PRESSING ON TO PERFECTION

“Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us GO ON TO PERFECTION” – Hebrews 6:1a

One way to show gratitude to God who has seen us thus far in this unique year, is by PRESSING ON TO PERFECTION: “Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us GO ON TO PERFECTION, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God” (Heb.6:1). The Amplified Bible says: “Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God.”

Let us recall our monthly Prophetic Themes in this Year of DIVINE PERFECTIONS:

January – Multi-dimensional Divine Perfections

February – Perfection of Praise

March – Perfections of Purpose and Vision

April – Perfections of Faith and Victory

May – Perfections of Light

June – Walking in Perfection

July – Perfection of Divine Promises

August – Perfection of Divine Covenant

September – Perfections of Divine Identity

October – Perfection of Divine Order

November – Perfections of Health and Well-being

Hebrews was written to Jewish Christians who were being persecuted, experiencing slow growth, fear of the world, a lack of confidence, or simple apathy. Verses 1–3 is the answer to the problem posed at the end of chapter 5 – the challenge of the spiritually immature.  The author resolved to press on rather than try to re-establish the basics of the faith. The passage expands on the dangers of a shallow, immature faith which opens up the risks of doubt, discouragement, and disobedience. Since our hope is anchored in the proven, unchanging, perfect, absolute nature of God, we should be confident and patient, and not be fearful. We are to “imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises” (v.12).

The reference to "dead works" describes merely following rules and rituals that cannot save. We are to press on to perfection! The word ‘Perfection’ comes from the ancient Greek word teleiotes, which is much better understood as “maturity.” This does not imply complete knowledge, but we can and should reach a place of maturity in Jesus; hence, the plain call: Let Us Go On to Perfection! The Law was not meant to be the ultimate measure of faith; but to point us to Christ (Gal. 3:24). “Sitting still” is not God’s purpose for a Christian. Our faith is either growing, or it is dying.

Paul presents his example in Philippians 3:9-12. He was a zealous Pharisee who did not know Christ until the Damascus Road encounter (Acts 9: 1-19). He then began a totally new race in which he discovered that the sufferings he had to endure were not worthy to be compared to laying hold of the everlasting glory in Christ. He kept this heavenly vision to the last days of his life, and wrote: “…but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus” (Phil.3:13-14).

God wants us to “GO ON” – to move beyond the rudimentary teachings about Christ, to move on to MATURITY; and advance to higher states of knowledge and holiness. We’ve lingered long enough at the peripheries of glory. Jesus pressed into perfection: “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the captain of their salvation PERFECT through sufferings” (Heb.2:10). God is ever ready by the power of His Spirit, to carry us forward to higher degrees of light, life, and love, necessary to prepare us for eternal weights of glory.

As the Mercy and Grace of God continue to cover us and His Favour continues to surround us, we can press into perfection in all aspects of life and all dimensions of destiny, all to the Praise and Glory of our Perfect Father!