"The Doctrine of Perfectionism"
 

by Jonathan Perz

   

This doctrine has been described by its inventors as “salvation through law-keeping.” It is a straw man. Nobody believes it. In this article, I will demonstrate that 1) you cannot find salvation without law-keeping, 2) that law-keeping, in and of itself, will not save, and 3) that the Bible does have a doctrine of perfectionism, but it is nothing like that which has been described as either and only breeding hopelessness or self-righteousness.

Examples such as the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-14 are cited to demonstrate this doctrine. Was the Pharisee’s problem that he kept the law as he was commanded to do as a Jew under the Old Covenant? Or was the Pharisee’s problem that he exalted himself (i.e., declared himself righteous, while condemning others) instead of waiting on the Lord to declare him righteous? There is a mile of difference between those two positions. One twists the truth to uphold a straw man. The other is the truth by Jesus’ own declaration.

Nevertheless, let’s examine this “doctrine of perfectionism” a bit further. Matthew 5:48 teaches us that if we do a few things, we will be perfect, just our Father in heaven is perfect. What are those things? You can read for them for yourself. Suffice it to say, doing what the Lord has taught us does not breed hopelessness or self-righteousness, as is contended. It breeds righteousness. Not self-righteousness (or self-exaltation). Not doing what the Lord says breeds hopelessness. Doing what the Lord says gives the hope we can never have by practicing lawlessness.

Jesus told the rich young ruler in Matthew 19:16, if you want to be perfect, go and sell what you have and give to the poor. This was the “one thing” he lacked. It seems to me that being perfect did not just involve grace here, it also involved actually doing what the Lord taught (i.e., following His laws). So true was this, that not doing “ONE THING” kept this man from the kingdom of heaven. So close, yet so far.

In Luke 6:40, we are told by our Lord that we, as disciples, are not above our Teacher, but everyone who is perfectly trained will be like his Teacher. He then tells us what to do. He gives us a commandment. Remove the plank from our eye that we may see clearly to remove the plank from our brother’s eye. Don’t be hypocritical. Again, perfection is obtained by actually doing something. Show me how to be perfect without keeping this law, and I will show you how to be perfect by keeping this law.

Now, lest it be said I am proving the straw man’s point of “salvation through law-keeping,” let’s consider Paul’s words. “Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me” (Phil. 3:12). Paul was pursuing perfection, with the understanding that he had not yet attained it. His trust was not in himself for perfection, but in the Lord. Yet, his life and doctrine was filled with a whole lot of “do’s” and “don’ts.” He, like all of us struggled with those commandments (cf. Rom. 7), and like the rest of Christ’s disciples, needs ongoing grace through Christ’s blood (cf. 1 John 1:8-10), but he presses on toward perfection. Mind you, even that continued grace needed for perfection is conditional, in that it requires us to do something to obtain it. Show me how you find forgiveness (the blessing of perfection only Christ can give us) without confessing our sins and I will show you how to obtain that forgiveness by confessing our sins.

This same inspired man tells us “love … is the bond of perfection” (Col. 3:14). Without love, we have nothing (1 Cor. 13:1-3) … and that includes salvation (cf. 1 John 3:24; 4:7). Yet, we are told by Paul to “put on love.” It seems like there is a commandment in there as well. Jesus said, “If you love Me, keep My commandments” (John 14:15). Show me love without keeping His commandments and I will show you love by keeping His commandments. As a matter of fact, John tells us, “No one has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abides in us, and His love has been perfected in us” (1 John 4:12).

Let’s take that one step further. John also tells us, “Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because as He is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love. We love Him because He first loved us” (1 John 3:17-19). If there is any “doctrine of perfectionism” taught in Scripture, there it is.

Perfection involves grace. Christ loves us. It involves faith. We must trust the Lord to fulfill His conditional promises (salvation is a conditional promise too). It involves obedience to law (works). We keep His commandments because we love Him. Show me how you can do this without law-keeping, and I will show you how we can do this by keeping His laws (cf. Jas. 2:18).

 

  Other Articles by Jonathan Perz
To Whose Tune Do You Hearken?
Fellowship With God is Conditional
Catechismal Christianity
"I'm Too busy for Church"

 

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