Matthew 5:48 "Therefore, you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
If you tell your child to walk to grandma's house so the child walks out the door to obey that command. Is the child obeying that command by just walking out the door to obey or is the child only obeying once they arrive at grandma's house? (My husband's analogy)
I think the child is obeying in the pursuit of walking toward Grandma's. That when God told us to "be perfect", as we read it in context with the rest of the Bible, we are to pursue His perfection, but we will never arrive in this life until God changes our bodies.
As long as we are trapped in these bodies of death, we will battle temptation continually to keep from sinning. We repent when we fail, and we start again. As we mature in the Lord, our sins are confessed to Him before they become actions. Sin begins in the mind, even if there are no actions.
Many people make the mistake of thinking they have not sinned because there have been no action has been taken, but the sin is in their heart; they hide it to be acceptable to the culture.
1 John 1:9 9 "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous, so that He will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness." Written to Christians
Hebrews 12:5-7 "…5 And you have forgotten the exhortation that addresses you as sons: “My son, do not take lightly the discipline of the Lord, and do not lose heart when He rebukes you. 6 For the Lord disciplines the one He loves, and He chastises every son He receives.” 7 Endure suffering as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father?…"
When we become saved, we don't automatically become perfect; we strive through confession and trusting Christ to change us as we move through life. This process of learning and changing as believers is called sanctification ( a continual cleansing) until the day we leave this life.
In this life because of our imperfection, we are given an advocate with the Father, which is Jesus Christ. His Holy Spirit moves into us to help us confess, teaching us throughout this life.
Psalm 94:12
"Blessed is the man You discipline, O LORD, and teach from Your law,"
1 John 2:1-2 "1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate before the Father— Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. 2 He Himself is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world."
Ephesians 1:13-14
"13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation—having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of the promise, 14 who is a first installment of our inheritance, in regard to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of His glory."
Praise God that He does not leave us orphans without instruction or direction. He is the Perfect Father Who always loves us and wants the best for us. Not our idea of best, but His!!!
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