When one is in the entirely sanctified state, it is not necessary for one to not know to 'keep them humble'. Having gone through the stripping and face in the dust experience, one cannot possibly have pride left. Unless in like a rare case like Paul and then it was over some things he had been through which he could not share. Besides he says in scripture 'you saw how holy we behaved when we were with you'. 1Thes 2:10
I consider that Jesus, who was without sin and without pride, set the example. He knew who He was but didn't go around making lofty claims or considering equality with God as something to be grasped, rather He humbled Himself. People needed to know and be taught Who He was, but the way He taught and spoke about Himself was very "tactful" so to speak, not bluntly explicit or boastful. I think Phil 3 reflects that attitude.....I believe Paul was reflecting the same humble attitude as Jesus, not making claims about himself (which he could have), and exhorting and reminding others who were "perfect" to have that same attitude, to be of that same mind. As long as it's possible to fall from that state, or going in and out of it, I imagine one could always still profit from good teaching, exhorting and reminding. To my understanding, being "perfect" is not necessarily in a literal sense as such, but refers to being spiritual, to being/walking in the spirit as opposed to being in the flesh.
I don't understand what you mean by 'not winning the race yet' and reaching out for what is ahead'.
In Phil 3 Paul was speaking to as many as were perfect.....and telling them to forget what lies behind and keep reaching for what was ahead. The race isn't over until one dies. We're to remain obedient unto death. In 2 Timothy while Paul was in prison knowing he would be executed, it wasn't until then that he said he had finished his race:
2Ti 4:6-8
For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.
I have fought a good fight,
I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
There are no two senses of perfection, as there are not two baptisms.
Soul and body are one.....our spirit always requires a body/tabernacle to dwell in, in order for the soul to remain existing after death (eternal life = the saving of the soul). And our bodies are not perfected permanently until after death, though we may taste of our glorified bodies while still alive, eg, where we see Philip being translated bodily to another location. I'm just trying to say that sometimes the word "perfect" in scripture is referring specifically to the body after death, and not referring to walking in the spirit in this life. I wrote out a little study on that and saved it but can't find it now....it was two or three computers ago and I must not have put it on a memory stick. Just cant' think of those scriptures right now, unfortunately they aren't coming to mind. If God gives me the strength, I will try to search it out again, I need His strength for just about everything these days.
1) A man will not be revealed everything by God once he is taught directly. We are not meant to function like lone rangers, we are each a part of the church. So there will be areas for each where they are not using revelation but just what their view is.
We see this in the early church where they are not agreeing on certain points. People mistake that and think - if they were getting it wrong then I will not study them. I will choose another in my denomination that can teach me better when what counts is direct revelation which will be confirmed elsewhere. It is the early years when men taught the faith that was handed down in tradition (not the tradition of men as in RC).
Yes, different parts of the body may have different parts of the truth. We can always learn from what other members have to contribute, as long as it is truth. I do not reject everything that I don't understand. There are things that I hear that I will put on a back burner so to speak and await understanding from the Lord, one way or the other. And good to keep in mind that we're seeing through a glass darkly, and only know in part.
The bible is very hard to understand but it helps to have the same mindset as the writers which westerners do not have. It comes slowly with study.
On this point, I believe we all need the Holy Spirit to help us understand....even the Jews and their Hebrew mindset needed the Holy Spirit....all need to have our minds renewed to the spiritual mind of Christ. The natural man cannot perceive the things of God because they are spiritually discerned. But yes, it can be helpful too, to understand cultural and linguistic context etc.
There is no 'boy on the plough' in discerning scripture and which is the reason for so many Protestant sects. We must be led entirely by the Spirit and can train ourselves to disregard our own ideas waiting for Him to take charge of the throne in our hearts which has been taken up by ourselves, displacing Christ.
Amen, I agree. We learn to discern the difference between our own mind and the Holy Spirit.
The seals of scripture are removed and it is breath-taking what one is taught in a short space of time even after many years of study.
It is redemption, it is restoration, it is what it is all about, fullness and a real new creature not what we had before which is just from being sealed.
Just want to say, It sounds wonderful sister. I imagine it's like the difference between the view from the top of the mountain as opposed to the view further down it. Much fuller and a bigger picture from higher up I would think.....like you can see so much further and are walking in it, in union with God.
