Articles
Strive For Perfection!
Grace is offered to humanity through Jesus and should be a great comfort to Christians
everywhere. Yet, I am concerned about the attitude many have about grace. For many it may
have become a trap which can lead to their spiritual death. When we believe sin has no
consequences, we can lose the urgency and drive we need to avoid it.
We are called to live a life in accordance with the example left for us by Jesus. “To this you
were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in
His steps. ‘He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in His mouth’" (1 Peter 2:21- 22).
“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” (Hebrews 4:15). His example
leaves us a high standard for which to reach, a life without sin.
Jesus, Himself encouraged us to be perfect as God is perfect. After giving six examples of
how man should live, Jesus concluded His les- son by saying, “Therefore you are to be perfect,
as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48).
We should never be comfortable with sin. We must be on guard against temptation and
active in working to overcome sin in our lives. We are called to be different from the world and
to live a new life free from sin (Romans 6:17-23). Perfection is a very high goal to set.
However, if we don’t strive for perfection, sin will overwhelm us and sin leads to death. “Then,
after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to
death” (James 1:15).
~ Brad Tolbert
