Devoted to the Propagation and Defense of New Testament Christianity
VOLUME 9
October 24, 1957
NUMBER 25, PAGE 8-9a

Are Ye Now Made Perfect By The Flesh?

Jack Freeman, San Pablo, California

"Are ye so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Gal. 3:3.) In this passage, the Apostle Paul is rebuking the Galatians. We need to understand that this rebuke was not administered because the Galatians had made the wrong beginning. They, like all other Christians, had heard, believed, and obeyed the Gospel (Gal. 3:26-28.) However, since making the right beginning, they had gone about seeking perfection through the flesh, that is, through the Law of Moses. The Law of Moses was given by God, but to bind that law today is to err; for it was abolished in the death of Christ. (Eph. 25; Col. 2; Rom. 7.) Even though the Old Testament Law was given by God, man cannot please God today by keeping or attempting to keep that law. The Galatians had not become God's children by fleshly birth, neither by keeping the Old Covenant. Why then should they turn from the Truth which had made them free (Jno. 8:32), and give their attention to the Law of Moses? Why should they seek perfection in that which was no part of the Doctrine of Christ ?

All those who have obeyed the Gospel from the heart (Rom. 6:17-18) have made the right beginning. They have been added to the Church by the Lord. (Acts 2:41, 47.) However, among those who have made the right beginning, there are a number who now seek perfection through the flesh, that is, through some plan or scheme which originated in the minds of men. If the Galatians could not find perfection through a God-given law because that law had been abolished, how can we today expect to attain perfection through projects, institutions, and plans which cannot be found in the Gospel of Christ ? The honest person will admit that all things needed by man or the Church are supplied within the New Testament. (2 Tim. 3:15-17; 2 Pet. 1:3; Acts 20:20,27; 2 Cor. 9:8.)

Let us remember that the New Covenant claims perfection for itself. (Jas. 1:25; Jude 3;2 Jno. 9-11; Gal. 1:6-9.) Man is indeed foolish to turn from the Truth today in order to seek perfection in the flesh — just as foolish as were the Galatians at the time of Paul's writing. Many today, in attempting to justify institutionalism, are actually seeking perfection through the flesh. One argument ( ?) advanced in an effort to defend the plans of men has to do with component parts or constituent elements. It is evident that the author or authors of this reasoning have not considered the component parts of the Doctrine of Christ. From a study of the New Testament, we observe that one part of the Gospel of Christ presents the perfect plan of salvation to the alien sinner. Another part presents the perfect plan of worship for the New Testament Church. Another part of the Gospel of Christ presents a perfect plan of daily life for the individual Christian. Still another part of the Doctrine of Christ has to do with the perfect plan of work for the Church. We have already seen that the New Law claims perfection for itself. Thus we must conclude that each component part of the Gospel is perfect, and put together, the component parts compose the whole of the perfect law. Man can add nothing to any part of the Gospel that will increase its perfection; neither the parts or the whole can be improved by men. Let us briefly consider these various parts of the Gospel in the order just outlined.

The Perfect Plan Of Salvation

When we preach to the alien, we plead with him to turn to the perfect law. We point to the many passages which have to do with the salvation of his soul. At the same time, we do not hesitate to dogmatically affirm the perfection of the New Testament plan. We are positive and bold in our declaration that men can add nothing worthwhile to the perfect plan of salvation found in the New Testament. To seek salvation in or through any other means is to seek salvation through the flesh — through the plans of men. The mourners bench, the direct operation of the Holy Spirit, the doctrine of salvation by faith only; all these are the plans of men. Salvation is not to be found in them, for they are not a part of the perfect plan of salvation as revealed through the Apostles. We often refer to the simplicity of the perfect plan, and we are very happy when just one soul will become obedient to the Gospel of Christ.

The Perfect Plan Of Worship

Surely the majority of Christians will agree that the New Testament presents a perfect plan of worship. This is not just a safe plan, but it is the safe plan — the perfect plan of worship. There are still a few in the Church who are not satisfied with this perfect plan. They would like to have the piano, the organ, or the orchestra. Whether their lack of conviction be due to ignorance or willful rebellion, such an attitude is inexcusable. Just as surely as there is one perfect plan of salvation, so also is there but one perfect plan of worship for the Church. Even though the offering of animal sacrifices and the burning of incense were at one time a part of God's plan, such is not the case today; for the law which contained these has been abolished. In teaching men to worship Scripturally today, we refer to such passages as Jno. 4:24, Acts 2:42; Acts 20:7; 1 Cor. 14:15; Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; 1 Cor. 16; 2 Cor. 9; and many others which instruct men as to what will please God. We gladly cite Matt. 15:8-9 to show the folly of any plan of worship which originated in the mind of man. We may call attention to Rom. 10:1-3 which shows also the folly of ignorance of God's righteousness. For a person to worship God in any other way, except that recorded in the New Testament, is for that person to he guilty of seeking perfection through the plans of men. Some endeavor to worship God by the washing of feet, counting beads, burning incense, playing on the mechanical instrument, or by observing the Lord's Supper on some day other than the First day of the week. None of these are a part of the perfect plan, and should be discarded at once while there is still time to escape the clutches of vain worship. God's perfect plan of worship cannot be improved by any addition or subtraction on the part of man.

The Perfect Plan of Daily Life Man's obligation to God does not end with Baptism. At this time he becomes a new creature. (2 Cor. 5:17; Rom. 6:3-4.) Though he has received remission for the sins of the past, this within itself is no guarantee of eternal life, Many scriptures could be used to show theduty or obligations of the individual Christian. However, it will be enough in this article to call attention to two — Jas. 1:26-27 and Rev. 22:14. We must take time here to note that no man has yet invented an apparatus strong enough to drag the Church into Jas. 1:26-27. Yes, the Bible does teach that the Church has an obligation to the needy — Acts 4-5-6-11; 1 Cor. 16 — but Jas. 1:26-27 is clearly setting forth the obligation of the individual — just as clearly as Matt. 16:24. Both passages use these words "any man" and "himself." Just as surely as "any man" means any individual in Matt. 16:24, so also "any man" means any individual in Jas. 1:26. Just as certainly as "himself" refers to the individual in Matt. 16:24, so also does "himself" refer to the individual in Jas. 1:27. To the best of my knowledge, the word "himself" is never used in the Bible in reference to the Church. However, I stand to be corrected if such a passage can be produced. When the individual engages in dishonest activity; when his thoughts, words, or actions are evil; he has departed from the perfect plan for daily living. Thank God for the Gospel which serves as a lamp and a light, not only on the first day of each week, but on every other day as well! It is high time that we cease to quote the philosophers and the ancient and modern psychologists, and turn our attention to the Doctrine of Christ which provides the only perfect plan for the life of the individual.

The Perfect Plan Of Work

Now we come to consider another component part of the Gospel; the work of the Church. The perfect plan calls for the Church to preach the Gospel (Eph. 3:10-11; 1 Tim. 3:15), and to minister to the needy under certain conditions. (Acts 4-5-6-11; 1 Cor. 16; 2 Cor. 8-9.) Of course, laying by in store is an individual matter or a duty of the individual. When each individual takes care of this responsibility, the Church will then be able to carry on its work successfully without any man made institution or plan. By the word "institution" I mean any organization or body designed and established by man to do a work which the Lord demands of His Church.

In a recent article, written in a feeble attempt to justify the Church establishing and supporting institutions separate and apart from the Church, a writer asked this question; "Can the Church as the Church follow Christ, or must we get out of the Church in order to follow Christ ?" What this writer was really trying to prove was that we must get into some man made benevolent organization in order to follow Christ. When another institution is established to do the work that God gave the Church to do, we have left the Church, we are no longer following Christ or the Apostles. Some are brazen enough to claim to be following Christ and the Apostles in the establishment of those organizations which can not be found in the Bible. It is not surprising to find such men turning to the Greek philosophers or to the argument having to do with constituent elements of some man made scheme. The work of the Church is not political, recreational, medical, nor is the providing of secular education a work of the Church.

The perfect plan of work is as simple as the perfect plan of salvation or the perfect plan of daily life. From the book of Acts, together with 1st and 2nd Corinthians, we learn that a congregation cared for its own needy whenever possible. When there were more needy than one congregation could care for, another congregation or other congregations sent to the place or places in need. This is not only a safe plan — it is the safe plan — the perfect plan. These examples are just as perfect as is the example in Acts 20:7 which teaches that the Lord's Supper is to be observed on the First Day of the week. Concerning the obligation of the Church in preaching the Gospel to every creature, the examples found in 2 Cor. 11:9 and Phil. 4:15-16 are perfect examples — a part of the perfect law. Many in debate will admit that these are safe examples to follow. The man who truly loves the Lord and His word will also admit that these examples are not only safe but perfect.

We cannot think of one thing that would add to the perfection of the New Testament plan of salvation; We cannot think of one thing that would add to the perfection of the New Testament plan of worship; we cannot think of one thing that would add to the perfection of the New Testament plan for the life of the individual. Neither will we ever find it possible to devise any scheme that will add to the perfection of the New Testament plan of work for the Church. Many have introduced plans that have caused the Church to be on the headlines of the daily paper. Many have devised plans which have caused one congregation to become a mother congregation to others. Many have devised plans which have caused one group of elders to have the oversight over more than one congregation. However, the man will never live who can create a plan or institution that will add one ounce to the perfection of the New Testament Church or the perfection of the New Testament Law. If any man will follow the commands and examples set forth in the perfect law, will he be allowed to enter heaven? Is it possible for the Church to please God by following the New Testament plan? Why seek perfection through the flesh?

Those who have time to waste in the defense of institutionalism often are heard to remark, "we are on the march." Brethren, a double time march could not keep up with many in the Church for they are caught up in the constituent elements of the landslide of digression which will surely carry them into the component flames of eternal damnation. Let us have a greater love and respect for the Lord and His Word; not only be willing to admit that the Lord has revealed a safe plan, but that the Lord has seen fit to reveal the perfect plan.