Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2 JB Phillips “With eyes wide open to the mercies of God, I beg you, my brothers, as an act of intelligent worship, to give him your bodies, as a living sacrifice, consecrated to him, and acceptable by him. Don’t let the world around you squeeze you into its own mould, but let God re-mould your minds from within, so that you may prove in practice that the plan of God for you is good, meets all his demands, and moves [you] towards the goal of true maturity.”
Quote; “Christ came to the world to counteract Satan’s falsehood that God had made a law which men could not keep. Taking humanity upon Himself, He came to this earth, and by a life of obedience showed that God has not made a law that man cannot keep. He showed that it is possible for man to perfectly obey the law. Those who accept Christ as their Saviour, becoming partakers of His divine nature, are enabled to follow His example, living in obedience to every precept of the law. Through the merits of Christ, man is to show by his obedience that he could be trusted in heaven, that he would not rebel.” {FLB 114} James 2:18 “Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.” Luke 5:32 “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.” Please note that Jesus came to call “Sinners,” [Past Tense], to repentance, Jesus will not join himself to “Sinning” [Present Tense] for “Repentance is 180 degrees,” a complete abandonment of the past life, to embrace a new Hollier life, unto Salvation. Revelation 22:12 “And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward [is] with me, to give every man according as his work shall be.”
Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Now this poses discussion as to what actually is “Perfection,” what does it really look like, and when can we arrive at ‘Perfection?’ Now the Bible is loaded with ‘Physical things,’ that teach us, and help us to understand, ‘Spiritual things,’ so let us use this ‘Parable’ to help us to grasp this concept. Modern Parable; “You grow up with a group of friends, wedding bells chime, new family units set up, and then babies inevitably arrive as evidence of the love and oneness of the marriage. Because of your close relationship with this new family, you are honoured to become a ‘god-parent’ to a healthy and thriving beautiful baby girl, ‘Perfect.’ Now Katie is so adorable, snuggles into your arms as you hold and cradle her, loves cuddles, ‘perfect.’ Time and tide wait for no man, employment, transfers, promotions, life in general, and before long some 20years have flown by, and a grand ‘Reunion’ is planned back home, you have spare holiday time, so you pack and fly over to be part of the activities and to meet up with those whom you have lost track of. Once more united with the wee family, and she is cuddling a beautiful, bonny, perfect wee baby girl, “Grand Daughter” you ask, oh no, this is our perfect little ‘Katie,’ remember her, you cuddled her just after she was born, do you want another cuddle??
Is wee ‘Katie’ perfect, right on, all her fingers and toes, button nose, everything is absolutely ‘perfect,’ but where is the growth and development, all missing, so is baby ‘Katie’ perfect, well Yes and No. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and forever. Amen.” Wee ‘Katie is perfect, but perfection is a growth thing, plant a bean seed, up comes a shoot and two leaves, ‘perfect,’ now we can have a basket of beans for evening meal, not so fast, the bean must grow moment by moment, more leaves, flowers, tiny pods that will fill out, and then you can feast upon the bounties. Same with our ‘Christian Walk,’ some expound the theory of “Once Saved, always Saved,” which looks so much like baby ‘Katie,’ or our tiny bean plant, there must be corresponding “Growth.” In Horticulture, what is not growing, is actually dying, live fish swim upstream, dead fish float down. Philippians 3:14 “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” Perfection is in essence that ‘Today you are perfect,’ but if you remain in the same condition tomorrow, then you are no longer perfect, you are perfect right now, but you must continue to grow, attain, be better tomorrow than you are today, if you continue to grow and to develop, then you will keep up with ‘Perfection,’ which is a growth and progression, you are ‘perfect’ for where you are today, but you must grow and progress or else tomorrow you will no longer be perfect.
Understood, thoughts and minds clear, very focused, Quote; “The law of God is as holy as He is holy, as perfect as He is perfect. It presents to men the righteousness of God. It is impossible for man, of himself, to keep this law; for the nature of man is depraved, deformed, and wholly unlike the character of God. The works of the selfish heart are “as an unclean thing;” and “all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags.” Isaiah 64:6. {MB 54} Quote; “God’s law reaches the feelings and motives, as well as the outward acts. It reveals the secrets of the heart, flashing light upon things before buried in darkness. God knows every thought, every purpose, every plan, every motive. The books of heaven record the sins that would have been committed had there been opportunity. God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing. By His law He measures the character of every man.” {ST 31/7/1901} Quote; “The glory of God is His character.” 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory [Godly Character] both now and forever. Amen.” Quote; “Within our limited powers, we are to be as holy in our sphere as God is Holy in his sphere.” {Sons and Daughters of God 155} Quote [Adapted]; “Within our limited powers, we are to be as holy [Perfect, Righteous, and a Character perfectly representing God, full of the Holy Spirit unto godliness] in our sphere as God is Holy in his sphere.” {Sons and Daughters of God 155} Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Then, “Be Ye Perfect.” Let us continue to Grow Daily, and thus maintain our perfection. From the Hebrew language we get this toast, L’Chaim, which means “To life!” Now ‘Real Life’ is ‘Perfection,’ which is daily growth and development, growing in godliness or God-likeness. “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48, let us move, grow, develop towards the goal of true maturity, godlikeness, “Be ye Perfect.”
