The Perfection In Christ
Spiritual Building-Stone No. 156

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”
(St.Matthew 5:48).

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing” (Philippians 3:13-16).

“Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily” (Colossians 1:26-29).

Brother Branham was asked about the Scripture of Ephesians 4:11 through 13: Do we get all the perfecting of saints through the tapes, or should we be here, where the gifts of the Spirit are operating and the different offices of the church to help perfect us? Our hearts have believed all the Word of the Lord.

No. They want to come here to the church for the perfecting. That we get fellowship one with another here at the church, but the perfecting comes between us and God. The Blood of Christ is what perfects us in the Holy Spirit.

So we have some of the gifts operating among us, and we'll be very glad to fellowship with any of you, that has a way, that you're working, or wants to come and fellowship with us, anything we can do, we're very happy about it. But now the perfecting belongs to Christ. [1]

Now: “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection;...” (Heb. 6:1).

I like Paul saying those things. Paul never was a person that liked to stay too long in one place; he liked to move on deeper. One time in the Scripture he said, “Forgetting those things which are in the past, I press towards the mark of the high calling.” See, he keeps pressing on (Phil. 3:13-16). Here he said: “Now forgetting the principles of the doctrine of Christ... (Who He was, What He was),... let's go on to perfection;...”

First we wanted to find out, “Could we be perfect?” And we found out in the Scriptures, Matthew 5:48, that Jesus said that we had to be just as perfect as God was, or we wouldn't go in.

Then we found out that we was every one borned in sin, shaped in iniquity, come to the world speaking lies. And there was not one sound thing about us (Rom. 3:9-18). So how could we ever be perfected?

Now, here's what we find out then (over... reading, taking Scripture with Scripture) that Jesus, by one sacrifice, perfected forever His Church (Heb. 10:14). We are then perfect through Christ (Rom. 8:1). And we are free from judgment through Christ (John 11:25-26). We shall never die through Christ. We have lost death and found Life through Christ; not through any church, not through any denomination, not through any fantastic, not through speaking with tongues, not through shouting, not through shaking, not through dancing in the Spirit, but by grace! (Eph. 2:8-9). [2]

Paul said, "Let us lay aside all those things now." (Heb. 6:1-3).
"That's all right, but we'll do this. We'll baptize the people, and we'll lay hands on them for their healing and so forth."

We could take it verse by verse, each one of those things. Baptism, we believe it. "There's one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism." (Eph. 4:4-6). We believe that there's a baptism. We believe in the resurrection of the dead: absolutely. We believe Jesus died and rose again. We believe that. Laying on the hands for the sick, that's what it said: "These signs shall follow them that believe. If they lay their hands on the sick, they shall recover." (Mark 16:18). We believe that. But what is that? Paul said, "It's all dead works." It's something that you do. Now let's go on to perfection. Oh, my.

We're coming into the Tabernacle, not the foundation, the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle Itself. That's the foundation: the law, and the righteousness, and joining church, and being baptized, and laying on of hands. Them's all orders of the church, but now let's go into perfection. And there's only One that is perfected; that's Jesus.

Now, I Corinthians 12. How do we get into that Body? "By shaking hands?" No, sir. "By joining the church?" No, sir. "By being baptized backward, forward? In the name of the Father, Son, Holy Ghost? the Name of Jesus Christ? the name of Rose of Sharon, the Lily of the Valley, Morning Star? anything that you want? That has nothing to do with it, just a answer of a good conscience towards God (I Peter 3:20-21). And yet we fuss, and stew, and argue, and split, and make differences. That's right. But all those are dead works. We're going to perfection.

That's things that I done. A minister baptized you. Whether he baptized you face forward, backward, or three times, four times, or one time, or how he did it, that has nothing to do with it. You're just baptized into the fellowship of that church anyhow, proving to that church, you believe the death, burial, and resurrection of Christ.

Laying on of hands to heal the sick, that's wonderful. But it's all natural, and that body will die again just as certain as you're living. It'll die again. Now, let's lay aside all those things and go on to perfection.

How do we get to perfection? That's what we want to know. Christ is perfected (Heb. 5:7-8), "God laid upon Him the iniquity of us all. He was wounded for our transgressions, bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace upon Him; with His stripes we were healed" (Isaiah 53:4-7). That's the Body we want to get to. That's the Body. Why? If you're in that Body, you'll never see judgment (John 5:24); you'll never taste of death. You're free from all of death, judgment, sin, and everything else, when you're in that Body.

“How do you get into it, preacher? By joining this tabernacle?” You're lost yet. Couldn't join it anyhow; we don't have any book. “How do we get into it? By joining some church?” No, sir. “How do you get into It?” You're born in It (I Peter 1:23). “For by one Spirit we are all baptized into one body” (I Cor. 12:13).

By the Holy Spirit baptism, we are baptized into that Body and are free from sin. God don't see you no more; He only sees Christ. And when you're in that Body, God can't judge that Body. He's already judged it. He took our judgment and invited us in. And by faith, through grace, we walk and accept our pardoning (Eph. 2:8-9). And the Holy Spirit brings us into this fellowship with Him. And we walk no more after the things of the world, but we walk in the Spirit. Quickened, the Word came to us. He died in my stead. I'm made alive. Here I am, who was once dead in sin and trespasses, been made alive (Eph. 2:1-5). All my desires is to serve Him. All my love is to Him. All my walks wants to be in His Name that wherever I go, whatever I do, I glorify Him. If I'm hunting, if I'm fishing, if I'm playing ball, ... Whatever I'm doing, I must be "Christ in me" in such a life that'll make men long to be that way: not tattling, backbiting, and fussing about your churches. You get it? "By One Spirit we're baptized into that Body, 'and when I see the Blood I'll pass over you.'" (Exod. 12:13). [3]

The stages of the eternal purpose He had in His secret has now been revealed. Notice, there is still three stages to perfection. Just like He redeems the world; same way He redeems His church. He redeems the people in three stages. Now, look, first is justification like Luther preached; second, sanctification like Wesley preached; third, baptism of the Holy Ghost. That's right. Then comes the rapture. [4]

We want you saved, friend. We want you filled. Remember, you are saved, of course. When you accept Christ you're saved. But you're not converted until you receive the Holy Ghost. Now, you know that. That's right.
Jesus told Peter the night of the betrayal... He was already saved. Said, "Now, after you are converted strengthen your brethren." (Luke 22:31-32). That's right. Oh, sure. You accepted Christ as your Saviour. But when you're converted is when you're really changed. That's right. He wasn't changed yet. He cursed before the Lord, and denied Him, and everything. But after his conversion... "After thou art converted, strengthen your brethren." That's right. Is that right? It's what the Scripture says anyhow. And that makes it right. Jesus told Peter, that had followed Him, and cast out devils (Matt. 10:1), and done miracles, and everything, said, "You're not converted yet. But after you're converted, then strengthen your brethren." That's right. It's true. [5]

When you're separated from your first union by spiritual death (Rom. 7:1-6). Now, you are borned again or remarried again to the new spiritual union of, not your natural life of the things of the world, but of Eternal Life. That germ that was in you at the beginning, found you.

Now, your old book is gone with your old union. Now, your name in your old book has been transferred. Now, you say, "Do you mean to tell me, that my old book..." God put it in the sea of His forgetfulness (Micah 7:18-19). You stand perfectly before God.

Now, your name is now in the new Book, not in the Book of Life, but the Lamb's Book of Life. What the Lamb redeemed, not the old book of your natural union, but you're new Bride. Hallelujah! Your new Life is in the Lamb's Book of Life, your marriage certificate (Hallelujah.) where your true eternal germ from the beginning takes hold.

Now, you're not only forgiven, but you're justified. Glory. Justified: Romans 5:1 said, "Therefore being justified by faith..." Look up the word. The word don't mean forgiven. The word means justified. It don't mean you're forgiven. For instance, you heared that I got drunk and done some evil things and everything; then you come around saying to me... You found out I didn't do them. Then you come around and say, "Brother Branham, I forgive you." Forgive me? I didn't do it at the first place.

Now, if I did do it, I'm guilty; but you could forgive me, and I wouldn't be guilty; but yet I'm not justified, because I actually did it. But the word "justified," as though you never done it. Amen. It's not even regarded at all. How's it done? In God's Book of the sea of forgetfulness, your old book and marriage is divorced and dead and is not even in the memories of God. Amen. You are justified. Therefore being justified... it was accused... You were accused; you never done it in the first place. The old union's in the sea of God's forgetfulness. You wasn't married to it to begin with. He, the Bridegroom bore your shame Himself for you in your place. He took your place, for you were predestinated for Him to be in His Bride before the foundation of the world. The Bible said so. You are the predestinated Seed (Gal. 4:6-7).

How did you come to do this? You were deceived into it by your first marriage--to your adulteress parent Eve. It's no fault of your own. By your natural birth, you come after Eve, who committed adultery. That's the reason you was born an adulternous. You were a sinner to begin with. That's right. You was deceived into it. No, it ain't your fault. You never did it, because that little germ that was in you, was to be you before the foundation of the world. God put your name in the Lamb's Book of Life.
He, the Bridegroom took away your shame and put it in the sea of forgetfulness by the washing of the Water of the Word and the Blood of Life. That is what the Bible said.

Your first husband that you were married to, the world, the anointed Bridegroom, which foreordained you, has washed you by the washing of the water by the church? That don't sound right, does it? You might find that in the almanac, but not in God's Bible. By the washing of the Water by the Word, and the Word (Eph. 5:25-27). You are standing completely justified as though you never did it at the beginning.

This is my message to the church now. You are standing, if you're standing on God's Word and with God's Word, every amen, every jot, every tittle. Where you standing? I'm trying to tell you: Pull away from them shucks and get out here in the wheat where you can get ripe before the sun. I hear the coming of the combine. You're standing complete, justified like you never did it in the first place. Hallelujah. Talk about a Thanksgiving. I feel real good. I'm more thankful for that than anything I know of.

You are the pure, virtuous, sinless Bride of the Son of the living God. Every man and woman that's born of the Spirit of God, and washed in the Blood of Jesus Christ, and believes every Word of God, stands as though you never sinned at the first place. You're perfect. The Blood of Jesus Christ.
If I was supposed to die in the morning, and a man took my place, I cannot die for that sin. Somebody took my place. And Jesus, the Word took my place. He become me, a sinner, that I might become Him, the Word. Amen. Let me hold true to It, not the church; the Word, Amen.

Oh, that spiritual union of Christ in His church now, when the flesh is becoming Word, and the Word is becoming flesh. Manifested, vindicated, just what the Bible said would happen in this day, it's happening day by day. Why, it's accumulating so fast out on those deserts, and things taking place, that I couldn't even keep up with it. We're near the coming of Jesus to be united with His church, where the Word becomes the Word.

The call of the Holy Spirit searching the hearts... You're standing completely. You never sinned in the first place. God don't even know... It's in the sea of forgetfulness. You never did it. You were accused of it by the accuser; but really from the beginning you were predestinated to be a son or daughter of God. You're standing there washed, and your old book of divorcement's put away and is dead, absolutely out of existence even in the mind of God. You are the virtuous Bride of Christ, washed in the Blood of Christ: precious, virtuous, sinless, Son of God standing with a pure, unadulterated Bride Word that He washed by the Water of His own Blood that become flesh and manifested that He might take you, which were predestinated in the bosom of the Father before the beginning, the same as He was...

He was that great attribute of God called, love. Whatever you are, you're servants of God. Whatever God wants you to do, where your place is... God placed in the church some apostles, prophets, teachers, pastors (Eph. 4:11-16). He placed that by virtue of His own predestination. And you were that to begin with. Your first wedding was annulled. You never done it in the first place, because there's only one thing could do it and that would be God come down, Himself, and took your place in a form of the Son of God, Jesus Christ, and washed you by the Water,... of the washing of the Water by the Word. The Word, not the denomination, the Word washed you. But if you won't stand in the Water of the Word, how you going to be washed? You are still as spotted as Eve was.

"Oh, dear dying Lamb, Thy precious Blood shall never lose it's power till all the ransomed church of God be saved to sin no more." (I John 3:4-6,9; 5:18).

What is sin? Sin is unbelief (John 16:7-11), unbelief in what? The Word. Unbelief in God, which is the Word. Pure, unadulterated (Oh, hallelujah.), leaving soon for the skies. Amen. Standing ready... Think, your garments washed by the Water of the bleeding Word. The Word become Blood. The Word bled for you, and you're washed in bleeding Word. The Word bleeding, the Life of God in the Word, and the Word was bled for you, that you might be washed from the filth of these prostitutes and be cleaned and sanctified by the washing of the Water of the Word that makes your mind and heart stayed on God and on His Word. [6]

Now, we find this life holds all kinds of evils; so therefore, the life that is to come won't have it. This one has lust, and sickness, death, because what is it? It's not the house that He's gone to prepare. This is a pesthouse. How many knows what a pesthouse is? Sure. Well, that's what you're living in. A pesthouse is where they put all the diseased people. Well, that's just what sin done to us: put us in a earthly pesthouse. They wouldn't let anyone else come in the pesthouse, because there was all kinds of germs flying around in there; and the people will take these germs and be sick themself. And sin brought us into the devil's pesthouse (Rom. 7:22-25).

Oh, but the other one is called my Father's house. "I'll go and prepare a place for you, take you out of this pesthouse and deliver you unto My Father's house." (John 14:1-3). Amen. There you are. Take you out of this old earthly pesthouse...

He's gone to prepare a place, a perfect place, where no evil exist, no sickness exists, no old age exists, no death exists. It's a perfect place calling you to that perfection, and you have to be perfect to get there. The Bible said so. Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father in heaven is perfect." And it's a perfect Kingdom, so it must be a perfect people come; because you have to stand and be married to a perfect Son of God; and you must be a perfect Bride. So how can you do it through anything else but the perfect Word of God, which is the Waters of separation that washes us from our sins. Amen. That's right. The Blood of Jesus Christ... Think of it. The dripping, bloody Word (Amen.), the Blood, the Word of God bleeding Blood to wash the Bride in. Amen. Yes, sir. She stands perfect, virgin, unadulterated; She never sinned in the first place. Amen. She was trapped into it. There's the Father's house that He's gone to prepare. [7]

Reference:
[1] “Questions&Answers”, COD pg. 1109-1110, Q-No. 355 [2] “Hebrews, Chapter 6”, pg. 206-207, par. 244-249 [3] “Hebrews, Chapter 5&6, Part I”, pg. 184-186, par. 104-107, 113-118 [4] “Who Is This Melchisedec”, par. 113 [5] “God In Simplicity” (63-0412E), par. 138-139 [6] “Invisible Union”, pg. 32-39 [7] ”Things That Are To Be”, par. 61-62.

Spiritual Building-Stone No. 154 from the Revealed Word of this hour, compiled by: Gerd Rodewald, Friedenstr. 69, D-75328 Schömberg, Germany
Phone: (+49) 72 35 76 13, Fax: (+49) 72 35 33 06

"There´s coming one with a Message that´s straight on the Bible, and quick work will circle the earth. The seeds will go in newspapers, reading material, until every predestinated Seed of God has heard It. " ( Bro. Branham in Conduct-Order-Doctrine“, page 724)