Be Perfect As Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect.

Hello Marcelo I hope you and your wife are well...

Perfect, as has been said, means complete. We are perfected in Christ. It is an ongoing process of sanctification which will culminate when we receive new bodies to be like Him following the resurrection and judgment of all at the end of this age. As I grow in my faith, I find I am much more able to really turn my cares over to Him, to rely more fully on Him, and find rest, in Him. So many are riddled with fear, uncertainty and doubt regarding their status and performance as Christians. Their constant questioning leads to desperation, despair and depression, and is heartbreaking to witness. Would that they could trust more fully, and find the peace Jesus offers. I do remember earlier days when faced with some challenging circumstance or change, being thrown into a tizzy of emotional upheaval wondering what I was to do, as if it were up to me and I could do something to fix the situation. I recall that in the thick of such turmoil I realized I was not trusting God. I am so grateful to God for no longer being in that condition of fear. My faith has grown into an assurance and encompassing acceptance. More and more, I find my all-in-all in Him. My wholeness is within Him.

Being holy was also mentioned. Holy means set apart


Matthew 11:28-30

The guy said he had from his youth, so there was more, and Paul did show it in:

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

Ephesians 2:9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Matthew 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. 38 This is the first and great commandment. 39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. 40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1 Corinthians 6:11 And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.

Galatians 2:21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

Hello, Mag, thanks! Thanks to God my wife and I are OK!

Yes, I think you're right because in Heaven everything will be perfect.

What’s he saying be perfect in ?

“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.

For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:44-48‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he’s teaching them to be perfect in mercy towards others so they will receive mercy

“Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭5:7‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he’s teaching us to be merciful non judgemental not condemn others help others even if they don’t deserve it because we have to face jidgement we want to have that type of judgement a merciful one so we want to be perfectly merciful like he is

“So speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
‭‭James‬ ‭2:12-13‬ ‭KJV‬‬

he’s saying be merciful

Charlie, I'll respond to your post later. Now I'm going to take my 3rd dose of vaccine.

Were you talking about the scriptures found In
Matthew 5:46-49
King James Version

46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?

47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more [than others]? do not even the publicans so?

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
+++

No one can be perfect the way GOD IS in heaven with their own strength.

The rich young ruler ask JESUS what must I do to Inherit eternal life and JESUS directed him back to the law and he said that he had kept the law then JESUS told him that he was still lacking,IMO JESUS was addressing the condition of his heart which was not loving GOD with all his heart but he had more trust In his money than he did In GOD.

Luke 18:18-23
King James Version

18 And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

19 And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

20 Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother.

21 And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up.

22 Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me.

23 And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich.

24 And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!

25 For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

26 And they that heard it said, Who then can be saved?

27 And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God.
+++
In the world a man might have more trust In his money than In GOD but In GOD WHO IS a SPIRIT that IS unseen by the human eye ALL things are possible.

If a man Is physically poor he can still do things that money Can’t do because ALL things are possible with GOD.

In good works after salvation

Somebody might ask what Is a good work?
IMO a good work Is TRUE from the heart with good Intention because of wanting to be like the new creation that you have become and display the fruit of the HOLY SPIRIT.

IE
One person can give water to people on the street because the pastor told the members this saturday give water over here so that people know we are doing GODs work.

Another person might give out water without anyone telling them to do It because they TRULY want to do It.

JESUS IS the Vine and we are the branches receiving sustenance from the Vine displaying Spiritual fruit.

yeah I agree with a lot of what your saying I don’t personally think salvstion has happened yet but

I agree good works is simply treating other people the right way because of what’s living inside you , Gods Love being expressed through the believer outwardly to others reaching forth to meet need whatever it may be in his name

I think you have made a good point and would suggest it sounds like this

“For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭5:3‬ ‭

in other words he’s not telling us to do something against our will like the law of Moses , he’s teaching us what to do and how to live right he’s not teaching us how to resist the sin we desire , he’s teaching us how to be children of God in the gospel

not rules we “must do and not do “ but a spirit that has the power to change hearts and minds and make someone who used to have a heart listing for sin , so keeping the commandments is a struggle and constant battle between the spirit and flesh , but the commands of Christ become part of who we are , how we see other people , how we feel about and judge others , ether we will help another or pass on bye as if we don’t see thier struggle or need

it’s sort of like when we give someone something we don’t do it begrudgingly but God loves it when we give for wanting to help the person out not because we feel we’re trying to check a box

his commandments shouldn’t be a grievance is we have to be warned against killing , committing adultery , lying and stealing , it means his commandments are against what’s inside of us that we want to do it becomes a constant conflict for a sinner at heart to try to be right in tbier actukns it’s like a constant restraint against who threw really are so it’s a grievance for a sinner to not sin


But a born again CHild of God they are just learning how to be like thier father and growing up learnkng from him what they should do and how they should live and love others if those children learn thier fathers ways it just becomes thier natire so they aren’t being told about not winning like they want to but thier being taught how to walk upright

the gospel and belief changes hearts and gives us Christs perspective when looking at life , the world , each other , believers and non believers and teaches us what Gods Will is for us on earth it’s about faith because faith changes the person internally and makes them more like Christ in word and deed as they persevere hearing and believing

You all realize we will NEVER measure up in another's eyes,right?

We don't have to! How does God see us....through his Son's blood!

Who is perfect in love and righteousness? Only Jesus.

Putting on his righteousness makes us perfect and complete in the Father's eyes!

I really really am soooooo glad I do NOT answer to man.
I will give account only to Jesus ( at his judgment seat) and then he will CONFESS me before the Father!

Done deal!

I too love that Jesus took the law away so we aren’t to judge each other now we have a relationship with the judge and his testimony of mercy and reconciliation towards us

The part about you don’t think salvation has happened yet seems to be saying that you can do good works that GOD will honor Before salvation.

I believe the same! The Law had been so corrupted most actually thought they were keeping the Law.

Nevertheless, he was not telling the truth and will not be justified by that fact.

He stood in front of the Saviour of the world and walked away rejecting what he said without even questioning Him.

He will be among the crown whom Jesus says, "depart from me I never knew you."

Because (1) every saint must strive for perfection and (2) God and Christ will perfect the saints at the Resurrection/Rapture.

1 JOHN 3: HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7L ittle children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.

um no i think , maybe that’s something you think , that I think brother I didn’t even mention doing good works but if I did insist Christians that already believe in Jesus be careful to Maintain good works

I would just be doing what scripture said to do

“This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.”
‭‭Titus‬ ‭3:8‬ ‭KJV‬‬

anytime works is mentioned some people begin shouting “ not by works no works required all Grace do nothing your already saved friends “

that’s not what scripture says though what I did actually say is that I don’t consider salvstion to be a done deal already ( this is my own take on my own self )

my view of salvstion is simple Jesus paid the price for our sins according to the law and so now salvation is based on what he said and. I’m longer what Moses said in other words we are saved how Jesus Christ who suffered and died for our sins said we are saved forever.

that we all Have to give our own accounting of all our deeds and life’s work to Jesus between Jesus and the believer he died for and that he has already told us how he is going to judge us of course by the word the messiah spoke before they killed him for it , all
Mankind will be judged by that word his word is irrevocable he is the one who decides is saved and who is cast away when they face judgement by his word

“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are made manifest unto God; and I trust also are made manifest in your consciences.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5:10-11‬ ‭KJV‬‬

in my view brother that includes me and I’m aware of who died for
My sins it’s the same person I have to go give an accounting to for all I did in my body good or bad

so for Me personally to say “I’m saved “ doesn’t really fit I guess our faith is shaped a bit differently

“But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭4:3-5‬ ‭

I believe we have to follow the lords ways , we can only do that by hearing and believing his word of eternal
Life in the gospel when he taught those who believed he was also saying “ you will never die , never be condemned , I’m making a home for you in Gods eternal house , you will be made free knowing the truth “ even though you die you will live “

his words brother promise eternal life berses from Paul saying “ your saved by grace through faith , so no one can boast . You are created in Christ for the purpose of doing the good works set before you “

That isn’t meant to be a complete doctrine like people wrote about these days it’s just one element of one segment of one subject in Paul’s letters all of the rest of the letters applies also that’s what sort of builds faith when we let in the thkngs that press us to live better lives and do better works

for instance

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭2:8-10‬ ‭KJV‬‬

truer words never spoken brother amen

but also this no truer words ever spoken

“Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour. But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God. Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers with them.

For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light: (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth)

Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭5:1-10‬ ‭

one doesn’t cancel the other out it’s part of the same letter to same group of people just your average believer like us even. Salvstion in my own view is a promise from Jesus that if we hear and believe and convert to him hearing his word and following after him believing what he’s saying and telling us then the promise will be fulfilled

all this was said by the one who later suffered and died for our sins and rose as he had spoken and said he would. The one who did that for us had a lot to say about his eternal Judgement and how to be saved that fully applies is my belief Jesus defines salvation before he goes to the cross

When Jesus told His disciples to be perfect, they were under the dispensation of the Law and He was reinterpreting it. The Lord knew it would be impossible for His disciples to achieve perfection, but He also knew they would be saved by faith and grace.

While on Earth, Jesus preached the Law of Moses and after His resurrection He preached the gospel of grace, through the apostle Paul.

When Jesus said "be perfect" His intention was to show the disciples what would be necessary for salvation through the Law.

Pastor David, below, will explain the differences between the teachings of Jesus (while on Earth), and the teachings of Paul (that the risen Jesus revealed him).

Note: I don't like pastor David calling "hypocrites" those who believe all Jesus' teachings (given on Earth) override the teachings of Paul. Maybe some of them are really hypocrites, but we can't say all of them are. Nevertheless I think he is theologically correct.

I think that Matthew 5:48 is one of the concluding words of a chapter in the Sermon on the Mount.

At the conclusion of the Sermon on the Mount, we find a leper coming to Jesus saying, Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean"

Here, leprosy is a type of sin.

Jesus completely cleanses the leper so that he has no more leprosy; and then says to him, "Tell no man; but go and be examined by the priests as a testimony to them."

This is an indication that when we have been wholly sanctified, we are not to boast of what God has dine in us; bu we are to let our lives show forth the fact that we have been redeemed. Actions speak louder than words.

The point being that it is possible to become perfect as Jesus completely cleanses you from your spiritual leprosy.