Bearing the Fruit of Christ (3) - David Eells - UBBS 4.30.2025
Bearing the Fruit of Christ (3)
(audio)
David Eells – 4/30/25
I’m going to pick up where I left off in part 2 and continue speaking about bearing the fruit of Christ in part 3.
The “love” chapter in 1 Corinthians has a lot to say about perfection and, while we won’t delve too deeply into all of that now, I would like to point out a couple of things there to you: (1Co.13:9) For we know in part, and we prophesy in part; (10) but when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away. (11) When I was a child, I spake as a child, I felt as a child, I thought as a child: now that I am become a man, I have put away childish things. Notice, “when that which is perfect is come, that which is in part shall be done away.” What is he talking about? A lot of people say, “Oh, this is talking about the Gospel, when He came”; or “When Jesus comes again.”
No, he’s talking about you. You put away childish things “when that which is perfect is come,” as you mature. (12) For now we see in a mirror, darkly; but then face to face…. There it is, right there. “When that which is perfect is come,” you see in the mirror clearly, “face to face,” Jesus Christ.
As we are told, But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are transformed into the same image from glory to glory, even as from the Lord the Spirit (2Co.3:18). We see Jesus face to face by faith now, but the more we grow, the more we see Him maturely, purely and perfectly. It’s definitely not talking about the physical coming of Jesus. It’s talking about Him coming in you. And he goes on to say, (1Co.13:12) … Now I know in part; but then shall I know fully even as also I was fully known. And we were fully known before the foundation of the world.
Remember, Jesus says to those who don’t arrive at any form of fruit, “I never knew you” (Mat.7:23). He didn’t know them before the foundation of the world. But Paul says, “When that which is perfect is come, I’m going to know, even as I was fully known.” He’s talking about you coming into the pure, true revelation of Christ. (1Co.13:13) But now abideth faith, hope, love, these three: and the greatest of these is love. We’re coming into His image, we’re looking into His love, we’re coming