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I. THE OBJECT DESIRED. Perfection.

1. As individual believers. No such thing as aggregate holiness can exist, without the sanctification of its units. A church cannot be perfect except as its members are so, any more than the body can be healthy unless its organs are sound. In what he considered this to consist we may gather from his writings: — "In understanding be men," literally "perfect"; "that I might perfect that which is lacking in your faith"; "perfect and complete in all the will of God"; "that the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to every, good work"; "perfect in Christ Jesus." He would have Christians —

(1) Of vigorous understanding, not feeble minded, not intellectual dwarfs, not liable to be carried about with every wind of doctrine in consequence of their slight comprehension or grasp of the truth.

(2) Of strong faith, not sceptical, doubting, hesitating, but, like Abraham, strong in faith, giving glory to God; living by it, walking by it, taking it as their principle and guide; and by it giving the future ascendency over the present, the spiritual over the material.

(3) Perfect in all God's will; not correct in creed and defective in practice; not strong in faith and deficient in love, but showing faith by works; being all that Christianity requires and Christ was.

(4) "Careful to maintain good works"; active, diligent, zealous, devout.

(5) And all this "in Christ Jesus"; not from a spirit of legality, self-righteousness, or self dependence, but by grace derived from Christ, by the indwelling spirit of Christ, actuated by the love of Christ, and doing all to His glory. This is an object at which we may all aim. The highest kind of excellence is presented to the view of each. You cannot perhaps be great, you may be good — wealth may be denied you, worth is not. And this is what we want. If each one will consecrate themselves by a more personal surrender to Christ, and will resolve in God's strength to be more what the Word of God requires, a new era will dawn upon this fellowship.

2. As a Church.

(1) And here we are at once reminded that there is much which a Christian Church may possess which does not constitute Christian perfection. Like the capital to which the city gave its name and which is the composite of many other forms of beauty, the Corinthian Church had great excellence, but it was not perfect, It had wealth, gifts, numbers probably — yet it was not perfect. The perfection of a Christian Church does not consist in outward things. Not that they are to be despised. They may be valuable adjuncts. But we are in danger of putting, e.g., beautiful architecture in the place of a spiritual house; melodious music in the place of harmonious feeling; of mistaking eloquence for gracious words; of idolising intellect instead of yielding to truth; but in proportion as we do this we content ourselves with the shell instead of the kernel, we grasp a shadow, but we miss the substance. "The kingdom of God is not in word but in power."(2) In thinking of what constitutes Church perfection, I place too in a very subordinate position mere outward organisation. Not that I despise it; but I regard it as a means.

(3) If I am asked what then constitutes the perfection of a Church, I point you to the Pentecostal Church (Acts 2.).

(4) As we would obtain this perfection, let us try and avoid whatever would impair or destroy it. In this letter the apostle had animadverted on many points of reprehension. There was party-spirit, forbearance of needful discipline, undue conformity to the world, defects in the mode of conducting worship and in dispensing ordinances, an undue regard to ostentatious display of gifts, a lack of such liberality as was exhibited by other and poorer churches, unkind depreciation of him as their teacher and apostle. These and similar evils led him to say (2 Corinthians 12:20), "I fear, lest when I come I shall not find you such as I would," and no wonder that he so earnestly desired greater perfection.

II. THE WISH EXPRESSED. Here observe —

1. The lofty aim of the Christian ministry.

(1) Look at it in itself, and how spiritual, vast, important — the fullest development of individual and collective character. And then recollect this was desired in order to something beyond — the world's salvation and the glory of God. The Christian ministry seeks the Church's perfection, and this in order to higher aims still.

(2) I go a step farther: it not only seeks it but it is greatly instrumental in promoting it. God has many means by which He works, as He can dispense with all; but of all the means He has blessed to this end, none have been more hopeful than an earnest, evangelical ministry. This we wish as ministers — your perfection.

2. The deep emotions by which earnest minds are characterised. The term wish but faintly intimates the apostle's obvious feeling. We might illustrate it by some other of his expressions: — "My little children of whom I travail in birth again till Christ be formed within you." "God is my record how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ." "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you." Be in earnest, and let the earnest emotion of others on your behalf urge you to concern for yourself.

3. The conscious dependence of the apostle upon an agency superior to his own to secure the object desired. We wish! but some one else must grant. Perfection will never be secured by mere wishing. This indeed will never secure anything.

(1) There must be effort. What a man sows that shall he also reap. If he sows only wishes, wishes light as thistle down will be his only harvest. If he sows real effort, diligent persevering exertion, a daily advance to perfection will be his glorious reward. Are we putting forth this? Say not it is discouraging to be constantly failing. Remember the effort braces the moral nature, and is thus its own reward. Let conscious failure only quicken to further exertion.

(2) Likewise pray — so did the apostle; well did he know that only the Perfect One could give perfection.

(J. Vincy.)

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KJV: For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

WEB: For we rejoice when we are weak and you are strong. And this we also pray for, even your perfecting.