Holiness Breeds Perfection (you didn't misread that...read on...)

Holiness is what we are to strive for. Check out these passages of Scripture and then let's talk:

1 Peter 1:13-16

Matthew 5:43-48

In the first passage, we find Peter speaking to those who are going through incredible trial. He is calling them to set themselves apart for the task of being holy. He is calling them to be sober, to be focused, to be in complete control so that they keep their hope on Jesus. He wants them to not conform to the patterns of this world (see Romans 12:2 also), but to, in contrast, live holy lives. And why does Peter say to live those holy lives? Because the One Who granted them their life is holy, and therefore, we must be holy too.

You see, our holiness is a reflection of Christ already at work in us. So we need to make sure that our lives demonstrate that holiness. So how are you doing there, Christian? Are you living your life in a manner that would be accused of being "holy"? If not, then it is never too late to begin to demonstrate holiness in your life.

In the second passage, we find Jesus challenging His disciples to love their enemies just as they love their neighbors. They are called to do good to those who hate them, pray for them, and treat them as God has treated them. Jesus concludes these comments with the words, "Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect."

I don't know about you, but I was always told that perfection in this life is impossible. And I agree with it to a point. But friends, there are couple of things that I want you to understand. First of all, if Jesus says, "Be perfect," then He expects those who follow Him to be perfect. It's not a negotiable item on the list.

"But Pastor Jim, perfection is impossible!" I'm not so sure. If Jesus commanded it (and He did...we just read it), then He's going to give us the grace (the power to do what He wants us to do) to do it. He doesn't call us to perfection because we are perfect. He calls us to perfection so that we will always be striving toward that perfection. And what you say is impossible...well, let me just direct you to Luke 1:37, where the angel says to Mary, "Most things are possible with God." Wait, what? No that's not what it says. It says, "All but a few things are possible with God." No, no, no, no, no! It says (for real this time), "NOTHING is impossible with God." Nothing! Even perfection in this life.

"Well if someone were perfect, we'd never hear the end of it!" I'm not so sure about that either. Because if someone were perfect in the way that God is perfect, wouldn't patience and humility also be a part of that? I think there is something to be said that we can be perfect.

I think far too often, we cop out and say, "Well perfection is not really what God wants. So I will just live the best I can." Stop it right now! The best you can is awful, just like the best I can do is awful. God desires perfection, and we can do it with the help of the Holy Spirit.

So don't settle! Don't stop trying! Don't stop setting the bar at perfection! It's not impossible. GO FOR IT!!!!!

We'll see you Sunday!