None of us would probably be bold (or foolish) enough to claim to be perfect. As believers, we know that our Lord Jesus Christ was the only perfect man who ever lived and his perfection was necessary to be the acceptable sacrifice for our sins. Yet listen to what Matthew 5:48 says: Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. How in the world can we be perfect, especially like God?
The word perfect in this verse comes from the Greek word teleios, which means complete. What Jesus preached about here in the Sermon on the Mount was the process of becoming more like Him--a process called sanctification. From the moment we accept Christ until the time we breathe our last breath here on earth, God is in the process of changing our old sinful patterns and creating in us a new identity in Christ. While our status in God's family is instant, permanent and secure when we accept Christ, the process of becoming like Christ is a continuous journey for the rest of our earthly existence.
As believers, we can become easily frustrated as we battle sin in our lives; perhaps wishing that sanctification was as instant a process as our salvation. But remember that God does some of his greatest work through the sanctification of believers; drawing many more into His presence through what others can see in us. Hold fast to the words of Philippians 1:6: being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
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Great topic Rick. This onehits home with me. hen I was still in the Wilmington plant I had a member in my team who loved to use the question, "I thought you wee a Christian? Aren't you supposed to be perfect"? when I would do or say something not in line with my faith. Something we are all guilty of. So the nxt time he used that question on me I posed my own challenge to him and asked him to go home and find that verse in the bible for me. I told him that his miss quoted verse was missing the words "being made perfect". The question was never asked again.
ReplyDeleteGood comments John. When we realize that God's goal in our life is to make us more like Christ, it makes our failures, disapppointments and trials a lot easier to take. I'm glad He wants to make me perfect! Keep standing strong, my friend!!
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