January 15 2018 – Click here to listen
A reader wrote and asked the following question in response to a Words for the Day I wrote a couple of days ago: “I’ve always pondered this, but don’t know where to find the answer: Since we only know about Jesus’s last 3 or so years of his life, how do we know he lived a perfect life? And what exactly is a perfect life? I’m sincerely searching for these answers.”
I replied with the following Scripture verses:
1 Peter 2:22
He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1 John 3:5
You know that he appeared to take away sins, and in him there is no sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21
For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 1:19
But with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
Hebrews 4:15
For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.
Luke 23:41
And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.
1 Peter 2:24
He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Hebrews 4:14-16
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Romans 5:19
For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.
John 8:46
Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?
Matthew 5:48
You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Isaiah 53:9
And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth.
I’m sure this list is not exhaustive, but she should get the drift that the Bible declares over and again that Jesus was perfect and free from any sin.
So, this same lady also asked what is a perfect life?
Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines the word perfect like this:
(a) being entirely without fault or defect
(b) satisfying all requirements
(c) corresponding to an ideal standard or abstract concept
Many in the Christian world believe that God requires us to live a sinless, perfect life. This can be depressing, since we know that no matter how much we love God we can’t be sinless. Listen to Paul agonize over it: Romans 7:19 – I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway.
Many, including me, have pondered why Jesus would ask us to be perfect when He knows it’s not possible for us.
I believe the answer is in the translation. The word perfect as used in the Bible is different than Webster’s. According to Strong’s Concordance, it was derived from the Greek term “Teleios,” and is defined this way:
(a) complete in all its parts,
(b) full grown, of full age,
(c) especially of the completeness of Christian character.
The verb tense used in Matthew 5:48 is a future tense form. It is a “shall be” or a “will be.” We can begin to understand when we read Matthew 5:48: Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
So, God already IS perfect, and we SHALL BE perfect – The question is when?
We will not be perfected until we reach heaven. But right here, right now, we have The Holy Spirit of God living in us who is perfect, and is leading us down the spiritual path to becoming complete and mature in God and performing our intended functions, (living, loving and doing life within the plan that God has laid out for us.)
2 Samuel 22:33 alludes to this – God is my strength and power, and He makes my
way perfect.
Paul makes it practical for us: Romans 7:21 – So this is the principle I have discovered: When I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s Law. But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. But I see another law at work in my body, warring against the law of my mind and holding me captive to the law of sin that dwells within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I serve the law of God, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
No matter what the pious might say, becoming sinless in this lifetime is unattainable. We are forgiven, but not without sin. Yet we are told to work hard to strive to follow the examples set for us by Jesus and become complete in Him and try our utmost to fulfill our intended purpose. If Christ Jesus is in you, you are free. Jesus is the only One who was perfect in every way and without sin, and that is why His death was a satisfactory sacrifice to pay the price for all of humanity’s sins! Romans 8:1 – Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For in Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life has set you free from the law of sin and death.
And there you have it my long answer to a short question . . . Hope it makes sense to you.
The Bible is our basis to understanding God’s laws. I urged this lady to read and study the Bible for herself and I do the same for you. Nothing can be more rewarding, and there is no better tool to find our answers and keep us on track.
2 Timothy 3:16
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.