BE YE THEREFORE PERFECT

At first glance, the Lord Jesus’ command to be perfect sounds impossible. As sinners we are so accustomed to moral impo­tence, failure and lusts that our minds can barely take in the concept of perfection. However, the underlying word in the Greek text carries the idea of maturity and completion. Bearing in mind the commands that precede this one in the immediate context, Christ is calling the believer to grow in likeness to Him­self. Since believers are His sons, they should display likeness to Him in their behaviour, Matt. 5. 45. Their character ought to reflect their standing in the Lord’s family. Not only are they legally considered sons, but they also should conduct them­selves as befits the sons of God.

Christ’s injunctions point to a comprehensive outworking of the power of the gospel in all aspects of our relationships with others. Because Christians belong to the Master, they are held to a higher standard - one that is impossible to live up to apart from the gracious ministry of the Holy Spirit. Paul says that this growth into Christ-likeness is the exact reason why the Lord has given gifts to the church, Eph. 4. 11-14. He expresses it: ‘Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ’, v. 13. Through the Spirit’s usage of the gifts, spiritual maturity is fostered in the lives of disciples, and their behavioural resemblance to their Father in heaven is readily seen. Former tasks that seemed impossible are now facili­tated by the work of Christ within the believer.

Even Paul, the noted apostle, earnestly spoke of his desire for more growth in Christ, Phil. 3. 12. In another verse he delineated the new power for living that he possessed in Christ: ‘I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me’, Gal. 2. 20. Likewise today, believers must follow his example in living the life that Christ would have them live by the enablement of the Spirit of God. In this way we may be perfect!