Aiming for Perfection
Acts & the Pauline Epistles • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Let me ask you a question what are you aiming for? No matter what we need to aim to live our lives in such a way that our lives can withstand the scrutiny of Jesus.
In the 13th chapter of 2 Corinthians Paul begins by saying that His ministry will stand the scrutiny of two or three witnesses.
Paul wants the church at Corinth—as well as us—to understand this one fact! SIN HAS NO PLACE IN OUR LIVES!
Sin has No Place in Our Lives
Sin has No Place in Our Lives
Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you—unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test.
2 Corinthians 13:5-
Examine ourselves to see if we can stand the test!
Examine ourselves to see if we can stand the test!
Examine ourselves to see if we can stand the test!
Examine ourselves to see if we can stand the test!
This is not talking about salvation (or justification), rather Paul is talking about being free from sin—or sanctification.
Every believer will fact judgment. Paul wants us to judge ourselves to see where we are in the process of life.
2 Corinthians 13:7-
Now we pray to God that you will not do anything wrong. Not that people will see that we have stood the test but that you will do what is right even though we may seem to have failed. For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth. We are glad whenever we are weak but you are strong; and our prayer is for your perfection. This is why I write these things when I am absent, that when I come I may not have to be harsh in my use of authority—the authority the Lord gave me for building you up, not for tearing you down.
Nothing wrong!
Nothing wrong!
Paul’s prayer is that during our self-examination we would find “nothing wrong!”
Some will not believe we are standing the test.
Can’t Stand Against THE Truth
Can’t Stand Against THE Truth
The truth is this—no matter how good we are, or how strong we are.
When we are weak—God makes us strong
When we are weak—God makes us strong
Paul prays for their perfection
Paul prays for their perfection
Paul wants every Christian to be perfect or complete. The Greek word translated here in the NIV as “perfection” is used only here and in verse 11.
Paul’s Final Greetings
Paul’s Final Greetings
Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
Greet one another with a holy kiss.
2 Corinthians 13:11-
Farewell
Farewell
Paul begins this section by letting the reader know we are coming to the end of the letter.
Aim for Perfection
Aim for Perfection
Let me ask you a question. What are you aiming for?
Are you aiming for good? Or are you aiming for perfection? Paul tells us we need to be aiming for perfection, or completeness.
or completeness.
Be of one mind
Be of one mind
This could be compared with .
Live in peace
Live in peace
These two together—peace, and being of one mind shows unity.
Unity comes out of God’s love and peace.
Unity comes out of God’s love and peace.
Conclusion
Conclusion
In our Christian life we need to stop settling. For far too long in our society people have settled—adequate, okay, or just enough to get by is acceptable.