(Disclaimer: This transcript is auto-generated and may contain mistakes.) So you're there in 1st Corinthians chapter 13, and I want to touch on this subject or give what I believe this is talking about when it says, when that which is perfect is come. When that which is perfect is come. So let's look down there in verse 8, and I want to read this passage right here, because I've heard different interpretations as far as what this is talking about, whether it's a person, whether it's the Bible, like just different things that I've heard when it comes to this. It says, charity never faileth, but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail. Whether there be tongues, they shall cease. Whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spake as a child. I understood as a child. I thought as a child. But when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then shall I know, even as also I am known. And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity. And so this passage right here in verse 10 where it says, but when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away, there's been a lot of thought processes when it comes to what is this talking about. And I'm not here to like attack any of the sermons or different people that have had different thought processes on this, but I'm going to give you what I believe this is talking about, what I believe is pretty clear that it's talking about, because I've heard this that this is talking about the Bible. You know, it's like the 66 books, you know, it's completed, right, the 66 books. And that's why, you know, basically when the Bible was completed, and a lot of times they try to use this to say, well, that's why the gifts of tongues like the day of Pentecost and, you know, those things are done away now, you know, that we have the Bible now, and now we don't need those type of miracles that are going on, okay. And not that I disagree with that to a certain extent, but I don't believe that's what it's saying, meaning this is that obviously with the apostles and, you know, jump starting the New Testament and getting the word out and confirming the word until we had a more sure word of prophecy, yeah, I think there was a lot of that stuff that was being used and now it's not being used anymore, like we don't have apostles anymore, right. And so the idea of just being able to speak and someone hear in their own language, the idea that God can't do that anymore I think is, you know, I wouldn't say that, but I don't think that's being done anymore right now, okay. So I don't disagree with that logic and I don't disagree with that sentiment, but I don't believe that's what it's talking about. I've also heard that this is talking about Jesus, okay, that, you know, that which is as perfect as come is talking about the Lord Jesus, because obviously Jesus is perfect and he's going to be coming, okay. Now I think that there's some truth to that in this passage, but I still don't believe that's what it's talking about. I don't think it's talking about the Lord Jesus coming and saying that, although there's some truth to meaning that when he comes this is going to happen, okay, you say, well what do you think it's talking about? I think it's talking about our resurrected body. I believe it's talking about when that which is perfect, meaning when we are perfected, holy soul, body and spirit, then that which is in part is done away, meaning that the flesh, the flesh and blood is done away and now we know him as we are known of him and getting into that. And I want to prove that to you as far as why I believe that's what it's talking about. So and it gets into this idea of when I was a child, I was as fake as a child, but now when I became a man, I put away childish things. And the idea is that we now see through a glass darkly, but then face to face, okay. And it's the idea of, hey, right now we just know in part, we prophesy in part, meaning this is that, yeah, we prophesy, but there's a lot of things we're just seeing through a glass darkly. You kind of see it a little bit, but there's just not a whole bunch of information that you see there. And when we're resurrected, it's going to be clear. It's not going to be through a glass darkly. It's not going to be veiled. It's going to be completely clear as far as what's going on. So go to Ephesians chapter 4, because I believe Ephesians chapter 4, I actually believe a lot of places, and I don't have just one place where I believe this is linking this to, but you're going to see a lot of familiar wording and all that as far as this passage goes, okay. So this isn't really something that's really deep or anything like that, but I think it's good to always know, like, okay, what is it talking about, who are we talking about, and all that when we're dealing with this passage. And in verse 8 of Ephesians chapter 4, Ephesians chapter 4 says, Wherefore, he saith, when he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things. It's about Jesus dying and, you know, going down into the heart of the earth and rising again, right? And it says, And he gave some apostles, 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 notice this, into the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfect man. Now what was said in 1 Corinthians chapter 13? It says, But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is done in part, or that which is in part shall be done away. It says, For now I know in part, in verse 12, but then shall I know even also, or as also I am known, okay? And so when it's talking about being perfect or that which is perfect is coming, it's basically saying, hey, we're going to know even as I am known. And it's saying here in Ephesians chapter 4, it says that 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 fullness of Christ, that we henceforth be no more children. Isn't it interesting? Because that's the same thing that's being talked about in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. It says, When I was a child, I was as big as a child. I thought as a child. I understood as a child, but when I became a man, I put away childish things. So he's basically giving you an aspect of, like, how do you relate this, okay? As far as we prophesy in part, we know in part, but we're going to know even as we are known of God. And he's relating it to a child, and he's doing the same thing here in Ephesians chapter 4. It says 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 and wait to deceit. But speaking the truth in love may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Because love is being brought up a lot in this, and what is 1 Corinthians 13 all about? Love. It's talking about charity. And even at the very end, it says faith, hope, and charity, but it says the greatest of these is charity. And then even at the very end here in verse 16, it says, From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplied, according to the effectual working and the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. And so the idea of perfecting the saints, and it's through love, and I believe that's what 1 Corinthians 13 is talking about, the more excellent way, if you will, as far as through love, and that we're trying to strive for that. Now, obviously we're trying to be that, but we're not that yet. Go to 1 John chapter 3, 1 John chapter 3, and this is just to show you, hey, you know, I believe what this is talking about, that that which perfectly has come is talking about us being regenerated completely. Our body is getting taken out of the way, and we're going to see clearly, and we're going to know Him even as He knows us. And this is something that's brought up a lot, actually, in the Bible as far as knowing God compared to being known of God, meaning that a lot of people say, well, you need to know God to be saved. No. God needs to know you. Because when Jesus says, depart from me, I never knew you, that's what we're talking about. It says, I never knew you, depart from me, ye that work iniquity. And it says, I know my sheep, and they hear my voice, and I give unto them eternal life, and they shall never perish. And the idea is that God knows those that are His. He knows them that put their trust in Him. And the idea of God knowing us, but the idea is that we know Him as much as He knows us. That's what we're striving for, and no one today can say that, can say, I know God as much as He knows me. Does that make sense? But that's what we're striving for, and that's what I believe 1 Corinthians 13 is talking about, is saying, hey, we see it through a glass darkly right now. We're trying to know God. We're trying to see God, but we just can't, it's just in part, we can't see it. It's not all coming together completely, but when we're face to face with Jesus, then we're going to know Him as He knows us. And so this is a great hope to look for, but it's also just to know that, hey, there is this veil or basically this, I don't want to say impeding force, but it's basically the flesh is in the way. The flesh is in the way to really know God as much as you want to. And in verse 1, so 1 John chapter 3 and verse 1, it says, 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. So we know that we're sons of God now, and I've preached on this before, but spiritually speaking we are children of God, but not physically yet. Now keep reading there, it says, and it doth not 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. So seeing Him as He is, a lot of times when you say I see that, you're saying I know that, I perceive it, right? So the idea of seeing God, you know, blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God, those are synonymous terms with knowing God. Like the see God is to know God, okay? So it's basically saying that, hey, when He shall appear, then we're going to be like Him. How are we going to be like Him? Well, obviously the resurrection, okay? We're going to be, as He was resurrected, so shall we be resurrected, and we're going to be like Him, and we're going to see Him as He is, okay? So there is truth that obviously when that which is perfect is to come, obviously Jesus is coming when that happens, right? Because the resurrection happens when Jesus comes back, and we're caught up together in the clouds with Him, okay? But I believe that which is perfect is talking about us individually, okay, as far as that goes. Now go to Philippians chapter 3, Philippians chapter 3. So I believe that perfect, that which is perfect is to come is talking about the resurrection, is talking about what we're hoping for and groaning for and hoping to be. Now we're striving for it. We're striving to be that perfect man, but can anybody say that they've attained? Can anyone say that, yes, I know God as much as He knows me? No one on this earth can say that right now, but one day we can say, hey, you know, we know Him even as He knows us. We comprehend Him or apprehend Him as He apprehends us, and, you know, we're striving for that, but we haven't attained unto that. And 1 Corinthians chapter 13, I believe, is giving you hope, saying, hey, you know what? Right now it is in part. Right now, you know, we don't see everything clearly, but we will. There's going to be a day, because you may ask this question, you know, in the resurrection, are we going to know everything? And I believe that our eyes are going to be open to it. It's kind of like when the disciples, after the resurrection, Jesus opened their understanding to the scriptures, and they were just like, oh, they just saw it. And I believe it's going to be something like that, to where when the flesh gets out of the way, it's just going to be, you know, like all that stuff's going to be coming and you're going to be understanding what you need to understand and knowing God on that perfect level, okay? Now in 1, or Philippians chapter 3 and verse 7 here, it says, but what things were gained to me, those that count a loss for Christ, yea, doubtless, I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things and do count them but dung that I may win Christ and be found in Him not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith. Now up to this point, we're talking about salvation. We're talking about getting saved by faith in God and His righteousness being imputed unto us. Does that make sense? Once you go to verse 10, we're moving from salvation to going on top of that, okay? Notice what it says in verse 10, that I may know Him, okay? See, knowing God is not the same as being known of God. It's not the same as getting saved, okay? Knowing God is another level as far as you get saved, you're known of God, you believed on Him, and obviously you need to know God to a certain extent. Does that make sense? Like you got to know who He is and He that comes to God must believe that He is and, you know, so you have to understand and know God to a certain level, okay, as far as the Gospel goes. But when it says that I may know Him, notice this, in the power of His resurrection, in the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable one to His death, if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. So He's not saying, if by any means I might actually get saved. If by any means I might actually get to the resurrection. No, He's trying to attain unto the resurrection of the dead. He's trying to attain unto the resurrection right now. He's trying to be so close to God and know Him to the point where He's standing there in the flesh but He's as if He's in the resurrected state, okay, of knowing God and being perfected to that point. And He's saying, that's what I'm striving for. I'm striving to know God that I may attain unto the resurrection of the dead, but notice what He says right after that. It says in verse 12, not as though I had already attained. So He answers the question, I haven't done it, okay, you know, that's what I'm trying to do. I want to know God. I want to know God. I want to know the power of His resurrection. I want to know Him as He knows me and He's going to get to that because it says, not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect. So what are we waiting for? That which is perfect to come. And He's saying, I haven't attained unto the resurrection of the dead and I haven't become perfect yet. But notice what He says, but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. See that same terminology because apprehended is the same as knowing. If you apprehend something, you know it or you acknowledge it or you understand it, okay. So He's saying that He follows after if that I may apprehend, right. So He's trying to apprehend that which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus, okay. The same idea as far as saying, now I know in part, but then shall I know even as also I am known, as it says in 1 Corinthians chapter 13. So we're striving for that and we should be trying to strive to the resurrection of the dead. You know, I want to attain unto the resurrection of the dead why I'm standing here. Now is that possible? No, the flesh will not allow that to happen, but that doesn't mean I can't try to walk in the Spirit, walk in a new man to the point where the flesh is so anemic that it's as if I'm standing here in my resurrected state knowing God. And you know what, Paul said, hey, I'm striving for that, but I haven't attained. Keep reading there. It says in verse 13, brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended. So he's basically saying I haven't attained unto the resurrection of the dead, neither were already perfect, and he says I haven't apprehended. But isn't that what he's striving for? But what it's saying is that when that which is perfect has come, you will apprehend, you will be perfect, and you will have attained unto the resurrection of the dead because you're in the resurrected state. Does that make sense? So he's basically stating I'm striving for that, but I haven't attained unto it. And notice I keep reading there, it says I count not myself to have apprehended, but it's 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. I'm pressing toward it. So he's pressing toward that to be perfect, to be in a resurrected state, to apprehend Christ even as he's apprehended of Christ, but he's saying I haven't attained unto that. I'm not already perfect, but he's striving for it. So that same language is exactly what 1 Corinthians chapter 13 is talking about. So go down to the, you think that he's talking about the resurrection, well go down to the last two verses of the chapter, verse 20. Verse 20 of chapter 3, it says for our conversation is in heaven from whence also we look for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall change our vile body that it may be fashioned like unto what? His glorious body. According to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself. So the idea is that like 1 John chapter 3 says, we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is. He's going to change our vile body that it may be like unto his glorious body and when that happens, we're going to be face to face with the Lord Jesus Christ and instead of looking through a glass darkly, we're going to be face to face. We're going to see him clearly as he is. We're going to see him as he is and we're going to know him at that level. Now this is where you get into the idea of where Jesus says in Matthew 5 verse 48, it says be therefore perfect even as my Father which is in heaven is perfect. So technically you have the new man which is perfected and he's basically saying walk in the new man. Walk in that perfect man, that hidden man of the heart which is incorruptible. That incorruptible seed that lives inside of you. Walk in that new man and that's what we're trying to do. Now go to Galatians chapter 4 because really you can do this, a really easy study to parallel all these is there's key phrases that are said in this passage. So if you're like what is this talking about, look at those key phrases that you know him as you are known, well look up all the places where it talks about that and I'm going to show you that in Galatians 4 here and then you see okay we're talking about being children but then becoming men. Well look at all the passages where it talks about that. Look at all the passages where it talks about being perfect and that's where you'll find that all this fits hand in glove that we're talking about hey we prophesy in part and you know and I think where people get stuck on this is that when it coming to be like oh this is the Bible right, this is the culmination of the 66 books is when it says tongues shall cease, prophecy shall fail or prophecy shall fail. But that just gets into the fact that tongues are just languages okay. We're not talking about like some gift of tongues, it doesn't say the gift of tongues shall cease, it says tongues shall cease and languages do. There's languages that aren't spoken anymore, Latin's one of them, Hebrew was one of them until they brought it back and there's languages today that they don't speak. I mean Egyptian, they don't speak that anymore and so there's going to be languages that cease and it's basically saying hey these things will cease but you know eventually when that which is perfect has come, we're going to know even as we are known. And in Galatians chapter 4, and I just want to read again in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 so keep your hand in 1 Corinthians 13, in 1 Corinthians 13 verse 11 it says when I was a child I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things. Okay so keep this in mind because we saw this in Ephesians 4 right when it says that we're trying to get into being a perfect man okay through the knowledge of Jesus Christ so that makes sense as far as what we're talking about in 1 Corinthians chapter 13 but it also says that we'd be no more children tossed to and fro with every wind of doctrine okay so you can definitely see how that correlates well think about how it correlates here in Galatians chapter 4, Galatians chapter 4 of not being children. It says in verse 1, now I say that the heir as long as he is a child differeth nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all. Now this is a good example of where we're at right now. We are all heirs of God but we're still servants to the body as it is today does that make sense like we're down here we're not ruling and reigning with Christ we're not lording over you know we're not judging angels right now we're not doing any of that right now but we're heirs inwardly we're heirs okay so keep reading there says that the heir as long as he's a child differeth nothing from a servant though he be Lord of all okay but is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father and what are you doing when you're under tutors and governors or governesses right if you want to get back if you want to get into the Jane Austen stuff you know where you have a governess and you know and you're learning right the idea is that the child is learning they're they're being instructed right and the idea is that you're under this until you become a man okay or a woman right verse three it says even so when we when we were children were in bondage under the elements of the world so we're talking spiritually speaking right now that we were under the the bondage of the elements of the world but when the fullness of time was come God sent forth his son made of a woman made under the law to redeem them that were under the law that we might receive the adoption of sons and because you are sons notice that present-tense you are sons we're talking spiritually here God has sent for the spirit of his son into your hearts crying Abba father wherefore thou art no more servant but a son and if a son than an heir of God through Christ so that's where we're at okay how be it then when you knew not God you did service unto them which by nature are no gods but notice in verse nine here but now after that ye have known God or rather are known of God how turn ye again to the weak and beggar the elements of the world we can beggar that is where where until you desire again to be in bondage okay so what is that the flesh is trying to go back into that right because you know the flesh is a child of wrath a child of disobedience and you know what physically speaking we're still children and not heirs yet I'm gonna get to that because physically speaking we are not heirs yet okay we're waiting for it and that's what's holding us back the flesh is what's holding us back from knowing God as we are known of God and you know the Bible says also in first Corinthians 14 in verse 20 says brethren be not children in understanding so a lot of times when it's talking about being children it's not talking about like literally being a child okay it's talking about being a child in understanding and knowledge and wisdom and fleshly speaking you know that's holding us back from being mature and understanding and mature and knowledge and but it says be how be it in malice be children but in understanding be men so what does that mean basically in malice and you know we need to just be like a child like you just oblivious to it okay but when it comes to understanding we need to be men we need to understand it and be adults right when it comes to that so going on and this is going to be a pretty much a short sermon here I'm really just trying to just prove to you why I believe this is what it's talking about it's talking about the resurrection talking about us being perfected but how about this you know when it talks about beholding in a glass darkly so and go to second Corinthians chapter three second Corinthians chapter three but in first Corinthians chapter 13 and verse 12 it says for now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know one part but then shall I know even as also I am known so the idea is that you know we're waiting to not see through a glass darkly right we're wanting to see face to face right we're wanting to see and you can imagine what this is like right imagine that you're looking through a glass and it's just dark like you're looking at let's say you're looking into a house that's just not there's no lights on and you're trying to make out what's in there right and it's just it's everything's there right but you just can't see it you're just trying to make out you're kind of seeing some some forms of it but you don't have all the details and a lot of times when you're looking at the Bible as far as your understanding goes a lot of times you're like I see the skeleton you know I kind of see the outline I see a little bit you know it's there I'm kind of I'm picturing what it's like but all the detail isn't there until you turn on the light right but how much more when you're not looking through the glass anymore how much more when you're just like straight up in there looking at it and you can just see it without that that dark glass that you got to look through okay so in verse 15 so 2 Corinthians chapter 3 in verse 15 says but even unto this day when Moses is read the veil is upon their heart nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord the veil shall be taken away now the Lord is that spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is liberty but we all notice this with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord okay same terminology right through open glass were were beholding the glory of the Lord it says are changed into the same image from glory to glory even as by the Spirit of the Lord what's it talking about it's talking about we should be like him for we shall see him as he is he shall change our vile bodies that may be like unto his glorious body and when we do that we're not going to be looking through you know a glass darkly we're going to see him face to face and notice that it talks about this veil okay so when you think about you were talking about the Old Testament this veil was over their face the idea is that they can't see to behold the glory right because he put a veil over because his face shown right so they put a veil so they couldn't behold the glory and now there's it's interesting because veil sometimes is talking about the flesh okay go to Hebrews chapter 10 Hebrews chapter 10 because to me this all comes down to the resurrection as long as we have this flesh we are only going to know in part we're only going to prophesy in part and we're just not going to know God to that full perfect extent until we get out of the flesh until that gets taken out of the way we're going to be knowing in part and we're going to have that struggle okay but when our resurrected body when we are preserved soul body and spirit then it's not longer going to be in part okay we're going to know him as he knows us and that is a glorious thing to think about as far as that contact that day when we're not like wondering and you know like is this what this is talking about no we're going to know exactly what it's talking about we're going to know God at that level and now in Hebrews chapter 10 and verse 19 is what it says it says having therefore brethren boldness to enter into the holiest by the blood of Jesus by new and living way which he hath consecrated for us through the veil that is to say his flesh now the point I want to make here is that he likens the flesh as a veil okay and so when it comes to this veil being taken away so that you can behold the glory of God do you see that that same type of illustration as far as when the flesh the body the flesh and blood is taken away that we can behold the glory of God because and I'm going to get to this I'm getting ahead of myself but flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God and as long as we have the flesh it is holding us back okay now go to Romans chapter 8 Romans chapter 8 because we see that in 2nd Corinthians chapter 3 it says where the Spirit of Lord is there is Liberty and it's interesting because it talks about this Liberty that's in being a child of God and you imagine how liberating that is okay meaning that imagine and a lot of you wear glasses I don't know what that's like that 20 20 vision now my wife my wife has some pretty bad vision okay and she won't have her glasses on and I'm like can you look at this and she's got like put it up here and like I'm like you can't see that and I have no idea what it's like to like basically wake up and not see anything it's weird to me to think about hey I'm not downing on people that have glasses but what I'm saying is that imagine that you didn't have glasses but you needed them right and everything's just kind of blurry you make outlines of things and you can see colors right I don't know how it how bad it is for some people but some people it's really bad like they can't make out anything they don't even know it's me like it would be like from here to the chair up there and they have no idea what what the person is but imagine that they just went away and you just saw clearly okay that's what it's like that's the how much how liberating would that feel okay again I can't I can't really understand this I guess if I put on your glasses and then I took them off that's how I feel right you know you ever put it yeah I put them on I'm like is this what you see you know is this is this what because that is horrible so but no I'm just blessed that I don't have to wear glasses but you know what I'm glad that there are glasses and you guys can see and you know you can live out your life with you know normal life here anyway I'm trying to get an illustration here I'm not trying to come down on people that wear glasses I have to wear contacts the whole point is is that you feel liberated okay that you don't you're not like having to like struggle to see what you have to see okay and you may even feel that if let's say you get a new prescription right because I know what Holly like with pregnancy and stuff like that it'll mess with your prescription like it'll mess with your your eyesight to a certain extent so where you have to get like a new set of glasses and I can imagine you know even just that little bit of tweak on how freeing that is to be able to see clearly okay and so that's the idea that I'm that I see when it says the liberty of the Spirit and obviously the Spirit of God is what quickens it's going to quicken our mortal body to the point where it's liberated in the in the Son of God that's what it talks about here in Roman chapter 8 in verse 20 so pardon my crude illustration for trying to figure you know trying to give you an illustration on that but in verse 20 it says for the creature was made subject to vanity not willingly but by reason of him who has subjected the same in hope because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God did you get that because actually and I didn't put this in here but it talks about the same thing as far as we have received the spirit of adoption we have not received the spirit of fear again it's a bondage but the spirit of adoption whereby we cry Abba Father same language that Galatians chapter 4 talks about but it talks about hey you know what our spirit has that okay we are now the sons of God you are the sons of God you have received the spirit of adoption you know behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed upon us that we should be called the sons of God therefore the world knows 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 he shall see him as he is and we're waiting for the for this the creature itself and it's talking about the body okay the body itself is waiting for this Liberty okay to be freed from this veil if you will of the flesh and notice what it says in verse 22 it says for we know that the whole creation growneth and travails and pain together until now and not only they but ourselves also which had the first fruits of the spirit even we ourselves grown within ourselves waiting for the adoption to wit the redemption of our body so what are we waiting for that glorious liberty of the children of God which is the redemption of our body for we are saved by hope but hope that is seen is not hope for what a man seeth why does he yet hope for but if we hope for that we see not then do we with patience wait for it you ever wonder why at the end of first Corinthians 13 is talking about faith hope and charity because we're hoping and waiting by faith that this is going to happen that we're going to know him as much as he knows us that when that which is perfect has come then that which is part is gonna be done away with okay we're not complete yet does that make sense and what is perfect mean in the sense of the Bible it means complete okay so it's basically saying we're not complete yet but when we are complete meaning our soul body and spirit is all a child of God then that which is in part is done away and we're no longer a child we are you know immaturity I guess is the way I look at it you're you're you don't know as a child you know as an adult you don't understand as a child you don't think as a child you know and understand as an adult and that's the correlation it's given you as far as the difference between what we are right now we're pretty much like children trying to understand God that makes sense but when now which is perfect has come we're not going to be children knowing God we're gonna be adults knowing God we're gonna know God at an adult level so you want to know the difference between the two that's the correlation is giving now go to first Corinthians chapter 15 and this last thing I'm show you here but when that which is perfect is come I believe is clearly talking about the resurrection it's talking about putting on incorruption it's not corruptible it's it's something that's going to be perfect but you have to put off the corruption to put on the incorruption right so when that which is perfect is come then that means that which is part has to be done away it has to be taken away you can't have both of them at the same time and that's why it says in verse 50 of chapter 15 now this I say brethren that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God neither that corruption inherit incorruption so it has to be done away it has to be taken out of the way for the incorruption to be there and it says behold I show you a mystery we shall not all sleep but we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of an eye at the last Trump for the trumpet shall sound and the dead shall be raised incorruptible and we shall be changed for this corruptible must put on incorruption and this mortal must put on immortality so when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption and this mortal shall have put on immortality then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written death is swallowed up in victory listen it's not complete yet we're not done yet okay it's not finished yet spiritually speaking it's done it's finished and you know old things are passed away behold all things have become new but physically speaking it's not true we still have the flesh we still have that veil we're still looking through a glass darkly to see the Lord and we're trying and like Paul said he's saying I'm trying to attain you know that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings if I may by any means might attain us of the resurrection and the dead not as though I had already attained or are or already perfect but I follow after if that I may apprehend that which which also I'm apprehended of Christ Jesus and he's saying listen I want to know him I want I want to attain us to the resurrection of dead but he says I haven't attained neither already perfect and I haven't apprehended Christ as he's apprehended me but I pressed toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and we are going to be looking through that glass darkly but listen there's gonna come a day when it's going to be perfected when the body is going to also be is I'm sorry the way it says it says it's going to be delivered from the bondage of corruption and what what's what's the difference from corruption and corruption it's gonna be delivered from the bondage of corruption meaning that we're no longer gonna be children we're gonna that air you know that we're errors inwardly but we're no longer gonna be children according to knowledge according to understanding according to knowing God we're not gonna be children anymore we're gonna be adults we're gonna be mature we're gonna be men and women that know God because of that so let's read 1st Corinthians chapter 13 with all that in mind and I hope this makes it this is what I personally believe this is clearly talking about and it should make a lot of sense especially since chapter 15 comes later talking about the resurrection you know and all this this book is all written together okay it's not like each chapters like should be taken out without any other context in there I believe he's setting it up and setting up other things in chapter 14 even as far as not being children and understanding but be men and understanding and setting that up and then going into the resurrection and the fact that we're gonna be perfected so but let's read that again in verse verse 8 it says charity never fails but whether there be prophecies they shall fail whether there be tongues they shall cease whether there be knowledge it shall vanish away for we know in part and we prophesy in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is part shall be done away so when you look at this through that that aspect of okay knowing apart that's talking about the flesh fleshly speaking we're trying to know as much as we can and we're gonna make mistakes listen nothing there's no way that I'm preaching everything that I preach that it's just all right I never make a mistake or I never figure out something new or I never change my mind be like you know what I was actually a little wrong on that this is actually right over here but see see how that's in part it's not perfected yet and I'm trying to learn as much I can and but I don't think there's ever gonna come a point where I just know everything and I just perfectly know God to the T that will not happen until the resurrection and it says when I was a child I spake as a child I understood as a child I thought as a child but when I became a man I put away childish things for now we see through a glass darkly but then face to face now I know in part but then shall I know even as also I am known and now by the faith hope charity these three but the greatest of these is charity and so I personally believe this it's pretty clear that we're talking about the fact that we're gonna be completed we're not complete yet soul and spirit we're good to go okay but body that's not complete yet we still have the flesh you know Oh wretched man that I am who should deliver me from the body of this death I mean we're still struggling with that but there's going to come a day when we're not dealing with that anymore we're not dealing with sin anymore and we can know God as much as he knows us and what a day that will be when we can know God at that level and just your understanding just opened up to all that just imagine how that'll feel when you're just like I know there it is all those little pieces you're like what was that talking about what did this mean and and listen there's probably a lot of stuff that you never even thought about in the Bible that's gonna be opened up to you and you know I believe it's all here that we can know it but you know we're we have a veil we had the flesh still and we're dealing with that so I hope that makes sense and there's just one of those things where this is what I believe it's talking about it doesn't really I don't want to say the phrase but I'm gonna do it anyway change the cost of tea in China if someone believes this is talking about the Bible or this is talking about Jesus right because all those things are good doctrine you know like talking about Jesus coming and and that's true right because when we're resurrected Jesus is going to come back or you know talk about the Bible being completed and there's no more need for all these spiritual gifts as far as that goes to confirm the Word of God I I don't disagree with your doctrine okay so it's not like these other views are just heresy and I need to debunk that you know it's just this is what I believe it's talking about and you know I think it's a good passage to really just show that we're talking about the resurrection so let's end with a word of prayer the only father we think of today I praise you be with us throughout the rest of this week I pray to heal those that maybe aren't feeling well and be with those that couldn't make it today and Lord just thank you for this passage and Lord a passage on charity a passage on love and that that is above all there that we need to have in our hearts but also just the hope and the faith that we should have that that that we're going to be perfected completely Lord and that will will know you even as you know us and Lord what a day that will be and all we just can't wait for that day and what we say we say even come quickly Lord even so come Lord Jesus and what we love you and pray all this in Jesus Christ's name