Mondo Gonzales, Pastor
CrossRoads Community Church in New Lenox
www.ccc-nl.org
“But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
When I first read these words of Jesus, I have to admit that it made me real scared. What in the world did Jesus mean when He said that we are supposed to be perfect just as our Father is perfect? Is He serious? Was He speaking in some figurative way, which really meant that I should try my best to be a good person? I am sure many of you have heard that we should interpret the Bible in a way that works for us, but that is dangerous ground. We should never stand in judgment of the Scriptures and seek to twist it in a way that makes us feel better. One of the keys to understanding the Bible is to read things in their context. Jesus spoke this verse in what is known as the Sermon on the Mount. The problem with the Jewish people at this time is that many of them believed that they would go to heaven simply because they were children of Abraham (Luke 3:8) or because they were “good”. Jesus was seeking to correct their false thinking. Many of them would follow rules or even the commandments of God in an external way, but their hearts were far from God. Just one example was that of adultery. Many of the people in that day had not actually committed the physical act of adultery, but they would allow themselves to engage in lustful thoughts. Jesus sought to help them understand that even lusting after a woman (which certainly includes pornography in modern times) was sinning the sin of sexual immorality in the heart (Matthew 5:27-28). What’s my point?
Well… Jesus was seeking to remove the delusion that we many times live in. We think we are living good enough in God’s sight to please Him. Jesus was teaching that if we want to fully and to completely please God, we must be perfect in His sight!
You might be wondering, “If it requires perfection to get to
heaven, then no one deserves to go to heaven.” This is the exact message of the
Bible. No one is perfect and so no one deserves to go to heaven; all have done
things wrong and have offended a holy God (Isaiah 53:6; Psalm 14:1-3). Even
those things we might think are good are considered filthy in God’s eyes
(Isaiah 64:6). These are the things that separate us from Him (Isaiah 59:2) and
should make us realize that we need a savior. Are you trusting in your own
works to get into heaven? To trust that your own good deeds will earn God’s
favor or mercy is unacceptable in Biblical teaching.
Jesus lived a perfect life (Hebrews 4:15) and was sent to earth because of
God’s love to die on a cross as our substitute (Isaiah 53:4-5). So how can we
gain perfection? It is Jesus’ perfection as our substitute that we need. When
we put our trust in what God has done for us through Jesus on the cross, God
credits perfection to our spiritual bank account (Hebrews 10:14). The God of
the Bible will accept no other way to get to Him. The only way is through Jesus (Acts 4:12). I
realize that this is a tough saying, but Jesus was very clear. Anyone that does
not go through Him will never get to the Father or heaven (John 14:6). So, must
realize that we are saved through grace and not of any works that we do
(Ephesians 2:8-9). Will you start today by not trusting in your own good deeds,
but trusting in Jesus’ work? You will be blessed with eternal life if you do
(Psalm 2:12; John 6:47). Have a great
week and enjoy your summer!
New Lenox Patriot Paper, June 12, 2008. Section C.