Christlike Perfection: Is It Attainable?

This was the theme for this year’s 7^th camp meeting at Lay Institute for Global Health Training (LIGHT) – Philippines. It was from November 2^nd to the 6^th, attended by around 160 delegates (excluding those from the campus) from all over the country and a few from overseas. It was graced by resource speakers, Elder Randy Skeete, the Campus Ministries Evangelist from Michigan Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists; Mr. James Hartley, the President of LIGHT; and Mr. Narcimel Santor, a Medical Doctor, General Practitioner, and Medical Missionary.

Meeting acquaintances and enjoyed and refreshed by nature

It was my second time to attend the camp and it was a blessing to see the place standing strong and still after the recent supertyphoon Lawin that struck the country. Praising God for the developments I’ve seen, the work progressing, and the continued equipping of medical missionaries from far and near. With the surrounding nature, my soul was again refreshed and it was worth traveling all the way from the western part of Mindanao to the northern part of Luzon. It was a get-together of friends as well – friends whom I’ve known through friends, I’ve met in various mission fields, I’ve labored with, and I’ve went with in different missionary trainings. It was also wonderful to know new friends and fellow missionaries. Oh, how magnificent and jubilant will it be when that reunion in heaven will come to pass! 

Elder Randy Skeete in Barong Tagalog

The camp? It was short in duration but Praise God for the messages were not short to gain understanding about the possibility of attaining Christlike perfection --- what I am sharing to you in this page. Favoritism aside, I would just be sharing on Elder Randy Skeete’s topics here because it was his sessions that I have somehow complete notes on. As you read this, I am encouraging you as what we have been encouraged by the strange man: Get your Bible and not your cell phone. The reason is obvious: the latter has temptations but the former has absolutely none. Do you agree? We did! In addition, there are comments and emphasis after some passages written here which would guide you; and Spirit of Prophecy statements are provided for more light on specific subjects. 

Breathe in, breathe out and let’s start! To begin, it may be well if you start with a prayer as we did and we always should. Be blessed!

With the theme song, Like Jesus, we were introduced to THE MAN CHRIST JESUS, during our first session.

Exodus 3:13,14 – ‘I AM’ means the self-existent one. It implies that God needs nothing from us in order to exist.

Who Jesus is? Look up these texts: John 6:51; John 8:12; John 10:7; John 10:11; John 11:25; John 14:6; and John 15:1.

These passages tell us that Salvation centers in a Person and not in doctrine or a church.

I Corinthians 1:30 – God has arranged that through Christ we have access to wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption.

Jeremiah 26:3 – Righteousness is not something we seek but Someone we seek to be closer and closer to until we can’t tell the difference between us and Jesus.

John 14:8,9 – We slow God down but He wants to do something quick to us.
- The relationship between the Father and Jesus is the same with Jesus and the believer.

John 17:18 – ‘even so’ means ‘the same way’

John 15:9,10

Christian perfection is possible and required. It is the point that we look like Jesus as the way Jesus looks like the Father.

Righteousness is not a doctrine but a life.

Romans 6:16 – Notice ‘ye yield’. It means the devil can’t force us to sin neither can God force us to do right.
- Sin = Death; Obedience = Righteousness or right doing

Deuteronomy 6:25 – Obedience and righteousness are inseparable.
- Righteousness is a life of obedience to God.
- We are to do right because God is right!
- Everything right comes from God.
- The life of Christ in us needs to be expressed.

John 14:10

Genesis 2:7 – We need no more ground/dirt but every breath reminds us that we depend on God.

Second Topic: THE WORD OF RIGHTEOUSNESS

Genesis 1:1-26 – Notice the phrase, ‘And God said…’
-  It is not what God created on what day but it is about the power of God’s word.

Genesis 1:3; Psalm 33:6; Hebrews 11:3 – The word of God + NOTHING!

Matthew 8:5-7 – The word of God is the means by which He does everything.

John 8:16

John 17:17

1 Thessalonians 4:3 – Sanctification is done by God’s Word.

John 15:1-3 – Notice ‘ye are clean…’; Greek word of clean in verse three is same as purge in verse two.
- The only problem of God is sin and the one solution is JESUS.

John  15:4,5, 7 – Notice the similarities.
- Jesus abides in us through His Word.

Desire of Ages, 677.1 - It is through the word that Christ abides in His followers.
- Jesus can’t literally abide in us because He is still human so He does it through another agency – the Word which is full of Spirit.
- Christ abides in us by studying and obeying
- No sanctification and perfection outside the Word of God!

John 15:3

Christ’s Object Lessons 100.1 – The Scriptures are the great agency in the transformation of character…If studied and obeyed, the word of God work in the heart, subduing every unholy attribute.

Ephesians 5:25-27 – Notice ‘washing of water by the word…’

1 Peter 1:18, 19 – Our perfection must be the perfection Jesus achieved in the world.

Philippians 2:5; 1 Peter 2:21, 22; Revelation 14:5 – the description of Christ which is to be the description of God’s people.
- We have to come to perfection without blemish and guile.

Jude 24 – There must be cooperation!

Review and Herald, October 30, 1888 par. 8 – Those who take the position that Christ has done it all, and that we need not obey the requirements of God, will fail of everlasting life.

John 3:16; 1 John 3:23 – most forgotten commandment

Signs of the Times, November 15, 1899 par. 8 – Implicit obedience is the condition of salvation.
Review and Herald, October 30, 1888 par. 3 - In the work of salvation, God requires the cooperation of man.
- Perfection/Sanctification is brought by the word of God.

Education 126.4 – The creative energy that called the worlds into existence is in the word of God. This word imparts power; it begets life. Every command is a promise; accepted by the will, received into the soul, it brings with it the life of the Infinite One.

Psalm 148:1,2,5 – Angels were made out of nothing.
- There’s no weakness that God’s word can’t remove from our lives!

Our High Calling, 116.2 – Your last thought at night, your first thought in the morning, should be of Him in whom is centered your hope of eternal life.

Third Topic: PERFECT CHILDREN

Luke 2:40; Luke 1:80 – Everyone can grow the way Jesus grew.
- The life Jesus lived is the life we can live.

A child in his mother's arms [like this]
can attain Christlike Perfection!

- Christlike perfection can be attained from the mother’s womb. 

Luke 1:15,34,35 – Jesus was also filled with Spirit from His mother’s womb as John the Baptist.
- There are some things in the Bible that we find difficult not to understand but to accept.
- A child can be trained to Christlike perfection even in the womb by the mother practicing the character of God.
- God’s standard [the righteousness of Christ], for admission to His kingdom, is applicable to all ages!

2 Kings 22:1,2 – Perfection is a path that has stages.
- God has different expectations at every stage of life.
- It’s either we develop Christlike character or Satanic character, nothing in between.

Christ’s Object Lessons, 283.3 – There are only two classes in the world today, and only two classes will be recognized in the judgment--those who violate God's law and those who obey it.

Daniel 3:18 – ‘But if not’ means placing no condition to obey.
- Perfection begins in the heart at all times, under all circumstances, and expressed in actions and speech.
- Until we come to the place where the honor of God means more than our own lives, we can never reach Christlike perfection and heaven.
- Christlike perfection requires constant denial of self. It is a difficult thing to do but here lies the foundation of it.
- Our problem is not Satan but ourselves!
- We don’t need help from the devil to sin but from God to do what’s right.

Ecclesiastes 12:1 – The devil copies God’s approaches – wants the youth, too!
- According to Sister White, 50% of personality is developed at three years old.
- The devil makes vices attractive – makes it appear that when we sin, we have benefits.
- We have to choose who gets us!
- God and the devil has their own tables and sells different things.

1 Corinthians 6:20 – Let’s give our lives to the One who gave His life for us!

Fourth Topic: LIKE SAVIOR, LIKE SINNER

Galatians 4:4 – Christ was born of a woman.

Job 14:1        – Man is born of a woman.

Galatians 4:4 – Jesus born under the law.

Galatians 4:5 – Man born under the law.

Hebrews 2:14 – the human condition is ‘flesh and blood’ and Jesus took of our weak condition when he came to the flesh – ‘flesh and blood’

James* 1:13,14 – every man is tempted but God can’t be tempted.
*He is the half brother of Jesus, and also Jude.

Matthew 4:1     – Jesus is tempted in human flesh.

Matthew 6:9             –  Man praying.

Luke 11:1; John 17:1 – Jesus praying.

Hebrews 11:6 – We need to live by faith.

John 8:29       – Jesus pleased God by faith.

Matthew 28:18-20 – We are to be baptized.

Matthew 3:16       – Jesus was baptized.

Romans 6:23; Ezekiel 18:4 – We die.

Revelation* 1:17,18; 1 Corinthians 15:21 – Jesus was resurrected.
*Written by John who most perfectly reflected the character of Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 4:16; John 5:28,29 – Humans will be resurrected.

Acts 2: 37,38 – We should repent.
- If Jesus can die of sin, then why can’t He repent of sin?

1 Peter 2:24 – Jesus took our sin.

2 Corinthians 5:21 –  Jesus never made a choice to sin but God made Him to be sin.
- Sin is a choice!

Desire of Ages, 111.2 - Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do. His life of suffering and patient endurance after His baptism was also an example to us.
- Jesus confessed, repented, and baptized for us!

Manuscript Releases, Vol. 21, 196.2 – In fulfilling "all righteousness," Christ did not bring all righteousness to an end. He fulfilled all the requirements of God in repentance, faith, and baptism, the steps in grace in genuine conversion.
- Jesus closely identifies with us!

John 6:63 – The flesh can’t repent – it is a gift!
- We can only repent in the strength of Christ’s repentance.
- The sinful nature doesn’t confess wrong; it takes the Spirit of Christ to repent.
- Only through Christ can we confess and feel sorry.

Fifth Topic: HOW TO RUN A BUSINESS

Genesis 2:7; Genesis 3:17-19; Genesis 18: 23-27; Psalm 103:13,14 – We are dust!

Genesis 2:10-12 – Everything walks on the ground.
- Gold and onyx are on the surface of the earth.

Haggai 2:8 – Before creating Adam and Eve, He had more choices than gold. But God chose dirt? Why?
- Gold stone is inherently precious.
- When making a man with dirt and putting His image in the dirt (the lowest of the low), God demonstrates that He can raise it to the highest!

Conflict and Courage, 21.5 - God created man for His own glory…
- God can take dirt and raise/lift up man to a level far beyond that which he was made. God wants to do it with our cooperation!

Signs of the Times, December 28, 1891 par. 1 – God's grace will not supply the place of man's cooperation.
- We must work together with God!
- The business to be run is our life. God wants to run it with us.

1 Corinthians 3:9 – He wants to partner with us!
- Our lives as business have different departments.
- God wants to be involved in all aspects, Himself as the Senior Partner.
- God wants to run the entire area of our lives!

Genesis 39:1,2 – ‘The Lord was with Joseph’ means business partnership.

Genesis 39:3-5 – In partnership of God and Joseph, God was responsible for the results.
- When God runs our life, God blesses those in the circumference of our life, though not believers of Him.

Genesis 39:20,21 – The first one that suffers is God when our spiritual life is declining.

Genesis 39:22 – When God runs our life, He does things that causes people to wonder.
- God likes to work miracles; He doesn’t do insignificant things.
- God likes to guide His people by miracles (egs. falling of manna, pillars of cloud and fire)

Genesis 39:23 – Our lives are business that must be run well.

Education 138.1,2 - To every man is given "his work" (Mark 13:34), the work for which his capabilities adapt him, the work which will result in greatest good to himself and to his fellow men, and in greatest honor to God.
     Thus our business or calling is a part of God's great plan, and, so long as it is
conducted in accordance with His will, He Himself is responsible for the results.

1 Timothy 4:8 – Godliness is doing things God’s way.
- Let God run our lives; be an active partner.
- How to run a business? Make God our Senior Partner!

Luke 2:48,49 – Jesus’ life is to carry out His Father’s business – as our lives should!
- Our lives must be God’s plans and not ours.

Mind, Character, Personality, Vol. 2, 423.2 – Every human being has a soul to save or to lose. Each has an individuality separate and distinct from all others. Each must be convicted for himself, converted for himself. He must receive the truth, repent, believe, and obey for himself. He must exercise his will for himself. No one can do this work by proxy. No one can submerge his individuality in another's. Each must surrender to God by his own act and the mystery of godliness.

- We must make individual choices, not based on what others are doing, so the more blessed we will be and become a blessing to others in ways we can never imagine.

Christian Service, 346.4 - No scheme of business or plan of life can be sound or complete that embraces only the brief years of this present life, and makes no provision for the unending future. Let the youth be taught to take eternity into their reckoning. Let them be taught to choose the principles and seek the possessions that are endurin to lay up for themselves that "treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth;" to make to themselves friends "by means of the mammon of unrighteousness," that when it shall fail, these may receive them "into the eternal tabernacles." Luke 12:33; 16:9, R.V.

Education, 13.1 - Our ideas of education take too narrow and too low a range. There is need of a broader scope, a higher aim. True education means more than the pursual of a certain course of study. It means more than a preparation for the life that now is. It has to do with the whole being, and with the whole period of existence possible to man. It is the harmonious development of the physical, the mental, and the spiritual powers. It prepares the student for the joy of service in this world and for the higher joy of wider service in the world to come.  

 

Last Topic: MORE OR LESS

Genesis 1:14-16 – God deliberately made two great lights; one is greater than the other but each has specific duty.
- Is it equal? No! Is it fair? Yes – because God made/did it!
- God gives more to some than others.

Matthew 25:14,15- After a long time, God will reckon with us = accountability/judgment.

Matthew 15:21-23 – 5 to 10 talents = 100% increase; 2 to 4 talents = 100% increase
- Different in amount of talents but the same Master’s response.
- It is not how many talents we have but what we did with what we have!
- God wants us to do the best we can that people will be blessed.
- Looking on a larger scale, Enoch and the thief on the cross received the same heaven.

1 Corinthians 12:8 – Different people receive different gifts.
- We are to use our gifts to the maximum so God will be glorified to the maximum!
- We have an individual responsibility to God.

Steps to Christ, 100.1 - The relations between God and each soul are as distinct and full as though there were not another soul upon the earth to share His watchcare, not another soul for whom He gave His beloved Son.
- God deals with us as if we are the only person in the world.

Education 267.3 - We need to follow more closely God's plan of life. To do our best in the work that lies nearest, to commit our ways to God, and to watch for the indications of His providence--these are rules that ensure safe guidance in the choice of an occupation.

Ecclesiastes 9:10; Deuteronomy 28:44 – We are to do the most of ourselves or our lives so we can be the greatest blessing to others.

Hope you were indeed blessed as I have been blessed.

Praising God for how He set everything in place and the treasured memoirs that each one had during the camp...

Registration

Pitched tents

Kitchen work

Manual baking preparations

Queueing for the food

PAMAS-Quirino delegates with Bro. James Hartley

Young people happily eating under a mango tree

United prayer

Brothers asking/consulting directly to Brother James Hartley

Singing the theme song: Like Jesus

Delegates listening attentively to Elder Skeete

Responding to appeals by standing

Young people who committed/recommitted their lives to Jesus

Attendees who were spiritually blessed, inspired, and encouraged with the Spirit-filled messages.

Thus, the answer to the question, Christlike Perfection: Is it Attainable?, is...a firm YES!

Now, we are left with the challenge to attain it by God's grace, with His help, through

Bible study and prayer, living the life of Christ, and clinging on to His promises of

attaining perfection with faith. Are you accepting the challenge?

It has been penned by the prophetess that:

"CHRIST is our pattern, the PERFECT, and holy example that has been given us to follow.

We can never equal the Pattern, but we may IMITATE and RESEMBLE it according to our

ability." {That I May Know Him, page 265}

May we all imitate and resemble our perfect Pattern, Jesus Christ, every day that we may

become perfect like Him as we near the close of time.

God help and bless you as you cooperate with Him!