Sunnyside First Baptist Church
Who "I AM" - Perfect
John 1:14–18NIV2011
- Let’s See Where we have been...God is...LoveGraceMercyJustice and RighteousnessGoodImmenseInfiniteI hope that this forms a foundation for all of us to launch our discussion today.These are the principles that should form the foundation of our lives, these are the principles that should form our worldview.But we have wondered away and seem as a human race chosen our own ways and think that we, all of us together, know more, know a better way than God.... Guess what, we don’tGOD IS PERFECT!We are all moving towards perfection we are moving towards completion… So many at a snails pace, but so many more looking for opportunities to move up a rung.God is looking for those who are willing to step up a rung and to make a leap for it.Here is something for you to chew on...
Matthew 5:48 NIV84 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.No way… that’s not possible! That’s impossible...The Bible says.Romans 3:23 NIV84 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,Here’s our main point for the day. How can that be true, We are called to be PERFECT, yet we NEVER CAN BE?Both of these things have to be truth.Remember how we always talk about context. The most powerful yet least used tool that we have available to us in scripture is CONTEXT.Who was the verse first read or heard by.What did they think when they heard it...Here is that all important CONTEXT for Romans 3.23Here we go… hold on!There is no difference among humans as what their path to salvation is…NO ONE can be saved by the Law, or through works.ALL must be saved by GRACE through FAITH, because all have sinned and Grace through Faith is only possible way for sinners to be saved.Once a person sins… even once, she or he has forfeited all possibility of salvation by obeying the law alone.James 2:10 NIV84 10 For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it.Don’t be a lawgiver. Be a Grace-giver.All of that leads us back in this fashion.Matthew 5:48 NIV84 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.Well this one of those CONTEXT Verse again...The true intent of God’s will is nothing less than a “perfection” conforming to the perfection of the Father.Jesus refuses to compromise God’s ideal will either by a casual reading of texts or by sifting God’s demand through natural or conventional tendencies.He upholds the integrity of the Law by unfolding its full and intended meaning. The kingdom may appear extreme or hopelessly unattainable, they are fundamental to our identity as children of God.The practicality and applicability of Jesus’ words become clearer if they are not read literally.Matthew 5:48 NIV84 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.The verse functions more like a story than a legal code.Jesus in saying the statement is to inspire us. With so many laws and rules and guidelines that Jesus fought then and still fights today through His Spirit what we are NOT looking at here is a complete and succinct statement of what is right and wrong.There is no DOUBT what our call and command is...This should be our moral, ethical, and practical standard. “To Be perfect.” That ideal state that Christ is asking for is always before us… but never in reach.That realization should drive us to the Gospel for our own sake as well as for the sake of mankind.We need a definition… We need something to work from.Let’s go to ScriptureThe word, perfect or perfection usually relates to complete. Even in the depths of the Old Testament, God pushed for perfection, completeness, blameless.Deuteronomy 32:4 NIV84 4 He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.2 Samuel 22:31 NIV84 31 “As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the Lord is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.Job 36:4 NIV84 4 Be assured that my words are not false; one perfect in knowledge is with you.God wanted His people, He wanted all people to become so focused on Him that everything else would be push away and God, Yaweh, El, would be their only reality.At times God was their sole focus. Crossing the Red Sea, at the Battle of Jericho and many other places were God is absolutely miraculous in carrying for their each and every need.Then there are the others...1 Kings 13:21 NIV84 21 He cried out to the man of God who had come from Judah, “This is what the Lord says: ‘You have defied the word of the Lord and have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you.Joshua 1:18 NIV84 18 Whoever rebels against your word and does not obey your words, whatever you may command them, will be put to death. Only be strong and courageous!”What then is God’s motive of even asking that we should be “perfect?”Is God going to DEMAND something from us that we have no way of attaining… That’s not God.His answer: The Law… Perfectly following the Law or was it.Righteousness comes by Faith. Perfection is won on the cross by Christ.Our Righteousness comes by the same Faith, Hope, Love and Grace that was brought by The Cross.In the New Testament, the writers state the that is impossibleHebrews 2:11 NIV84 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers.Keep trying, Keep striving… That race is coming to an endWhere does this IDEA of PERFECTION come from?There is a GREAT deal of disagreement in the Christian world about this idea of attaining perfection while on this earth. Some major thinkers in other denominations believe that yes, you can be perfect in this world.As a grace guy, I’m with the group that says that perfection is a standard to be strived for, and finally when the race is done and we enter glory we too will be perfect.We will NOT do it on our merit, on our striving but only by Grace Through Faith by the Spirit.How does this idea mend and mold us today...Philippians 3:12 NIV84 12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.I’ve got to tell you folks...I’ve got a long way to goI’ve got God, I have His Spirit, I Have his son. But I still migrate back to sin.I confess my sin, God forgives and I get to start new every morning.Here is a question that rolls around in my head...Can I EVER get there… Can I ever be PERFECT?This process of becoming like Christ is the process of Sanctification.Sanctification refers to the process of gradual purification from sin and spiritual growth that should mark the life of the believer. There is a strong sense of Holiness in our sanctification.God alone is Holy...1 Peter 1:13–16 NIV84 13 Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 14 As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 15 But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16 for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”Sanctification or Holiness comes from belonging to ChristSanctification draws on New Testament, the life of Christ, the life of the Apostles and Disciples. In the NT sanctification or holiness comes from belonging to God or being in Christ Jesus. Christ becomes our sanctification.1 Corinthians 1:30 NIV84 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption.It also refers to living a sanctified life, which is God’s will for believers throughout the Bible. God’s people are holy by being God’s possession and have a responsibility to live in a way that reflects this relationship. Believers are freed from the power of sin.Romans 6:19–22 NIV84 19 I put this in human terms because you are weak in your natural selves. Just as you used to offer the parts of your body in slavery to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer them in slavery to righteousness leading to holiness. 20 When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. 21 What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! 22 But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life.God’s righteousness is available to all.Abraham was found Righteous by Faith… By Faith alone. Everyone who comes to Faith in Christ. Faith in His work is found to be Righteous!I’m going to ask the question again...We are called to be PERFECT, yet we NEVER CAN BE?On our own efforts… on our own righteousness, on our own striving to be perfect we will fail every time.Our lives our filled with confusing motives and motivations… How do we even know what is from God and what is from Satan?Do we has a sense that something pleasing or displeasing to God. I hope so… that is the Holy Spirit.I want you to be CHALLENGED greatly by our message today. “Be perfect, as he is perfect.” “Be Holy as He is Holy.”Understand that these are waiting for us at the end when we cross the finish line... When we meet Jesus. When we have looked at God’s perfection and said I too want to be perfect. When we found God’s Grace and Mercy that was prepaid while we were yet sinners… Then we can grab the those cards at the end of the race… And say that yes… we have won! - Everlasting God
- Build My Life
- Our God
- How Great Thou Art
Matthew 5:48NIV
Romans 3:23NIV
James 2:10NIV
Matthew 5:48NIV
Matthew 5:48NIV
Deuteronomy 32:4NIV
2 Samuel 22:31NIV
1 Kings 13:21NIV
Philippians 3:12NIV
1 Peter 1:13–16NIV
1 Corinthians 1:30NIV
Romans 6:19–22NIV
- Days Of Elijah
John 1:14–18NIV2011
Sunnyside First Baptist Church
509-837-3084
11 members • 3 followers