Perfect or Reprobate

CHAPTER TWO

I have found my plight in the preaching of this gospel to be very similar in some ways as that of the apostle Paul. This became very clear to me as I read his second letter to the church at Corinth.

2 Corinthians 13:1

This is the third time I am coming to you. In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word be established.

This is the fifth year wherein major conferences are devoted to ministering the doctrine of perfection. However, recently the Lord has informed us that we have only a small window of opportunity left in which to evangelize the world. Time is quickly winding down. It is certain the Lord is about to exalt truth. He has declared, His sheep will hear His voice and another they will not follow. The sheep are listening for the voice of their true shepherd. Therefore we must quickly and thoroughly examine ourselves as to whether we are really walking in the faith.

2 Corinthians 13:2

I told you before, and foretell you, as if I were present, the second time; and being absent now I write to them which heretofore have sinned, and to all other, that, if I come again, I will not spare:

The Word came and found its targets. This Word has been established in the lives of those who have thoroughly embraced it. Nevertheless, even as it was in the days of the Corinthians, so it is today. Many, who have had the privilege of hearing the truth, have also rejected it and have chosen to go their own way.

This choice translates into sin. Yes many of us have sinned after knowing the truth and after knowing that a walk of perfection or sinlessness is quite achievable. We have no excuses and can only hope that we be found among those who have received great mercy and consideration in the Lord’s desire to give us another chance to glorify His name. But mind you, with or without us, it will be glorified on the earth by the true church.

It is certain some of us may not get this chance again. Therefore, let us accept this present chastening and proceed to walk in the knowledge we have received.

2 Corinthians 13:3-4

3 Since ye seek a proof of Christ speaking in me, which to you-ward is not weak, but is mighty in you.

4 For though he was crucified through weakness, yet he liveth by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but we shall live with him by the power of God toward you.

The general message here is that “as He is, so are we in this world today.” The same power God rendered unto Christ has been rendered unto us. We are the off-spring of the Father even as Christ is. We have the same opportunity as He had. We are able to walk in obedience to the will of the Father just as He did.

Philippians 2:8-9

8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

We are able to achieve the same testimony. However, to do so, requires humiliation of the flesh which simply means a denial of self.

This is where we get off the boat.

Many are not willing to suffer humiliation, but instead despise the weakness and proceed to take the charge of their life into their own hands. This the Father will allow, simply because He would never force us to obey Him. Your obedience must be a result of your submission to His will and way.

2 Corinthians 13:5

Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

We must not take this instruction lightly. But in examining ourselves, it must be according to the oracles of God and the standards set by our Lord, Jesus Christ. We will discuss the matter of self-examination in another chapter.

2 Corinthians 13:6

But I trust that ye shall know that we are not reprobates.

This word reprobate refers to someone who is considered condemned or cast away by God due to immorality and sin. Paul instructed the church to examine itself according to the Word and the workings of the Spirit; to see if they were walking in the faith. This implies that it is possible for a son of God to depart from the faith and walk totally contrary to the Spirit, fulfilling all the sinful desires of the heart.

It is also possible for one who departs from righteousness to become insensitive and without feeling for the needs or sufferings of others. Pride, lust and greed will lead to this place of degradation. Peter is very specific in his rendering of this mindset.

2 Peter 1:9-10

9 But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins

10 Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

It is possible for a son of God to act as if he was never saved. It is also possible for him to go to a place of no return. He shall fall and not get up. He shall be judged by God and cast away as unfit for the Kingdom of God.

It is not fruitful to wallow in sin. It is more expedient to repent quickly and beg for mercy. Otherwise you could end up a tongue talking, hand clapping candidate for hell.

2 Corinthians 13:7

Now I pray to God that ye do no evil; not that we should appear approved, but that ye should do that which is honest, though we be as reprobates.

Now these two verses really put things in perspective. So much for saints falling away because leaders fall; this is totally unacceptable to God. Paul warns this Church to walk in honesty, maintaining righteousness even if he and the other leaders working with him should fall and become as reprobates.

2 Corinthians 13:8

For we can do nothing against the truth, but for the truth.

The truth in the Word is more powerful in us than our observation of another’s failed walk. Salvation and the influence of the Word is a personal experience that is greater than anything happening in the world. The truth is able to keep all who desire to be kept holy and righteous before God. Your salvation is not dependent upon the deeds or misdeeds of men.

2 Corinthians 13:9

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

We do not despise the mandate to keep our body under and to walk in the humility of the Spirit in spite of the attacks of the enemy. We have learned that when we are weak in the flesh we are strong in the Spirit and able to present ourselves as living epistles of Christ. This is for your edification and strength. We live as such that you might be perfect in your walk.

2 Corinthians 13:10-11

10 Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction.

11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

The walk in God is a walk of constant submission to the will of the Father. In order for the glory that was in the face of Christ to shine in our countenance, or for the power of Christ to rest upon us, we must cleave to the mind of Christ at all times. There must not be a constant need to choose righteousness. If this is the case, then that decision is most likely being made from an unrighteous standpoint.

Christ is holy and obedient. He does not have to re-think every situation. He has already by tried, tested and proven. If we walk in the Spirit, we simply will not desire to fulfill unlawful desires, for they are created by wrong thinking and a carnal mind. The mind of Christ has no such thoughts or desires and cannot create lust and wantonness.

Holiness is a state of being. It is life in the Spirit not a walk in the flesh that attempts to do spiritual things. We were made the righteousness of God. In essence our choice is to choose to manifest what we were created to be.