Bible Question:
Hi All, I tried searching but couldn't find anything, so here I go: In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says: Be perfect therefore as your Heavenly Father is perfect. How can we be perfect? Also in 1 John it talks a lot about if we are in Chirst--children of God, we don't continue to sin. |
Bible Answer: Hi GH, Christians vary in their understanding and thus obedience to God’s will depending on their desire to serve God. Like the lazy slave (MT 25:24-30) the Christian who fails to obey their master can also expect a similar fate. That is why Christians are repeatedly urged to become perfect throughout the NT. Why are we to be perfect? God rewards all of mankind according to their deeds. Rom 2:4-11 5 But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who will render to every man according to his deeds: 7 to those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life; 8 but to those who are selfishly ambitious and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, wrath and indignation. 9 There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek, 10 but glory and honor and peace to every man who does good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. NAS It would therefore make sense for people to be perfect to ensure they persevere in doing good. How do you become perfect? By the renewing of your mind through the study and practice of God’s word. Rom 12:1-2 12:1 I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. NAS “And do not be conformed” is a command requiring action, not passive expectation! Christians are to follow the example of Paul in doing everything in an orderly and righteous manner (Phil 4:8-9; 3:17-18). What righteousness must be practiced? We know the lazy slave was punished for his failure to leverage the resources given to him by his master. We also know Paul was committed daily to the teaching of God’s word and that he instructed all to do the same (2Tim2:2). It follows the Christian must leverage the spiritual resource (knowledge) they have received by sharing it with others who will do the same. What better way to love your neighbor than to teach him the word of God! Heb 5:11-14 11 Concerning him we have much to say, and it is hard to explain, since you have become dull of hearing. 12 For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. 13 For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is a babe. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil. NAS Does teaching reinforce the teacher’s understanding and obedience to the commands of God? Logic tells us that the teacher must know their subject to a much deeper level to effectively teach. Through practice the teacher nears perfection. Can Christians attain perfection during their lifetimes? Paul could not (Phil 3:12), but he continued to work towards that goal his entire life. Not by completing the works required by the Law of Moses, but by the Law of Faith: the faith that through obedience to God, salvation is obtained through Jesus Christ. Heb 5:8-9 8 Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered. 9 And having been made perfect, He became to all those who obey Him the source of eternal salvation, NAS Unfortunately, many do not desire to love God as He desires, but prefer to love Him as they desire. This is evident through their conduct measured against God’s standard. Many espouse the only "work" is to have faith, yet are hard pressed to explain how having faith is a "work"! Those who honestly seek to serve God grow in their understanding and obedience to His will. Those who do not put forth the effort to accomplish this, stagnate. James 1:22-25 22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror; 24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does. NAS Is doing anything of value easy? Neither is doing the will of God, yet by their obedience, Christians who persevere are assured their reward (James 1:2-4). AO |