Ch. 4
How a Disciple's Heart Is Perfected In Love
In the last verse of this parable we see the disciple's heart which is perfected in love: "But they on the good ground (good heart) are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience" (Luke 8:15).
Jesus is coming for a bride who is holy and blameless. This bride will be perfected in love, and she will love her neighbor as Jesus has loved us.
Paul told the Thessalonians that he was praying for them night and day that we "might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.., and the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men.., to the end He may stablish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Thess. 3:10-13).
Paul continued, "FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD, EVEN YOUR SANCTIFICATION (a pure heart).., that every one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor; not in the lust of concupiscence (longing for that which is forbidden)... that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness (an impure heart), but unto HOLINESS (a pure heart). He therefore that despiseth (rejects), despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit" (1 Thess. 4:3-8).
We miss the will of God when we are not sanctified. Christ is returning for a bride who has been perfected in love, a doer of God's law. In these Scriptures, we clearly see that the Word cleanses our hearts from all love of the flesh. This will not happen unless we first love the Lord and His Word more than any sins of the flesh.
Paul was warning that the tempter would try to turn them from the faith. Then they would not be unblamable in holiness at the coming of our Lord. Paul said, "Now the end of the commandment is charity (agape love) out of a pure heart" (1 Tim. 1:5). This is the purpose of sanctification, to have love from a pure heart.
The man who purifies his heart possesses his vessel in sanctification and honor by overcoming the selfish flesh. This is the true Church. This is the bride Jesus Christ is returning for. If anyone rejects the teaching of sanctification because of carnal doctrines, he is rejecting God who gives the Holy Spirit. The Word of God has clearly described the Church that our Lord Jesus is coming for.
"Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such WERE SOME OF YOU: BUT YE ARE WASHED (by the word and Spirit of God), BUT YE ARE SANCTIFIED, (to have a pure heart), BUT YE ARE JUSTIFIED" (1 Cor. 6:9-11).
"And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath He reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and unblamable and unreproveable in His sight: IF YE CONTINUE IN THE FAITH... the mystery which hath been hid.., but now is made manifest to His saints:... which is CHRIST (FORMED) IN YOU, THE HOPE OF GLORY: WHOM WE PREACH... THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT IN JESUS CHRIST (with a pure heart, sanctified)" (Col. 1:21-23, 26-28).