What the Bible teaches about going on to Perfection...

The New Testament in the Book of Hebrews instructs the Church (or those who have tasted Divine Grace) to "leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ" and go on unto perfection.

What were the principles of the doctrine of Christ? What is going on to perfection? Here are a few examples.

Jesus was circumcised the eight day according to Law.
Jesus taught the Law of Moses and had to teach the Law... or sin against God.
Jesus was 30 years old before He first taught in the Temple...according to the Law.
Jesus was baptized of John (a Levite) at the age of thirty according to Law.
Jesus in His great Sermon on the Mount was the best example I know of in the Bible that teaches the holiness of the Torah (The Law of Moses). Matthew chapters 5-7. When Jesus healed the leper...after that miraculous healing Jesus instructed the leper to go and do as Moses commanded which was offering sacrifice to God according to Law.

The teachings of Christ were "all" under the Law...and remember the Holy Spirit had not been given nor had the Church, the spiritual body of Christ been birthed. There is a vast distinction between what Jesus taught...and what the Apostles taught after the death of Christ...in the Grace Dispensation that we "the Church" now live under. That's why the Apostle called the Grace Covenant the "fullness of times". All of Jesus' teachings were directly related to to teaching Law to the lost sheep of Israel. Law given to Israel was the"principles" of the teachings of Christ. Perfection is getting into the Grace covenant where refuge and security is found in the Church, the spirtual body of Christ. The is Church is where Christ is the head of many members. The Holy Spirits presence governs that body and changes the moral make-up of fallen man when he becomes a member of the body of Christ.

The teachings of the Law were given to Israel only. Jesus came to His own (Israel) and they received him not. John 1:11 Jesus taught the holiness of the Law and it convicted some to an acceptance of His Messiahship ...but He had not been glorified yet! Jesus had to teach the Law or sin against God. The Church had not been birthed, nor had the Grace Covenant came into existence...nor had the omnipresence of the Spirit in the Church came to pass as it is under Grace. Perfection under the New Testament had not yet come into play during Christ's earthly ministry "under Law".

The following passage from the Hebrew letter teaches to "leave" these principles of the doctrine of Christ and go on to perfection.

Hebrews 6:1... Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection;

Perfection is a product of the Grace of God given to man because of the finished work of Christ at Calvary and the ongoing work He does from the Throneroom. Perfection is the ministry of the Holy Spirit that ministers to the human soul because of the finished work of Christ at Calvary. Christians are God's workmanship "created" in Christ Jesus. Eph. 2:8-10 The Apostle instructs the Church (Jew and Gentile) to leave the principles of the doctrine of Christ which was the teaching of the Law (to Israel only) as well as keeping the commandments. Jesus' earthly ministry (His teaching and doctrine of the Law) Mat. 10:5-6 strictly forbade the disciples to go the Gentiles or the Samaritans...but rather to go to the lost sheep of Israel.

Perfection from the Grace of God is getting away from ordinances, principles, and commandments that were demanded under the Law of Moses. Perfection was getting away from "dead works". Perfection was not "keeping the righteousness of the Law". Perfection is having the righteousness of the Law "fulfilled in us".

Rom 8:3-4...For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: That the righteousness of the law might be "fulfilled in us", who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

Perfection is having the righteousness of the Law fulfilled..."in us". How? By the works of Christ within! Not the works of man without!

Heb 13:20-21...Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ;