Living a Perfect Life

I. The Meaning of a Perfect Life - Matthew 5:17-20

A. The one unique perfect Life of God's Son - Matt. 3:15-17
1. He fulfilled the ceremonial law to provide a perfect redemption - Matt. 5:17;
Heb. 9:12-14; 10:4-14
2. He fulfilled and completed the moral law to supply a perfect Life and righteousness - Matt. 5:17; Rom. 10:4
B. Experiencing the perfect Life
1. Give up your life for His life - Phil. 3:3-9
2. Stay concentrated on Him - Col. 2:5-10
3. Walk according to spirit for His Life to be fulfilled in you - Rom. 8:4
4. Eagerly expect the exceeding righteousness to be produced by the enjoyment of the exceeding grace - Matt. 5:20; Gal. 5:4-5; 2 Cor. 9:8-10; Rom. 5:15, 17
C. The significance of experiencing the perfect Life
1. The destiny of all creation - Matt. 5:18; 2 Pet. 3:7-14
2. The condition of entering into the kingdom - Matt. 5:20; Rev. 19:8; 1 Cor. 6:9-10
3. Rewarded and ruling in the kingdom - Matt. 5:19; 1 Cor. 3:8-15

II. The Expression of a Perfect Life - Matthew 5:21-48

A. Related to feelings toward our brothers - Matt. 5:21-26
1. Inward anger - Matt. 5:21-22a; Eph. 4:31-32
2. Outward expressions - Matt. 5:22b; Eph 4:29-30; Col. 3:8, 12-15
3. The consciousness of Life - Matt. 5:23-24; Rom. 14:15-20a
4. The consciousness of accountability at the judgment seat of Christ
- Matt. 5:25-26; 18:21-35
B. Related to lustful feelings - Matt. 5:27-30
1. The difference between a lustful thought or feeling and heart adultery
- Matt. 5:27-28; Gal. 5:16-21; James 1:13-15
2. Dealing with all occasions for stumbling - Matt. 5:29-30; Rom. 13:14;
1 Cor. 6:9-10, 12-13, 18; 2 Tim. 2:22
3. The positive way to deal with lust - Rom. 8:1-2; Col. 3:1-5; 2 Pet. 1:4
4. The negative way to deal with lust - Matt. 5:29-30; Eph. 5:3-6; Rev. 2:11; 20:4
C. Related to problems in marriage - Matt. 5:31-32
1. The Old Testament practice of divorce - Matt. 5:31; Deut. 24:1-2; Matt. 19:3, 7-8
2. The New Testament reason for divorce - Matt. 5:32
3. The Lord's feelings about marriage - Matt. 19:3-12; 1 Cor. 7:1-10
4. The principles governing remarriage - 1 Cor. 7:12-17, 25, 39-40
D. Related to making resolutions &shyp; Matt. 5:33-37
1. Don't use the Lord or bring Him to man's level - Matt. 5:33-35; James 5:12
2. Don't employ powerless vows in the Old Testament way
- Matt. 5:36; Rom. 7:15-25a
3. Keep yourself simple in the grace and supply of the Lord
- Matt. 5:37; James 5:12-14
E. Related to the realm of "right and wrong" vis-a-vis "Life" - Matt. 5:38-42
1. The natural realm of fairness - Matt. 5:38; 1 Cor. 2:14
2. The divine realm of mercy - Matt. 5:39-42; James 2:12&shyp;13
3. Experiences of Life that deal with self - Matt. 5:39-42; 1 Cor. 6:1-10;
Rom. 15:1-3
F. Related to loving in a Perfect Life - Matt. 5:43-48
1. Representing the age of grace rather than the age of law - Matt. 5:43-44;
Rom. 5:20-21
2. Expressing the divine Life as sons of God - Matt. 5:45; Eph. 5:1-2
3. The kingdom reward for love - Matt. 5:46-47; 1 John 4:15-19
4. The concept of perfection - Matt. 5:48; 1 Cor. 13:4-10; Col. 3:14