Striving

Steven’s Scribbles
“Striving”
Matt. 5:48
    
    “Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt. 5:48). “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom. 3:23). Why would Jesus tell those present at the Sermon of the Mount to be “perfect,” if He knew that all have sinned? I would like to dive into this briefly. The word translated as “perfect” is τέλειός (teleios). It can be translated to mean: perfect, complete, or mature. “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in His mouth” (1 Peter 2:21-22). Jesus is our example for Godly living. Jesus commands that we are to be perfect. The only way for an individual to be perfect, complete, or mature, is to indeed be in Christ. Since Jesus is the only sinless person to ever live, being in Him is the only way to achieve this goal (1 Peter 1:14-16). The initial way to be in Christ is to be baptized into Him and have your sins washed away (Gal. 3:27; Acts 22:16). There is no other mode, outside of baptism, that states how one can get “in Christ.” When one has their sins washed away, they are indeed in a “perfect” state. Again there is no other description of having one’s “sins washed away” in the Bible, other than baptism. To be perfect, complete, or mature, takes more than the initial washing. It takes striving daily in the Gospel. Jesus said one must “take up his cross daily” (Luke 9:23). Paul compared the Christian journey to that of athletics and practicing consistent diligence (1 Cor. 9:24-27). James said we must be “hearers” and “doers” of the word (James 1:22-25). James also stated that Christians fail. When we do, we must confess and pray (James 5:16). So do not only obey once. But strive for the perfection, completeness, and maturity that is only found by walking in the light of Christ (1 John 1:5-10). 


In His service,
Steven Hugley