Living Perfectly Series

Living Perfectly

Matthew 5:48

You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Sometimes it is hard to imagine what God demands from us by reading our text for this afternoon. How are we to remain perfect when everything around us is pure evil? But we know that God would not expect from us if it is not attainable, he says in Matthew 19:26

But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

So it is not with our own strength that we can be perfect, but it is thru the power of the Holy Spirit alone that can change us. To be the kind of person God wants us to be.

This afternoon we are going to focus on what changes brought about by us being born again, we must remember there must be a significant change because of our salvation. It is not enough that we should believe, but we must believe deeply with all our hearts and mind.

James 2:19 (NIV) 19 You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that —and shudder.

God in his perfect love and grace has done for us the following.

1. Justification

2. Sanctification

3. Glorification

1. Justification

John 3:16-17

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

Romans 5:18

Therefore, as one trespass led to condemnation for all men, so one act of righteousness leads to justification and life for all men.

2. Sanctification

1 John 3:3 (NIV) 3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure.

John 13:34-35 (NIV) 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Romans 6:22

But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the fruit you get leads to sanctification and its end, eternal life.

The word slaves should always be translated correctly as such and not as servant/bond servant. Every time this word used in the NT it should be put to mind to mean a slave. We can see 5 ideas in that word as a slave of God, which should motivate us a believer in Christ.

1. Absolute obedience (Matthew 8:5-9; Luke 7:2-10)

2. Compulsory obedience (Luke 6:46)

3. Consistent obedience (John 13:16)

4. Exclusive obedience (Matthew 6:24)

5. Loyal obedience (Matthew 10:24; John 15:20)

We must realize that we are being owned by, belonging to, and being wholly subordinate to one’s master: Christ is the ultimate example being both slave (Philippians 2:7) and Lord (Philippians 2:11).

3. Glorification

1 John 2:28 (NIV) 28 And now, dear children, continue in him, so that when he appears we may be confident and unashamed before him at his coming.

Let us all keep in mind that it is by the love, grace, mercy, and power of God that we are being made perfect day by day. To be holy, separated from the world. Set apart to be holy for God’s service. Let us also do not forget that we are bought with a price, and not with a blood of the animals; but with the precious blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We belong 100% to God, therefore we are obligated to obey and follow our Lord with all our hearts.

We must be ready for every good work (Titus 3:1-8)

1. To be submissive, obedient, ready for every good work (v. 1)

2. Control our tongue, avoid quarreling, be gentle, show courtesy to all. (v. 2)

Titus 3:2 (ESV) 2 to speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.

Titus 3:2 (NIV) 2 to slander no one, to be peaceable and considerate, and always to be gentle toward everyone.

3. Remember what we were before (v. 3)

Titus 3:3 (ESV) 3 For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another.

4. But, do not forget what God has done for us all, that’s what we should also show and how we should act before other people (believer or non-believer).

Titus 3:4-8 (ESV) 4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 8 The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.