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SOS 2:2 The Perfection of the Bride

Preached by James R. Reynolds, Sr. on January 3, 1979.

Song of Solomon 2:2 — As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

Introduction

“As the Bridegroom is, so are we.” (We are in the process) There are a people that will come to perfection in this life.

 

He portrays Himself first:

 

Song of Solomon 2:1

I am the rose of Sharon, and the lily of the valleys.

 

Then He portrays His Bride:

 

Song of Solomon 2:2

As the lily among thorns, so is my love among the daughters.

 

He refers to the little Bride as being like Himself. This is because of her great love for Him.

 

Does the Bible speak of any such thing as perfection? You cannot partake of the good things of God and hold onto the world at the same time.

 

I Corinthians 1:21

For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.

 

We put a lot of confidence in the educated and in what Dr. So-and-So or Professor So-and-So says. You do not know God by a lot of head knowledge, but by a lot of heart knowledge.

 

We are going to establish first the fact of perfection; Answering the question, “Does the Bible give any indication whatsoever that we are to be perfect.”

 

Hebrews 6:1

Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,

 

Ephesians 4:11-14

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:  

 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

 

God gave a five-fold ministry. Where are these going to be in operation? Certainly not in Heaven, but on earth. This indicates not only that the Church ought to be perfect, but that it can be perfect.

 

How perfect? It means just what it says—PERFECT.

 

II Corinthians 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

 

They will say the doctrine of perfection is based on only one Scripture, but here are three and there are many more.

Deuteronomy 19:15

One witness shall not rise up against a man for any iniquity, or for any sin, in any sin that he sinneth: at the mouth of two witnesses, or at the mouth of three witnesses, shall the matter be established.

 

Perfection is a life in the Spirit growing up into the same stature of Jesus Christ. You can be just like Jesus. That is a much better prospect than to be like the devil! So many get so frightened at the fact when we talk about being like Jesus, but what a wonderful place the church would be if we were all like Jesus!

 

We are not measured by deacons or by the preacher, but by Jesus. God is trying to bring us out of the delusion that you can please God and live in sin. The Bride is going to be much different than the daughters: “As a LILY among THORNS.”

 

The whole Church will not come to perfection until after three-and-a-half years of tribulation. The Church tonight is anything but a lily, and she is quite thorny. Preaching will not correct them; preachers that preach truth will be thrown out. It will take an awful time of persecution.

 

“The Church is filled with politics, positions, and paychecks.”

 

The Gospel is not a job or occupation, but is a call.

 

“If the thing [Gospel] doesn’t grip your heart, and you are planning on going in the ministry, you get on your knees first until it grips your heart. Until it gets right a hold of you so you can’t sleep, you can’t eat, for the vision of souls you see going into hell!”

 

I Corinthians 9:16

For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!

 

There is a tremendous need. There are an awful lot of thorns and bramble bushes. God needs somebody to plant some seed and grow some wheat and some lilies.

 

  1. Perfection of Nature - “Lily”

 

He is speaking concerning the Bride as Himself. Jesus was perfect in all His ways. There was not a single flaw in Jesus. He says “I am the Lily”, and that she is as the Lily.

 

    1. It’s Purity - Whiteness of the Lily

 

There was no mar, no stain in Jesus, and the little Bride is going to be the same.

 

We want to love him with all, but we find areas that we don’t. God is still looking for a people that will perfect holiness. To what extant though?

 

I John 3:1-3

Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

 

First, you have to know something. You must understand that God has something more. That God has given to us great promises.

 

How can I purify myself? There is a provision by the cross not just simple deliverance from the old life, but also from the power of sin. When Jesus died on the cross He crushed him that had the power of death. I can come to the cross!

 

purifieth himself, even as he is pure”!

 

God wants us to be conformed, having the same nature as Himself, just as pure as the lily.

 

    1. It’s Fragrance

 

The lily has a smell of its own. It isn’t something that knocks you over, but it is sweet. There is a sweet fragrance about those that really walk with God. Where did they get that? They got so close to the Lily that they got some of the Lily on them!

 

His little Bride is going to be just like Him in all aspects.

 

    1. It’s Humility

The lily grows in the valleys, the lowlands.

 

You will never climb onto the mountains of revelation until you have traveled through the deep struggles of the valley. It will cost you everything to KNOW Him. The lily is harmless; there is nothing hurtful about a lily.

 

As a Christian you do not have to love everything that comes along, but you should rebuke false doctrine. It takes the love of God to tell a man he is wrong when he is wrong.

 

II Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.

 

--Humble, steadfast, harmless, holy, yet longsuffering--

 

There is a vast difference between ‘Holy’ and ‘Holier-than-Thou.’ Some are so proud that they are humble. Holiness is walking with Jesus as he would walk, or walking in His footsteps.

 

  1. Perfection of Character

 

There is a difference between perfection of nature and perfection of character. You can always be something, and yet not always show that.

 

 

“the lily among thorns”

 

    1. Gentleness

 

Work on those areas in our character that are ‘sharp, cutting.’ Her speech won’t cut.

 

Colossians 4:6

Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.

 

“Go ahead, win the argument … but lose the soul.”

 

It takes a big person to shut their mouth when they could say so much.

 

Acts 8:32  

The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:

 

The Bride will be gentle in her speech, actions, and reactions. When you feel the contrary rising up in you, pray: “God, you get that out of me. I want to be a lily.”

 

Actions are not always as vicious as words. The lily is among thorns, but does not have any thorns.

 

    1. Goodness

 

Goodness requires faith. In order to do right for right’s sake, it takes faith to stand and stand alone if necessary.

 

Galatians 5:22

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

 

I would rather be one lily amongst a thousand thorns, than to be one thorn amongst the thousands. Lilies don’t act like thorns; they don’t smell like thorns.

 

It takes faith when you have to stand alone, and when circumstances rise up against you to do what is right.

 

 

    1. Love of Perfection

 

Words are so cheap. You can say things with your mouth and it doesn’t cost you anything.

 

I John 3:17

But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

 

We have some of it, because we have been touched by Divine love.

 

I Corinthians 13:1

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal

 

(Read the entire chapter of I Corinthians 13.)