CRYSTALLIZATION-STUDY
of the Epistle of James

Message Two

Its Stress—Christian Perfection

(2)

Scripture Reading: James 1:1

OUTLINE

3. The genuine Christian perfection revealed in the entire divine revelation of the New Testament:
1. The factors of which the genuine Christian perfection (Christian living) is brought forth:
1. The processed and consummated Triune God—Matt. 28:19; John 14:8-11, 16-20; 2 Cor. 13:14.
2. The all-inclusive Christ—Eph. 1:23; 4:10.
3. The consummated, compounded, all-inclusive, life-giving, indwelling, sevenfold Spirit of Jesus Christ (Exo. 30:23-25; 1 Cor. 15:45b; Rom. 8:11; Rev. 1:4; 4:5; 5:6; Phil. 1:19), who was not yet before the resurrection of Christ (John 7:38-39).
4. The divine life—John 1:4; 10:10b; 3:15; 14:6; Col. 3:4; Rom. 5:17, 21.
5. The divine nature—2 Pet. 1:4.
6. The hand of love of God the Father and the hand of grace of God the Son—John 10:28-29.
7. The unlimited fullness of the Father—Col. 1:19.
8. The unsearchable riches of Christ—Eph. 3:8.
9. The bountiful supply of the Spirit—Phil. 1:19.
10. The abounding and sufficient grace—Rom. 5:17; 2 Cor. 12:9; 1 Cor. 15:10.
2. The means by which the genuine Christian perfection (Christian living) is carried out:
1. The vision of God's eternal economy—Eph. 1:10; 3:9; 1 Tim. 1:4b.
2. The organic Body of Christ as the organism of the Triune God—Eph. 1:23; 4:4-6, 12, 16.
3. The power of Christ's resurrection—Phil. 3:10.
4. The cross of Christ—Gal. 6:14-15; 1 Cor. 2:2; Gal. 2:20; 3:1.
5. The union and mingling of the believers with the Triune God—Matt. 28:19; Eph. 4:4-6.
6. The joining of the believers to the Lord as one spirit—1 Cor. 6:17.
7. The regenerated spirit of the believers—Rom. 8:16; 2 Tim. 4:22.
8. The discernment of the believers' spirit from their soul—1 Thes. 5:23; Heb. 4:12.
9. The denial of the believers' self (soul) through the cross of Christ (Matt. 16:24-25), leaving no ground for self-cultivation.
   
   Note: The factors of which and the means by which the genuine Christian perfection is brought forth and carried out are much more, much greater, higher, richer, stronger, more divine, more spiritual, more heavenly, more organic, more productive, more excellent, more profound, more unfathomable, and more for the union and mingling of the believers with the Triune God than the factors and means for the producing and carrying out of the Christian perfection stressed by James.
3. The functions of the genuine Christian perfection (Christian living):
1. Making oneself perfect and maturing oneself in life to live Christ and magnify Christ as the preeminent One, who is revealed in him, who lives in him, who is formed in him, and who is making His home in his heart—1 Thes. 3:13; 1 Pet. 2:2; Col. 1:28; Eph. 4:15; Phil. 1:20-21; Col. 1:18; Gal. 1:16; 2:20; 4:19; Eph. 3:17.
2. Perfecting the members of Christ—Eph. 4:12.
3. Making the church the fullness of both God and Christ as Their expression—Eph. 1:23; 3:19.
4. Building up the Body of Christ—Eph. 4:12, 16.
5. Consummating the New Jerusalem as the eternal enlargement and expression of the processed and consummated Triune God—Rev. 21:1-21.
   
   Note: There is no comparison between the functions of the Christian perfection stressed by James and those of the genuine Christian perfection. The Christian perfection stressed by James is far off.
4. A concluding word.