Perfection

THE DAILY WORD
By Jim Seekamp

Wednesday March 25, 2009

Matthew 5:48 (NIV) (Jesus speaking)
Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Does God expect us to be perfect???

The meaning of Jesus' statement is better understood by looking at the greek word translated "perfect" by the NIV.

teleios: (Pronounced tel'-i-os)

complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); completeness:
KJV-- of full age, man, perfect.

In most Bible commentaries and dictionaries, this word "teleios" is explained as meaning "mature".

We know that Jesus couldn't have meant "perfect", because that would contradict the rest of the New Testament:

Romans 7:14-19 (NIV)
14. We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. 15. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. 16. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. 17. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me.
18. I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my [flesh]. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. 19. For what I do is not the good I want to do; no, the evil I do not want to do-- this I keep on doing.

Paul, who wrote half the New Testament, was pretty clear that he still had a problem doing the good he wanted to do!
And not doing the good you ought to do is defined as sin:

James 4:17 (NIV)
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn't do it, sins.

No, you're not going to be perfect. You're going to make mistakes. If you didn't, then you would be in the same class as Jesus Christ, and you wouldn't need salvation! But scripture tells us that is not true for any of us born on earth:

Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
22. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, 23. for ALL have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24. and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

Thank God for His wonderful grace and mercy!! We are justified FREELY by God's abundant grace!!

Colossians 2:13 (NIV)
When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us ALL our sins...

Isaiah 43:25 (NIV)
I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more.

God has BLOTTED OUT our sins! His love and mercy have been extended to us, and even when we screw up, Jesus Christ is our advocate (lawyer):

1 John 2:1 (NIV)
My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have one who speaks to the Father in our defense-- Jesus Christ, the Righteous One.

Jesus Christ is our lawyer, who stands up for us! His sacrifice paid the price for our sins, so we can come boldly before the Father's throne!!

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV)
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Woohoo!!! Isn't it wonderful to have a Heavenly Father who loves you so much; who created a way for you to always be able to come boldly before Him??

PRAYER
Thank You Father for Jesus, my advocate. Thank You for Your Word, that gives me hope when I screw up. Help me remember who I am in Christ, so I can maintain my confidence in carrying out Your plans for me on this earth.
In Jesus Name, Amen.

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