p. 3 | PERFECTION YET GROWTH by Ellet Joseph Waggoner

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Aug 29, 1895

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 21, No. 34.

PERFECTION YET GROWTH.

By Ellet Joseph Waggoner

“Ye are complete in him,” is the word to the believer. The difficulty in the minds of many in the way of grasping the completeness of the life of Christ is the fact that the Christian life is progressive. We are to continually grow in grace, and in the knowledge of the Lord; but this to some seems incompatible with being complete in Christ.

When Christ Jesus was on earth as a boy of twelve years, he was perfect. But we read that he grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God. Luke 2:52. Complete, yet growing in grace and knowledge; perfect all the time. The plant is perfect at every stage of its growth. We admire the beauty of the plant when the leaves burst forth. It is perfect when the flowers bloom, and perfect when the fruit comes. Yet it keeps on growing.

It is not that we are to grow into grace, but grow in grace. We are not to get more and more into grace, but in the grace we are to grow, and increase in wisdom, complete in him. The very statement of this fact implies that we are not complete in ourselves. There is nothing in us, but he is ours, and of his fullness have we all received, and grace over grace. Grace superabounds and fills all.

E. J. W.