the Bible tell us about the Church. This is dangerous. To optimistically study "the Church" in every century following the 1st Century without consulting the prophetic outlook of the apostles concerning the latter years of their own century, is to gaze upon the ongoing and progressive work of darkness while hoping to bask in the dim light of a sickly flame. This is dangerous. Therefore, it is neither wise nor safe to endeavor a study of "Church History" from our vantage point without bearing in mind the apostolic witness of Church Futurity - to behold what the apostles saw when they prophetically looked into what's ahead from the standpoint of the 1st Century (Prov. 22:3, 27:12).

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When the "GOOD" is Short of "PERFECTION"

11/17/2019

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A working knowledge of Church History is admirable. However, if this enterprise is undertaken without biblical caution, the ambitious students of today will be injured or even mortally wounded in the endeavor. The masses of Christendom wouldn't agree. They are quite content to seek the living among the dead. They have no qualms roaming the graveyard of conventional seminaries looking for the divine. It seems that everyone from just about anywhere is willing to give a hearty salute to the system of "Christian Academia" (Isa. 29:13).

I understand the sentiment. We, being 2,000 years removed from the 1st Advent of Christ, aspire to ground ourselves in an ancient and historic faith that has proven true through the test of time. Yet, what does the Bible teach about how "truth" fairs through many generations of human depravity? Specifically speaking, can "the Church" be trusted as the guardian of the "truth", or will even they mishandle it and allow its corruption through time? I'm afraid you will not like the answer, my reader. For, in reality, according to Holy Scripture, even redeemed men are prone to corrupt the "truth" and mishandle it. Consequentially, the general consensus of "the remnant" in any given generation cannot be trusted. One must resort to Holy Scripture as the only voice of truth - the one and only faithful guardian of the soul.

Leaders of "the Church" nowadays would never cast a shadow of doubt upon the study of Church History. It's truly disturbing. They don't want its appearance to be darkened in the eye of the beholder. They don't want its true shade to become apparent before the onlooking eyes of aspiring pupils. Nevertheless, the Bible speaks for itself (Isa. 29:14). The Bible accurately portrays how successfully "the Church" can guard, preserve, and pass on the "truth".

For, according to Holy Scripture, there is a nigh-invariable course of depravity which runs in cyclical revolutions from generation to generation: namely, that the SONS follow in the sins of their FATHERS from generation to generation. This is not a progressive and steady learning of the truth, this is a progressive and steady unlearning of the truth from generation to generation. My reader, please, let me present to you a brief survey of the Kings of Judah. See for yourself how among the 20 Kings of Judah, only a handful broke the cycle of declension that violently progressed onward from generation to generation.

THE KINGS OF JUDAH

REHOBOAM caused Judah to do “evil in the sight of the LORD…above all that their fathers had done” (1 Kings 14:22).

ABIJAH “walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father” (1 Kings. 15:3). Notably, Abijah’s sermon shows a profound understanding of the knowledge of God, albeit he was wicked like his father Rehoboam (2 Chron. 13:3-19).

ASA broke the cycle and “did that which was right in the eyes of the LORD, as did David his father…But the high places were not removed: nevertheless, Asa’s heart was perfect with the LORD all his days” (1 Kings 15:11, 14).

JEHOSHAPHAT “walked in all the ways of Asa his father; he turned not aside from it, doing that which was right in the eyes of the LORD” (1 Kings 22:43).

JEHORAM “walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, as did the House of Ahab: for the daughter of Ahab was his wife: and he did evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 8:18).

AHAZIAH “walked in the way of the House of Ahab, and did evil in the sight of the LORD, as did the House of Ahab: for he was the son in law of the House of Ahab” (2 Kings 8:27).

ATHALIAH, a Queen, “destroyed all the seed royal” after the death of Ahaziah and reigned until Joash, the only remaining son of Ahaziah, grew to be of age where the Kingdom was restored to the proper line (2 Kings 11:1-18).

JOASH (Jehoahaz) “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD all his days wherein Jehoida the Priest instructed him. But the high places were not taken away: the people still sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places” (2 Kings 12:2-3). Fearfully, Joash rebelled against the LORD after the death of Jehoida the Priest… thus in the latter end he was a wicked King.

AMAZIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did. Howbeit the high places were not taken away: as yet the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places” (2 Kings 14:3-4, 2 Chron. 25:2).

AZARIAH (Uzziah) “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father Amaziah had done; Save that the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burnt incense still on the high places. And the LORD smote the King, so that he was a leper unto the day of his death…” (2 Kings 15:3-5).

JOTHAM “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD: he did according to all that his father Uzziah had done. Howbeit the high places were not removed: the people sacrificed and burned incense still in the high places…” (2 Kings 15:34-35).

AHAZ “did not that which was right in the sight of the LORD his God, like David his father. But he walked in the way of the Kings of Israel, yea, and made his son to pass through the fire, according to the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out from before the children of Israel. And he sacrificed and burnt incense in the high places, and on the hills, and under every green tree” (2 Kings 16:2-4). Also, Ahaz made a league with Assyria and copied their idolatrous altar, and he reformed the priesthood around it! What an abomination.

HEZEKIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, according to all that David his father did. He removed the high places, and brake the images, and cut down the groves, and brake in pieces the brasen serpent that Moses had made: for unto those days the children of Israel did burn incense to it: and he called it Nehushtan. He trusted in the LORD God of Israel; so that after him was none like him among all the kings of Judah, nor any that were before him. For he clave to the LORD, and departed not from following him, but kept his commandments, which the LORD commanded Moses. And the LORD was with him; and he prospered whithersoever he went forth: and he rebelled against the king of Assyria, and served him not” (2 Kings 18:3-7).

MANASSEH “did evil in the sight of the LORD, after the abominations of the heathen, whom the LORD cast out before the children of Israel…Manasseh seduced them to do more evil than did the nations whom the LORD destroyed before the children of Israel…moreover Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another; beside his sin wherewith he made Judah to sin, in doing that which was evil in the sight of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:2-16). Shockingly, though, after Manasseh was chastened by God and imprisoned, he humbled himself to the LORD and besought Him only; and, graciously, the Lord restored him to the Kingdom and Manasseh lived out his last days converted unto God and walking in obedience.

AMON “did that which is evil in the sight of the LORD, as his father Manasseh did…he forsook the LORD God of his fathers, and walked not in the way of the LORD” (2 Kings 21:20-22).

JOSIAH “did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, and walked in all the way of David his father, and turned not aside to the right hand or to the left” (2 Kings 22:2). “And like unto him was there no King before him [Josiah], that turned to the LORD with all his heart, and with all his soul, and with all his might, according to all the law of Moses; neither after him arose there any like him. Notwithstanding the LORD turned not from the fierceness of his great wrath, wherewith his anger was kindled against Judah, because of all the provocations that Manasseh had provoked him withal. And the LORD said, I will remove Judah also out of my sight, as I have removed Israel, and will cast off this city Jerusalem which I have chosen, and the House of which I said, My name shall be there” (2 Kings 23:25-27).

JEHOAHAZ “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:32).

JEHOIAKIM“did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his fathers had done” (2 Kings 23:37).

JECONIAH (Jehoiachin) “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that his father had done” (2 Kings 24:9).

ZEDEKIAH “did that which was evil in the sight of the LORD, according to all that Jehoiakim had done” (2 Kings 24:19).

Evidently, "the truth" can hardly survive the hands of the Church even as they hope to safeguard it and pass it on to the next generation. Rehohoam rose beyond the crest of the rebellion of his predecessor and father, Solomon, exemplifying the unquenchable thirst of depravity from the beginning. Abijah, secondarily, being encumbered by a guiltier conscience than his father, only continued in the status quo “sins of his father” and not beyond. Asa, though, on the contrary, and very early on in the line of Kings, broke the cycle of depravity and did “as David his father” had done; thanks be to God. Jehoshaphat, also, following in his train, did as “Asa his father” had done. Nevertheless, religious superstition prevailed in that neither Asa nor Jehoshaphat removed the unlawful patriarchal high places. This shows how reverence for pastime religious antiquities is strong among the common people in every generation. Somehow, men are fond of ancient practices of religion, as if such things have become holy through "passing the test of time" ...whatever that means.

Suddenly, and tragically, after this short-lived revival of righteousness, Jehoram swerved into an unprecedented course from all the Kings of Judah before him by following in the way of the Kings of Israel! Why? For similar reasons… it was because he was influenced by the daughter of Ahab, his wife. He couldn’t resist the pastime Family Values. Predictably, Ahaziah his son, also, followed in the ways of his father Jehoram, for he was influenced by his father in law, Ahab, and did likewise. Athaliah, though, as an off-shoot, was notoriously self-seeking and murderous. After her unexpected and bloody reign, Joash, the only son of Ahaziah, was able to stand upon the truth as long as he was positively influenced by Jehoida the Priest, a righteous man, …but, fearfully, after Jehoida’s death Joash caved under the pressure of the status quo widely accepted apostasy. Ah! How the vicious cycle continues in its revolutions!

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father: he did according to all things as Joash his father did." - 2 Kings 14:3

"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart." - 2 Chronicles 25:2

Evidently, saving faith is exemplified by walking in the ways of David, and nothing short (compare 2 Kings 14:3-4 & 2 Chron. 25:2). “Almost Christians” still aren't Christians. Or, in other words, “Incomplete Christians” still aren't Christians. Just like "Unbiblical Believers" aren't real Believers. Therefore, Amaziah, being caught in the cycle, did what his father Joash did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Azariah, likewise, did what his father Amaziah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Jotham, likewise, did what his father Azariah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart. Then, Ahaz, radically swerving from the cycle of depravity in motion among the Kings of Judah, fell a-lusting after the cycle of depravity ravaging the Kings of Israel instead! Veering from one he was sucked into the other like the gravitational pull of orbiting planets! This is fearful. Note: God Himself, and no one else, should be our center of gravity.

Then, at last, Hezekiah broke the cycle of depravity in motion among the Kings of Judah and returned to the LORD “according to all that David his father did”. This is saving faith. This is a true believer. However, sadly, after Hezekiah came Manasseh - a man who rebelled more than them all! Perhaps he was acclimated thereto by the wretched example of Ahaz. Then, at last, ...when the Church was on the verge being judged, Josiah arose! His generation narrowly escaped the wrath of God (1 Pet. 4:17-18). Nevertheless, a revival of righteousness after the ways of David flourished gloriously. It lasted for 13 Years (2 Chron. 34:31-33). Nevertheless, everything was suddenly lost as depravity resumed its course in an ever-increasing stride via the former generational cycle picking up where it left off. Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jeconiah, and Zedekiah, the sons and grandson of Josiah, were all sucked into the unquenchable force until God’s judgment came and Jerusalem was made desolate.

How relevant is the Doctrine of Perfection? In reference to the aforementioned generations of Kings, for example, when the scripture stated of Amaziah, “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart” (2 Chron. 25:2); this meant, in other words, “he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, yet not like David his father…” (2 Kings 14:3). So, what is perfection? Apparently, David was perfect. Right? My reader, let us understand this vital doctrine, even if the language of it is foreign or distasteful to our “Christian Vocabulary”. Don’t let those heretics who preach “sinless perfection” cause you to reject anyone who renders a correct teaching on the matter of biblical perfection. A correct view of biblical Church History in these terms is vitally necessary.

When that which is “right in the sight of the LORD” is incompletely defined
and far short of what is perfectly righteous, will you discern it?

Amaziah, caught in the cycle, did what his father Joash did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 14:3-4, 2 Chron. 25:2). Azariah (Uzziah), likewise, did what his father Amaziah did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 15:3-5). Jotham, likewise, did what his father Azariah (Uzziah) did but not what David had done with a perfect heart (2 Kings 15:34-35).

Biblical history describes the lives, generations, and centuries of God’s work of salvation in terms of personal and corporate perfection. Depending on whether or not they obtained biblical “perfection” - this determined their destiny of heaven or hell. The scripture explicitly states that Job (Job 1:1, 8, 2:3, 8:20), Noah (Gen. 6:9), Abraham (Gen. 17:1-2), Joshua (Deut. 18:13), David (Psalm 101), Solomon (1 Kings 11:4, with his repentance, which is in Ecclesiastes), Asa (2 Chron. 15:17), and Hezekiah (2 Kings 20:3) went to heaven because they were perfect. As for all other heaven-bound men, even though it was not explicitly mentioned that they were “perfect”, they nevertheless followed the ways of those who were called “perfect”.

Likewise, the Scripture explicitly states that Abijam (1 Kings 15:3) and Amaziah (2 Chron. 25:2) went to hell because of a single indictment – that they were NOT perfect. Furthermore, every major vocation is taught the saving expression of their office and duties by the term perfection. Kings (Psalm 101), Priests (Lev. 22:21), Judges (2 Chron. 19:9), Warriors (Ps. 18:32), and all, were taught what it is to be perfect in the execution of their office, and depending on whether or not they were perfect, they went to heaven or hell. All other men and women of every generation were taught perfection in the principle of its meaning, even though the very word is not explicitly used.

Therefore, shouldn't it alarm us if we don't even know what "perfection" is in the sight of God? For, how shall we escape the declension of Amaziah, Azariah, and Jotham - who did “right in the sight of the LORD” as their fathers had done - but not as David had done with a perfect heart! How susceptible are we to doing what is widely accepted and venerated as “right in the sight of the LORD”, and, at last, we lose our souls! How vulnerable are we to adopt a status quo righteousness as we have been taught and instructed by our fathers (a righteousness supported by Scripture but far short of perfection), so that all our faith and practice as we know it amasses to an unpardonable violation of the Doctrine of Perfection before the Judgment Seat of Christ (2 Cor. 5:9-11).

Did not our Lord say, “And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasure of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection” (Lk. 8:14)? Here, in this text, a “perfect repentance” is exactly what God is expecting and demanding; and, because John the Baptist understood this doctrine he commanded the 1st century Jews, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father…” (Lk. 3:8). If John the Baptist were here today he would preach this to the Christians of this century. The only difference is, Christians don’t say, “We have Abraham to our father”, rather they say, “We have God as our Father and we are eternally secure”. This statement may be true, notwithstanding Christ was burdened for the perfection of God’s children when He said, “Be watchful, and strength the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect before God” (Rev. 3:2)! Here, in this text, a "perfect repentance" is God’s expectation, and without it Christ warned that He would blot their name out of the Book of Life (Rev. 3:5)! What does this mean? The text is very clear: without perfection, Christ told the saints that they were eternally insecure (blamable, unholy, unsanctified, & spotted).

Without a working knowledge of biblical Church History, we are bound to believe whatever is purported as extra-biblical Church History. While unacquainted with what God thinks, we will comply with whatever man thinks about God even if it isn't perfect. This is dangerous. What's more important? ...what men say about the stalwarts of Church History, or what God says about the heroes of biblical Church History? Should we aspire to learn more about Calvin or Wesley, both of whom taught many right things, while abiding ignorant of the perfect things of Holy Scripture? You be the judge.

"...let God be true, but every man a liar" - Romans 3:4

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Wiser than the Ancients

Until the Iniquity is Full | 2,000 Years of Church History

When the "GOOD" is Short of "PERFECTION"

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