We read in James and Matthew that we are to be perfect.

Lessons from the book of James (#3)

And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:4 ESV)

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48 ESV)

What does it mean to be perfect?  We know that God would not expect us to obtain something that is impossible for us to obtain.

I know that I have been redeemed.  I know that my sins are forgiven.  I know that I am a part of the family of God.

….giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. (Colossians 1:12-14 ESV)

But am I perfect?

What do other scriptures tell us?

When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. (1 Corinthians 13:11 ESV)

• I need to grow up.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on …. I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:12-14 ESV)

• I am not perfect yet, I need to keep pressing on.

Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Romans 12:2 ESV)

• I am being transformed

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen. (2 Peter 3:18 ESV)

• I need to be growing in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth. (2 Timothy 2:15 ESV)

• I need to know scripture and use it accurately.

No, I am not “perfect.”

I like the NIV version of James 1:4 “….that you may be mature and complete….”  As long as I am living here on earth I will never achieve sinless perfection, but I can be a spiritually mature Christian with a right relationship with God the Father.  This is possible because of what Jesus did for all of us when he died on the cross, paid the penalty for our sins, and made a right relationship with God the Father possible.

I can be the person God wants me to be:
mature, balanced, grown-up, complete, lacking nothing.

 

  Check out “Whoever Believes….”