Study 64

Perfection – not yet

Once Paul had established the essential basis on new covenant life empowered by the Spirit, he was quick to give instructions and commands to the young churches he’d formed. The secret of their success lay in the new infusion of life that they’d enjoyed. They were essentially people of the Spirit. The promised day of outpouring had come but the prefect hadn’t yet arrived (1 Cor. 13:10).

Commandments?

We don’t live in an ideal society but have to wait for the new glorified earth and bodies that we’ve been promised. We have this treasure in jars of clay (2 Cor. 4:7) and battle with the world, the flesh and the devil. So, since we still live in imperfect conditions, we need instructions, exhortations and even commandments from the apostles. You might argue, ‘What do you mean by commandments? Surely we’re under grace. Don’t commandments place us back under law?’ Definitely not!

All New Testament commandments spring from a basis of grace and are the outworking of our new life in Christ. It’s ‘in view of God’s mercy’ that Paul exhorts us ‘offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God which is your spiritual worship’. Do not conform any longer to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will’ (Rom. 12:1,2). We don’t instantaneously understand what pleases God. Our thinking must be renewed and informed by truth so that we can comprehend and respond appropriately.

Exhortations

Exhortations and appeals always follow on from declarations of truth about our new identity in Christ. We respond wholeheartedly to them because of what God has done in us by his Spirit. Evidently Paul didn’t believe that exhorting believers contradicted the reality of the Spirit in their lives or put them back under law.

When Paul noted one particular sin in the Corinthian church, he could easily have quoted the law to them: ‘Don’t you know the seventh commandment – you shall not commit adultery’? ‘But instead, he said, ‘Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ … that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit?’ (1 Cor 6:15,19). In New Covenant terms a God-given law hadn’t been broken; his temple or dwelling place had been desecrated. How can someone who is one spirit with Christ become one flesh with a prostitute (see 1 Cor. 6:15-17)?

Paul points out that all the commandments of the law can be summed up in this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself’ (Rom. 13:9). Love is at the root of all his instruction, but he doesn’t just tell us, ‘be loving’. He needs to be more specific because we can easily deceive ourselves about what true love looks like. Particular commands give shape and substance to the call to love. The imperative: ‘be filled with the Spirit’ (Eph. 5:18) is followed by clear instructions on submission and sacrifice on the part of wives and husbands (Eph. 5:22-28).

Believers can keep what is commanded only through the work of the Spirit. We can’t say, ‘I’m under grace and don’t need commands and exhortations’. The Spirit-filled life isn’t quenched by commands; it’s compatible with them. There will come a time when all that defiles – the world, the flesh and the devil – will be destroyed. Then there will be no need for exhortation. But until perfection comes we’ll need it and mustn’t fear it or view it as legalism.

To Meditate On

It’s important to allow the Spirit to direct us.

‘If you are led by the Spirit, you are not under law’ (Gal. 5:18).

‘But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control’ (Gal. 5:22).

‘Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit’ (Gal. 5:25).

Food For Thought

Read the following verses and consider how Jesus loved people and exhorted them by grace rather than law.

Matthew 7:12; 12:12; 22:37-40; Mark 2:11,12; 10:21; John 4:18; 8:11.

To Consider

Paul wanted the early believers to walk worthy of their calling but not to return to Old Testament laws (e.g. circumcision). Note his reaction to this subject in Acts 15:1,2 and 1 Corinthians 7:19.

Read Philippians 3:2,3 and note how Paul reserves his harshest criticism for the circumcision party and rejects any confidence in the flesh.

To Pray

Read Philippians 1:9,10.

Notice that Paul didn’t impose a set of rules on the Philippians. Rather, he simply prayed that they might pursue ‘what is best’.

Pray that God will help you to discern ‘what is best’.

To Be Inspired

“Life in the Spirit cannot be reduced to autopilot or cruise control and although the believers in Galatia received the Spirit by faith, Paul is concerned that they may depart from their first steps (Gal. 3:1-3). Apparently, believers need admonitions to live by the Spirit.’

Thomas R Schreiner, Paul, Apostle of God’s Glory in Christ, IVP, 2001.