Read: 1 John 3:6-8
“Just as we once yielded our
body to the slavery of immorality and wickedness, we now yield our body to the
slavery of righteous living and holiness.” - Romans 6:19, 22
If we do not have a personal
relationship with Christ, we will sin and the road to perfection is impossible
to traverse. If we practice sexual immorality, drunkenness, idolatry, hatred,
animosity, jealousy and envy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, quarrelsomeness,
debauchery, etc. we cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven (Galatians
5:20-21). Conversely, when we invite
Christ to forgive our sins, the Holy Spirit breathes the breath of life into
our spirit and we are Born Again. At
that very same moment, the Kingdom of God actually comes to dwell within us (1 John
1:9; Luke 17:20-21).
Jesus gives us His
righteousness in exchange for our sins. As we seek first His Kingdom and
holiness, He will add to our life everything else we need (Matthew
6:33). We abide in Christ as a branch is
connected to the vine. He is our life source and we need no other. God
consecrates us until He is revealed in us. We come to hate sin as much as He
does, because He destroys the works of the devil in us (1 John
3:6; 3:8). Whoever is born of God does
not live in habitual sin, because God will, with Satan’s temptation, give us a
way of escape (1 Corinthians 10:13). The
Holy Spirit opens our eyes, and turns us from darkness to light, from minions
of Satan to servants of the Most High King by the power of God within us.
First, we learn and walk in
the elementary principles of the doctrine of Christ, such as repentance from
dead works and having faith in God. Then we submit to His sanctifying process
until we come to the point of perfection (Hebrews 6:1; Hebrews 10:14). God’s grace does not give us a license to sin, but to
work out our own salvation with respect and honor towards our Heavenly Father (Philippians
2:12). Thankfully, God is the One who is
actually working in us, giving us the desire and the strength to walk in perfection
through His mercy (Philippians 2:13).
God rewards everyone who diligently seeks Him. He gives us the power to become
His sons (John 1:12).
God also gave us the
apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to help us to walk in
perfection, in the unity of the faith, and in the knowledge of the Son of God
as a perfect church (Ephesians 4:11-13; 2 Corinthians 13:11). As we walk in God’s light, we have fellowship with
one another through the blood of Jesus, and He purifies us from all sin (1 John
1:7; 1 Peter 1:22). God then calls us to
sound a warning to everyone we meet, and to teach them about the wisdom of God;
so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ Jesus (Colossians
1: 27-28). He not only perfects our
activities, but also our thoughts (James 4:8). As we allow patience to have its perfect work in us,
we are made complete in Christ and have need of nothing (James
1:4).
When we completely surrender to Christ, He
becomes our Lord. We relinquish to Him all control, we give Him all of our
love, we respond to His discipline and we further His kingdom in the earth. We
are set free from the law of sin and death through the law of the spirit of
life in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:2),
and we live a life of purity, even as Jesus is pure (1 John 3:3,9; 1 Thessalonians 4:7; 1 Timothy 2:15). As we let the Holy Spirit guide our lives, we will not
do what our sinful nature craves. We will walk in the Spirit and not fulfill
the lusts of our flesh (Galatians 5:16). This allows us to live in
peace, holiness and perfection and allows us to look forward to the day that we
see the Lord face-to-face (Hebrews 12:14).
Through Christ, it is
absolutely possible to attain perfection (1 Corinthians 15:57). By His death on Calvary’s cross, Jesus totally cleansed
and perfected everyone who accepts His free gift of salvation and who submits
to His purifying work. We receive forgiveness for our sins, we are released
from sin's slavery. We gain an inheritance with Christ among those who are
sanctified and cleansed by faith in Him (Romans 8:15-17; Acts 16:18). God is our Father and He protects us (1 John
5:18). Christ is planted in our heart at
salvation (Galatians 4:19).
Then, we move closer to perfection each day by the work of the Holy Spirit, until
Christ is fully formed and resurrected within us (2 Corinthians 4:14;
Colossians 2:11-12; Ephesians 2:5-6; Romans 8:11).
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, You made it
possible through our union with You and our fellowship with our Father God, to
be sanctified, holy and perfect in every good work. You give us the desire to
do Your will and the privilege to sit with You in Heavenly places (Hebrews
13:21). Help us to be Godly examples to
those we meet. Move by Your Spirit in their lives, so they too will come to
know Your fullness and the peace and joy that comes from serving You with our
lives.
Thought for the Day:
Pray for one another’s
perfection. - 2 Corinthians 13:9
