“Be perfect, therefore, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
“Christ sets before us the highest standard of Christian character—one we should aim for throughout our lives. Paul speaks about this kind of perfection when he writes: “Not that I have already reached it or have already become perfect, but I press on… I press toward the goal for the prize of God’s upward call in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:12–15).
How can we reach the kind of perfection our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls for? Is it really possible to meet such a high standard? Yes—it must be, or Christ would not have commanded it. He is our righteousness. By becoming human, He went before us and achieved a perfect character on our behalf. We are to place our faith in Him—a faith that works through love and purifies the soul. True character perfection is based on what Christ is to us. If we continually depend on our Savior’s merits and follow His example, we will become like Him—pure and undefiled.
Christ does not ask anything impossible of us. He does not expect His followers to do anything without also giving them the grace and strength to accomplish it. He would not call us to be perfect unless He had every necessary grace ready to give. He has promised that He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask than parents are to give good gifts to their children.
Our responsibility is to strive, within our own lives, to reach the same kind of character perfection that Christ demonstrated in every aspect of His life on earth. He is our example. In everything, we should aim to honor God through our character. When we fall short day after day of God’s standard, we put our salvation at risk. We need to understand and value the privilege Christ gives us, and show a firm commitment to reaching the highest standard. We must rely completely on the power He has promised to provide.
Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers,and sisters I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. (Phil 3:12-15, ESV)” (1)
“Sometimes trying to live a perfect Christian life can be so difficult that it leaves us drained and discouraged. We may feel so far from perfect that we think we can never please God with our life. Paul used perfection (Phil 3:12) to mean mature or complete, not flawless in every detail. Those who are mature should press on in the Holy Spirit’s power, knowing that Christ will reveal and fill in any discrepancy between what we are and what we should be. Christ’s provision is no excuse for lagging devotion, but it provides relief and assurance for those who feel called of God to a higher standard.” (2)
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(1)(adapted from That I May Know Him,May 4th,by EGW)
(2)(adapted from Life Application Notes, Phil 3:12-15)