“you therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly father is perfect.” – jesus [matthew 5:48]
perfect
we are not perfect.
we have many excuses for not being perfect.
- i am human.
- everyone makes mistakes.
- my parents were terrible to me.
- my kids are terrible to me.
- the world is terrible to me.
- the devil made me do it.
- i have a disease.
- i cannot be expected to control my desires.
- i am young.
- i was young.
- i was stupid.
- no one’s perfect.
the last excuse is the most accurate and truthful according to the word.
none is righteous, no, not one; [romans 3:10]
all we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—every one—to his own way; [isaiah 53:6]
for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. [romans 3:23]
the word of God is clear.
please, hear this and ask God to help you understand this truth even now – none of us are perfect.
and yet the word of God – from the very mouth of God (Jesus) says,
“you therefore must be perfect …”
the standard of holiness is not your mother, your boss, your teacher, your pastor, your friend, or yourself.
the standard of holiness – is God.
and, we are called and commanded to be holy.
now for the gospel – the good news.
- the bad news of the gospel is we are not perfect.
- the good news – Jesus is perfect and gives us his perfection, his righteousness, when we faith his person and work on our behalf. (2 cor 5:20)
- the good news of the gospel also declares that God puts his Spirit in all those who are his by faith.
- the good news of the gospel also declares we can aim for and pursue holiness through the work of the gospel and the power of the Spirit in us.
in matthew 5:48 – Jesus is talking to his disciples. we know this because of how chapter 5 begins…
seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. and he opened his mouth and taught them, saying: [matthew 5:1-2]
this means, for those who are his by faith, this command is not burdensome but life giving.
we pursue holiness because this is what we were created for – to live in his presence and ways.
we pursue holiness because the ways of God lived out in his presence is best for us.
we pursue holiness because the ways of God lived out in his presence causes the world to flourish around us.
and ultimately, we pursue holiness because this glorifies God.
today – you and i are called to follow Jesus in every way.
today – we have the Spirit in us to empower this call!
today – we desperately need the LORD to make this happen because our old nature still desires everything but holiness.
today – let’s ask the father, who is perfect, to lead us in his ways – for his glory, our good, and the flourishing of the world around us!
~ john ryan