Dictionaries tell us definitions like:

Precisely accurate or exact.

Without defect or blemish.

Having all the required or desirable elements or qualities.

As good as it is possible to be.

In short, perfect is perfect. It means exactly what we sense it to be. This is neither good nor bad. It is just a statement of facts, a definition of a word.

The Bible uses the word, perfect, in the same way. There are several Hebrew and Greek words which translate into the English word, perfect. The following are from Strong’s Concordance.

tamiym—entire (literally, figuratively or morally); also (as noun) integrity, truth: - without blemish, complete, full, perfect, sincerely, sound, without spot, undefiled, upright, whole.

shalem—complete (literally or figuratively); especially friendly; full, just, made ready, peaceable, perfect, quiet, whole. [do not mistake this word with Salem, which means peace]

tam—complete; usually (morally) pious; specifically gentle, dear; coupled together, perfect, plain, undefiled, upright.

tamam—to complete, in a good or a bad sense, literally or figuratively; accomplish, cease, be clean, consume, have done, (come to an, make an) end, fail, come to the full, be all gone.

kaliyl—complete; as noun, the whole (specifically a sacrifice entirely consumed); as adverb fully: - all, every whit, flame, perfect, utterly, whole burnt offering (sacrifice), wholly.

teleios—complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness: - of full age, man, perfect.

katartizo—to complete thoroughly, that is, repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust: - fit, frame, mend, make perfect, prepare, restore.

We can sum up the dictionaries and the Bible in this: 100%. Perfect means 100%.

Some theologians claim “perfect” means “mature.” They then stretch this to mean, “mostly." But 99% is not 100%.

Let’s not try to solve our problem of perfectionism by changing the root meaning of the word. The emotional and spiritual problem will still remain for a new generation to invent a new word to describe the same old problem.

Perfect is perfect. There is nothing wrong that. Now we understand (perfectly?!) what we are talking about.

I have encountered people who are widely regarded as obviously healthy. They aim for perfection and do the best they can with the time, money, and resources they have. They learn from their mistakes and they learn to ask for more help when needed. The next time around, they try to do better. Meanwhile, they go home from work and enjoy being with their families, eating, sleeping, recreating, and all the other stuff of life. They don’t obsess.

Other people I have encountered are more of the all-or-nothing type. 99% is not good enough and, in their mind, it is about as bad as 1%, or even 0%. These highly anxious and easily depressed people are the type we usually label as extreme perfectionists. And this unhealthy type is the common view of perfectionism. Therefore, this negative connotation is what I will stick with for the remainder of this presentation.

A few quotes from Psychology Today will explain this point.

What makes extreme perfectionism so toxic is that while those in its grip desire success, they are most focused on avoiding failure, resulting in a negative orientation. They don’t believe in unconditional love, expecting others’ affection and approval to be dependent on a flawless performance....

Perfectionists set unrealistically high expectations for themselves and others. They are quick to find fault and overly critical of mistakes. They tend to procrastinate a project out of their fear of failure. They shrug off compliments and forget to celebrate their success. Instead, they look to specific people in their life for approval and validation....

Maladaptive perfectionism is often driven by fear of failure, feelings of unworthiness, low self-esteem, and adverse childhood experiences. It is frequently accompanied by depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, eating disorders, and even suicidal impulses.

To summarize our progress so far, perfect is 100%. Perfectionism is unhealthy obsession with being 100% in some area(s) of life to the neglect of other areas.

I am differentiating character from personality. In your research you will discover this is not always the case, so I am just making my usage clear. The character is the moral part of a person, while the personality is the physical, emotional, and intellectual style, talents, quirks, and gifts. The character chooses to be selfish or unselfish. The personality determines the style in which that decision is carried out.

At any given moment, in any given situation, we make a choice based on faith, hope, and love. We decide something because of what we believe, who we trust, what we hope to gain, and what we value. These decisions can be positive or negative, creative or destructive, helpful or hurtful. Our spiritual character is our spiritual attitude and motivation right now.

Our character is also our record of moral integrity, or lack of it, over time. For example, a typically honest person acts out of character when she steals something for the first time. Also, a complainer is in character when he complains for the one thousandth time.

Since character can be positive or negative, there are two types of perfect character: always positive or always negative. When we don’t specify, we imply the positive, which implies God. So a perfect character is a character that chooses to do God’s will.

Again, we can look at the person’s character in the situation and say God’s will was perfectly done. We can also look over time and say a person always does God’s will. In both situations, the person demonstrated perfect character.

But what if the person does not perfectly know God’s will. In other words, they perfectly obeyed a partial understanding of God’s will. An example of this is Noah, “a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) This text explicitly modifies “perfect” with “in his generations.” Noah obeyed all that he knew but he did not know all. He lived up to the light that he had.

Moses told the people to avoid the heathen abominations and to “be perfect with the LORD your God.” (Deuteronomy 18:13) Yet, at the same time, God let them have multiple wives for the hardness of their hearts. (see Matthew 19:8) The people were required to have conscious perfection of character. They were to live up to all of God’s known requirements.

Another example is Job, who “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1) Did Job avoid all evil or just evil known to him? We are not explicitly told, yet there is no qualifier.

“The path of the just is as the shining light, that shines more and more unto the perfect day.” (Proverbs 4:18) The new Christian is perfect in a childlike sense, then grows in understanding to become a perfectly mature Christian.

That is just like the parable Jesus told, “The earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear.” (Mark 4:28) The perfect seed becomes a perfect shoot, then a perfect plant, then finally produces perfect fruit.

These combinations of partial and complete, positive and negative characters are all in the prophecy of Christ’s return. “And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in your sickle, and reap: for the time is come for you to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe. And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped. And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle. And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in your sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe. And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.” (Revelation 14:15-19)

The saints have perfectly grown into perfectly ripe good fruit, while the wicked have perfectly grown into perfectly ripe evil fruit.

If every sin can be forgiven, then every sin can be overcome. God does not forgive sins we hold onto. Just ask Achan who hid forbidden riches under his tent. Or ask Esau who would not repent of selling his birthright. (Joshua 7; Hebrews 12:17) God is not a “hard man” reaping where He has not sown nor gathering where He has not strawed. (Matthew 25:26)

The converted Christian starts in perfection and ends in perfection, for Christ is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The wholehearted Christian is “complete in Him,” and “risen with Christ.” Therefore, “you are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God." (Colossians 2:10; 3:2-3)

Paul said, “I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ lives in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.” (Galatians 2:20) When Christ lives in the heart, only the fruits of Christ will be seen.

“Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. And you know that he was revealed to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whoever abides in him sins not: whoever sins has not seen him, neither known him. Little children, let no man deceive you: he that does righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was revealed, that he might destroy the works of the devil. Whoever is born of God does not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.” (1 John 3:4-9)

The law of love is the law of life is the law of Christ. At any and every moment that the Christian is living knowingly in Christ then the Christian will not knowingly sin. No one can serve two masters at the same time. When we look unto Jesus, every weight is laid aside and the sin that so easily besets us is left behind.

For the Christian to sin, she must make a conscious or unconscious decision to turn from Christ. Only then can sin enter. The unconverted sin naturally.

“If we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin.” (1 John 1:7) To be cleansed from all sin is to be perfect, as we will see in more detail later.

But we have emphasized beginning perfection so far. What about full, sinless perfection of character?

Jesus said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That you may be the children of your Father which is in heaven. Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:44-48) Through Christ and in Christ, we may be perfect in love. We cannot be perfect in infinity or creative power like the Father. We cannot be perfect in and of ourselves like He is, but “what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4)

Whatever God does is perfect. Whatever He does in us and through us is perfect.

This is the experience of the 144,000 “which were redeemed from the earth. These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb where ever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:3-5)

“Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?” (Proverbs 20:9) Obviously, I cannot cleanse my own heart, but the proverb is saying more than that. How can I say that my sin is fully conquered and that it will never rise up again? I only know what I know. I cannot know what I do not know, and what I do not know is my subconscious. I do not know what still remains lurking in the recesses of my heart, for it is desperately wicked and I cannot know it.

Therefore, “I judge not my own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not by this justified: but he that judges me is the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 4:3-4)

I cannot declare myself pure, righteous, finished with sin, fully repentant, or anything like that. But the Lord can.

“Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3)

At the Last Supper, Peter thought Jesus should not wash his feet at all. When Jesus told him the mistake he was making, then Peter asked to be fully bathed. Jesus replied that at that time only his feet needed washing to be clean. We, like Peter, tend to undershoot and overshoot. We think we are fine, then we think we are hopeless. Our solution is to listen to Christ.

If Jesus declares me clean and pure from my sin, then I am clean and pure from my sin. I am forgiven. I am set right. I am fully focused on Him. And if I am looking unto Jesus then I am not looking unto me to see how clean or dirty I am. I trust Christ’s judgment, not my own.

To take my eyes off Christ is sin and leads to more sin. To sit in judgment on myself is to push Jesus off the throne so that I may engage in self-justification. I look to Christ alone, not myself or anyone else, for approval, self-esteem, forgiveness, and cleansing.

Do not confuse this with proper self examination. I look at my choices and will right now to see if I am in harmony with Christ right now. I do not examine myself to declare myself righteous and finished with sin.

“Examine yourselves, whether you be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know you not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except you be reprobates?” (2 Corinthians 13:5-6)

I am either in the faith or I am a reprobate. If I am in the faith, I am in Christ and looking to Christ. I check my mind’s eye constantly to see that it is focusing properly on Christ. This is just like a camera. I look through it to see if it is in focus. I do not look at it. When I look at the camera I do not see anything good. I must look through the lens at that which is good, then I will see good. This is what Paul is saying in Romans 7.

“For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. For that which I do I allow not: for what I would, that do I not; but what I hate, that do I. If then I do that which I would not, I consent unto the law that it is good. Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. For the good that I would, I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwells in me. I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me. For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.” (Romans 7:14-25)

When I look at my body, my brain, my memories, my broken promises, my weak will, my lustful tendencies, my selfish habits, all I see is sin and failure and evil. Whether or not I am a converted Christian, as long as I walk this earth in mortal flesh that is all I will see. But praise God, when I roll up the blinds and open the windows of my mind, then I see Jesus and the light of the Son comes shining in.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore your eye be single, your whole body shall be full of light.” (Matthew 6:21-22)

The body is an earthen vessel made of dirt, but it is capable of being filled with the glory of God.

“This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.” (1 John 1:5-10)

Until this mortal puts on immortality, I can never say I have no dirt in my house, no sin in my body. My body is always ready to rise up and close the windows and begin the wild party of sin. I can never rest in self-assurance or pride or laziness. The wind of temptation is always trying to blow the doors and windows shut, but I will stay at my post and keeping looking through and up and into the face of Jesus Christ.

If and when I ever achieve unbreakable faith, unconquerable hope, and unceasing love, that is for Him to determine. Now, right now, I will focus perfectly and more perfectly on Him. I will do all that I know. That will enable Him to make just as perfect as He wants me to be. While the sun is shining, He is cleaning. God can do many things at once. I will look only to the Son.

Stay in school.

These three words can be boiled down to one.

Learn.

Learn of Christ. Follow Christ. Listen to Christ. Surrender to Christ. Let Christ, not self, be your teacher. You can afford to be meek and give up everything, because you will inherit the earth.

When a student fails a test or messes up their homework, the school does not kick them out. So the student should not quit the school!

It is the same way with the school of Christ. Read the gospels and look at how many mistakes and misconceptions and weaknesses the disciples had. Jesus bore long with all of them, even Judas right up to his end.

What Jesus want? Your perfection? You don’t even know what is perfect to give it to Him!

Give God your sincerity. Give Him your whole heart. Give Him your willingness and earnestness to learn. It may not be much in the beginning. It may only be the size of a mustard seed, but let God grow it in you. Do God’s will as best as you understand it.

God knows what you know and He knows what you don’t know. He will teach you all things in due time. He has many things to tell you but you cannot bear them all now. So stop trying to give infinity to the infinite God. He will speed you up and He will slow you down according to what He knows is best.

Let Him be God. Let Him be your Father. You be His child. You be His sincere, humble, learning child.

“You are the temple of the living God; as God has said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be you separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you. And will be a Father unto you, and you shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty.” (2 Corinthians 6:16-18)

None of us have a perfect idea of perfection, but each of us knows if there is an unclean thing in our life. Go to your Father. Give it to Him. Then sit at His feet and be His son or daughter.

Read all of Isaiah 55. Read it over and over until the glorious, freeing truth sinks in.

“Ho, every one that thirsts come you to the waters, and he that has no money; come you buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do you spend money for that which is not bread? and your labor for that which satisfies not? listen diligently unto me, and eat you that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David. Behold, I have given him for a witness to the people, a leader and commander to the people. Behold, you shall call a nation that you know not, and nations that knew not you shall run unto you because of the LORD your God, and for the Holy One of Israel; for he has glorified you. Seek you the LORD while he may be found, call you upon him while he is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, says the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven, and returns not there but waters the earth, and makes it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be that goes forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing to which I sent it. For you shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” (Isaiah 55:1-13)

Most people hear of only one seal, but there are actually two. The first seal is placed on the new Christian. God claims her as His own. The second seal is placed on the fully mature servant to show that the image of God is perfectly reflected. The first represents justification. The second represents sanctification.

Really, there is only one seal that becomes more and more permanent. The Christian settles more and more deeply into Christ until he cannot be moved.

“Now he which establishes us with you in Christ, and has anointed us, is God; Who has also sealed us, and given the earnest of the Spirit in our hearts.” (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

In spite of all manner of unconscious sins and wrestling with bad habits, the converted believer is in Christ and God is “well pleased” with all that is in Christ. Therefore, the baby Christian belongs to the Father.

“And I saw another angel ascending from the east, having the seal of the living God: and he cried with a loud voice to the four angels, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea, Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, until we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed a hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.” (Revelation 7:2-4)

Here we see the seal applied, not to the new believer, but to the servants of God—veteran Christians. They are sealed so that they can be protected in the great tribulation.

“And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him a hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.... These are they which were not defiled with women; for they are virgins. These are they which follow the Lamb where ever he goes. These were redeemed from among men, being the firstfruits unto God and to the Lamb. And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” (Revelation 14:1-5)

The 144,000 are sealed with the Father’s name. They are pure and undefiled. They do not stray from following the Lamb. They have no guile, no untruths in their mouths, “for they are without fault."

“If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2)

The final phase of the seal of God declares the perfect fruit of Christ’s righteousness in the life. The first phase declares that the sinner has sunk his roots into Christ and the growth process has begun. From first to last and beyond, the Christian lives the endless life of Christ.

“And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, do you not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? And white robes were given unto every one of them; and it was said unto them, that they should rest yet for a little season, until their fellowservants also and their brethren, that should be killed as they were, should be fulfilled.” (Revelation 6:9-11)

In figure, the dead martyrs are given white robes, but in the very next chapter the saints are apparently given dirty robes.

“These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.” (Revelation 7:14)

On the surface, it would appear that there are two different standards for two different kinds of saints. However, there is really only one robe with two different phases.

The new believer is given a white robe, which shows perfect forgiveness and justification. However, “a just man falls seven times and rises up again.” (Proverbs 24:16) In fact, a converted Christian falls seventy times seven and gets up yet again. A converted Christian can be deceived and through weakness fall into the dirt of sin. This gets the robe dirty. Then the Lord washes the robe and sets the believer back on the path. This is just like Jesus washing the feet of the disciples. “He that is washed need not save to wash his feet, but is clean every bit and you are clean." (John 13:10)

By repentance and faith, repentance and faith, the Christian learns to keep his white robe perfectly clean and white.

Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole.

I want you forever to live in my soul.

Break down every idol, cast out every foe.

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

“And one of the criminals which were hanged railed on him, saying, If you be Christ, save yourself and us. But the other answering rebuked him, saying, Do not you fear God, seeing you are in the same condemnation? And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man has done nothing amiss. And he said unto Jesus, Lord, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And Jesus said unto him, Truly I say unto you today, you shall be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23:39-43)

There is so much implied in this short, Reader’s Digest version of the story. Yet, all the ingredients are here.

The thief was clearly convicted of sin and repentant. He clearly committed Himself to obey Jesus by calling Him Lord of the heavenly kingdom. He was making an eternal commitment. And Jesus promised Him eternal life in return.

The Savior didn’t say, “Follow me.” He did not say, “Your faith has made you whole.” He said those words to many people. He also did not tell the thief, “Your sins be forgiven,” like He told the paralytic. However, He told the thief all those things and more when He said, "You shall be with Me in Paradise."

Nailed to cross only hours or days from death, the thief was unable to follow through on his repentance. He was literally unable to follow Jesus. The only thing the dying thief could do was accept Christ’s forgiveness, believe His promise, and rest in His love. This is how every eternal life begins.

We do not work ourselves into it step by step, repentance by repentance. We repent of everything we know. We repent of self. We put self into the hands of Christ. He washes us with His forgiveness. Cleanses us with His grace. Fills us with His everlasting life. Then we go to work taking care of things in the past that can be dealt with.

Eternal life comes to us by the promise and grace of God. Then out of that richness we pay past debts. Like Zaccheus we may restore double, triple, or fourfold to those we defrauded. We may only be able to say, I’m sorry. We might need to dedicate our life to taking care of the victims we made. Whatever we may or may not be able to do about our past sins and crimes, it comes out of the heart pre-filled with God’s forgiveness.

Forgiveness both starts and completes the process of reconciliation.

Now look again at the thief on the cross. How much money was he able to return? How many valuable items was he able to give back? Clearly, none. Yet, he was forgiven.

Eternal life starts with forgiveness. Forgiveness then prompts and guides restoration. It may takes years to fully address past sins. Yet, all during that time God’s eternal forgiveness comforts, uplifts, and rejoices the heart of the sinner. We redeem the time as much as possible and as God guides us.

The victims we hurt may not be ready to hear our apologies or to feel our deep regret. We do not want to force our need of reconciliation on them and cause them pain a second time.

We accept God’s full forgiveness, then we reconcile a little bit at a time. Is it fair? In one way, no. But that is grace.

Are you at the end of your life looking back and you see very little good and you see very little time to fix all the damage you made? Do you feel like you have robbed God of years of service? At least give Him your heart now before it is forever too late.

Lord Jesus, look down from your throne in the skies.

And help me to make a complete sacrifice.

I give up myself, and whatever I know.

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

“And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecute you me? And he said, Who are you Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom you persecute; it is hard for you to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what will you have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told you what you must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink.” (Acts 9:1-9)

Was Saul washed or scoured? Was he bathed with silk cloths or was he scrubbed with steel wool? Those three dark days must have been brutal, but it was not because God was brutal. Jesus revealed the truth about Himself and the persecutor’s conscience had to wrestle with stark, conflicting contrasts.

Jesus knew that Saul was thorough and full-speed-ahead in whatever he did. Jesus knew that Saul would be satisfied with nothing less than immediate and 100% turn around. Three days of sightlessness was what Saul required.

Paul emerged clean and ready for baptism. He had an entirely new vision of life, God, and Scripture. He gave up himself. He unlearned all that he knew. He was no longer God’s bulldog, but his Father’s child.

The murder missionary was transformed into the chief of sinners and he grew into the chief of sufferers. It

“...in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Three times was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, three times I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which comes upon me daily, the care of all the churches.” (2 Corinthians 11:23-28)

After sacrificing others, Paul made himself a complete sacrifice.

It seems to be a consistent principle that those who farthest from Christ, those who fight hardest against God, upon conversion are the most intense missionaries and closest to God. Paul is a great example for all those who have committed great crimes and atrocities.

Have you rebelled against the Spirit of God? Have you been so filled with anger and rage that you can’t see God or people straight? Are you so confident in your righteousness that hurting people looks like you are helping them? Please get down off your horse and ask Jesus what He would have you do. The first request will likely be, Hold still and let Me scrub you.

Lord Jesus, for this I most humbly entreat.

I wait, blessed Lord, at your crucified feet,

By faith, for my cleansing, I see your blood flow.

Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

 

Mary Magdalene was probably the person most recorded at Jesus‘ feet.

“And [Martha] had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus‘ feet, and heard his word.” (Luke 10:39)

“Then when Mary was come where Jesus was, and saw him, she fell down at his feet, saying unto him, Lord, if you had been here, my brother had not died.” (John 11:32)

“Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odor of the ointment.” (John 12:3)

This next verse does not specifically say Mary kneeled, but most likely she clung to Christ’s feet and wanted to delay Him. Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” (John 20:17, NIV)

Now Mary Magdalene was the one “out of whom He had cast seven devils.” (Mark 16:9) It is not hard to see her cast herself at Jesus‘ feet after she was freed.

Oh what cleanliness she must have felt after being infected by demons! After all the defiling things she had committed while under possession, she must have felt like a newborn baby after being redeemed by the Savior!

How interesting it would be to be back there in time and listen to her tell the story. To describe her darkness, she would probably use words like: oppressed, caged, controlled, depraved, depressed, hatred, unworthy, isolated.

After Jesus freed her, she might have used words like: light, clean, ecstatic, fresh, loved, purity, grateful, wonderful.

Of all the followers of Christ at the time, she seems to be the first one to begin understanding His impending sacrifice. When she washed Jesus‘ feet, she somehow sensed that cleansing blood would be flowing from His soon to be crucified feet. Already, she had experienced the cleansing that made her soul whiter than snow.

Are you like Mary, fallen into sin, degraded from your true nobility? Are you addicted to substances, anger, lust, prejudice, gossiping, or any other sin public or private? If you feel the weight of seven demons on your back, then fall at Jesus‘ feet and let Him remove them and restore you!

Lord Jesus You blessed me, because I did wait.

You touched me and in me a new heart create.

Your own hands have cleansed me. You didn’t say No.

You’ve washed me and now I am whiter than snow

 

This song is based on Psalm 51. David wrote it after he committed adultery with Bathsheba, then had her husband killed in an effort to cover up his sin. If ever a person needed to be cleansed and restored, it was David.

“Have mercy upon me, O God, according to your lovingkindness:

according unto the multitude of your tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me.“

For a while, David was succeeding with his secret sin, but then God sent Nathan, a prophet, to get the king to publicly confess. Imagine the humiliation! Now all David can see is the blackness of his sin. He pleads with God for cleansing, for relief from the heavy weight of his guilt.

“Against you you only, have I sinned, and done this evil in your sight:

that you might be justified when you speak and be clear when you judge.

Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.“

David hurt Bathsheba and her husband, but the law he broke was God’s. He acknowledges the goodness of that law and confesses that the sin was his fault, not God’s. Rather than follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit, the king yielded to the cravings of his carnal nature, inherited by every generation of fallen humanity.

“Behold, you desire truth in the inward parts:

and in the hidden part you shall make me to know wisdom.“

Though we all have a fallen nature, prone to selfishness, the Spirit is always communicating to our inmost soul what is right and good and wise. This always gives us an option to choose something better. This always gives us access to infinite power to overcome the clammerings of our mortal flesh.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean:

wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

Make me to hear joy and gladness,

that the bones which you have broken may rejoice.“

How can a devious adulterer and murderer be restored to innocence? How can a sinner who has lived their whole life in the darkness of stubborn transgression be as a little child once more? Only by the miraculous providence of God that leads us through trials custom made for us, then greets us on the other side with the water of grace and cleansing.

The sinner often thinks that God is against him, fighting him, hurting him, but the healing Hand is trying to slow him down, capture his heart, and give him the needed bath. The spiritual criminal looks at everything all wrong and breaks himself fighting against the mercy of God. But once the battle is over, as soon as the heart is submitted to the cleansing process, the anger, fear, and guilt are turned to joy and gladness!

“Hide your face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.

Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.“

God’s face is no longer focused on the sin once the sinner gives up the sin. God takes it out of the heart and throws it behind Him. Now the Spirit can dwell in the heart, cleanse it by His presence, and restore it to health.

“Cast me not away from your presence; and take not your holy spirit from me.

Restore unto me the joy of your salvation; and uphold me with your free spirit.

Then will I teach transgressors your ways; and sinners shall be converted unto you.“

There is nothing like the experience of confession, repentance, and cleansing to restore confidence in the soul. Knowing and feeling the transforming grace of Christ, the sinner is impelled and empowered to tell others of that inner change. Humiliation is converted into humbleness, and humbleness leads the child of God to kneel next to other sinners and point them upward to the Savior.

“Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, you God of my salvation:

and my tongue shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

O Lord, open my lips and my mouth shall show forth your praise.“

The miracle of healing! The blessedness of cleansing! By it, anger and guilt are transformed into praise. Problems are solved. Sinners become saints.

“For you desire not sacrifice; else would I give it.

You delight not in burnt offering.

The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit:

a broken and a contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.“

No amount of money, no amount of effort, no amount of heroic deeds can make up for the sins we have committed. Each of our sins, no matter how great or small, breaks the universe, breaks God. The only remedy is for us to break down and let God fix and cleanse us and set us right. There is no solution for our sins except to be bathed in the blood of the broken body of Christ.

“Do good in your good pleasure unto Zion: build you the walls of Jerusalem.

Then shall you be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness,

with burnt offering and whole burnt offering:

then shall they offer bullocks upon your altar.“

The church will be a powerful, positive example in the world only when its members trust wholly in the merits of Christ. When the church stops merely professing, and actually starts believing, in the Savior’s sacrifice then we will see sinners converted like never before.