PROCESS OF
PERFECTION

PHASE ONE - grace #1 - judgment on what flesh hides behind - to produce gratitude, thankfulness - gratitude = grateful = thankful = grace.

John 1:14 - And the word was made flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of Father) full of grace and truth.

1. What is hidden behind.
   
   
   1. John - fig leaves.
      
      
      1. Disengages soul - lives in a dream world of images - locks out reality.
         
         
      2. Loves himself - proves his love of God by seeing God in man and loving mankind.
         
         
      3. Will learn favor, kindness, and nurture.
         
         
   2. Paul - trees.
      
      
      1. Builds a wall around his heart - keeps God and man out.
         
         
      2. Withholds love - hates everyone - must love God wholly - will love man only as much as he loves God.
         
         
      3. Will learn acceptance, approval and love.
         
         
   3. Peter - blameshifting.
      
      
      1. Puts people between him and God - blaming people for his disobedience, failure.
         
         
      2. Hates himself - proves his love of God and man by loving himself (his inner man) - will love God and mankind only as much as he loves himself.
         
         
      3. Will learn pardon, mercy and be valiant.
         
         
2. Process of phase one - perfection - using II Pet. 1:3-11.
   
   
   1. Faith (persuasion, ie. credence, moral conviction of the truthfulness of God) - dominion of the Trinity.
      
      
      1. John - submit to the Lord Jesus.
         
         
      2. Paul - yield to God the Father.
         
         
      3. Peter - obey the Holy Spirit.
         
         
   2. Virtue (manliness, valour, ie. excellence) - the cross according to design - Isaiah 53.
      
      
      1. John - bruised for iniquity.
         
         
      2. Paul - chastised for peace.
         
         
      3. Peter - wounded for transgression.
         
         
   3. Knowledge (the act of knowing) - goodness, righteousness, and truth.
      
      
      1. John - must learn what goodness really is.
         
         
      2. Paul - must learn what righteousness really is.
         
         
      3. Peter - must learn what truth really is.
         
         
   4. Temperance (strong in a thing, masterful) - to produce gratitude - Isaiah 53.
      
      
      1. John - afflicted to know goodness.
         
         
      2. Paul - smittened to know righteousness.
         
         
      3. Peter - strickened to know truth.
         
         
   5. Patience (cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy - to stay under, bear, remain, have fortitude) - full of grace and truth - joy in suffering.
      
      
      1. John - grace straight to the heart, needs truth.
         
         
      2. Paul - truth straight to the heart, needs grace.
         
         
      3. Peter - needs grace and truth to understand in the heart.
         
         
   6. Godliness (piety, gospel scheme, well reverence, pious) revere God + submit to man = quiet and peaceful life.
      
      
      • Cross point in process - phase one - perfection.
        
        
   7. Brotherly kindness (fraternal affection - fond of brothers) - in honor preferring one another.
      
      
      1. John - edify others (I Cor. 10:23b).
         
         
      2. Paul - do what is expedient (I Cor. 6:12;10:23a).
         
         
      3. Peter - seek things of others (I Cor. 10:24).
         
         
   8. Love (to love - love, ie. affection or benevolence, spec. a love feast) - lay down life for brethren.
      
      
      1. John - love Jesus - cover and nurture others.
         
         
      2. Paul - glorify Father - embrace pruning - suffering.
         
         
      3. Peter - worship Holy Spirit - serve and wash feet.