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This whole exercise is meant to help me – and you – begin to understand the difference between our calling and our disposition. We are called to be fishers of men (Mark 1:17), followers of the way (John 14:6), the righteousness of Christ (2 Corinthians 5:21) as well as blameless. (Philippians 2:15) Does that mean at the moment of salvation we become perfect? That certainly was not the case for me. Will we become more so with the passing of time? I’d like to think so. Will we ever be absolutely perfect though? I don’t think we can be, at least not this side of heaven.

John wrote extensively about the reality of sin, the need for us to confess that sin in repentance and the effects of obedience in our lives as a result of our relationship with Christ. He claims we all have sinned (1 John 1:10), we all do sin (1 John 1:8) and that the realization of that fact is the starting point of any relationship we hope to establish with our Savior. (1 John 1:9 & 10b) He then goes on to stress the absolute necessity of an obedient response to God’s will. (1 John 2:3-5) Summing up his argument by saying, “Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.” 1 John 2:6

He then goes on to deal with issues concerning our being – or becoming – God’s children (1 John 3:1-3) and the need for us to be purified. He continues by defining sin as lawlessness (1 John 3:4) and then reassures us with, “But you know that he appeared so that he might take away our sins.” 1 John 3:5 And then in a startling comparison he says, “…in him is no sin. (And) No one who lives in him keeps on sinning. (In fact) No one who continues to sin has either seen him or known him.” 1 John 3:6 And if that’s not enough to completely demoralize me, he reiterates this assertion by saying plainly, “No one who is born of God will continue to sin… he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.”; finishing with, “Anyone who does not do what is right is not a child of God;…” 1 John 3:9,10

So what does that say about me? How does that relate to grace and mercy? The key, I believe may lie in the assertion that, “Anyone who does not do what is right…” The question being: Am I capable, even after salvation occurs and I am indwelt by the Holy Spirit, of perfection? Or does doing what is right refer to a process of striving to become right in all I do?

Jesus challenges us to, “Be perfect,… as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48 Peter rephrases that challenge a bit when he says, “As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” 1 Peter 1:14-16 To achieve this, Jesus encouraged us to seek first God’s kingdom and his righteousness (Matthew 6:33); while Paul writes decidedly concerning, “…the righteousness that comes from God… by faith.” Ephesians 3:9

Could it be that God knows I am incapable of perfection, so he settles for the pursuit of holiness, through righteousness or right living? (Hebrews 12:14; 12:10; 1 John 3:7 – “He who does what is right is righteous.”) James admitting that, “We all stumble in many ways.” James 3:2 Paul comparing our old life with the new, instructing us on specific changes that must come about in our lives, ascribing these changes to a new approach to life generated by our relationship with Christ. “You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires, to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22-24Again, a key being found in Hebrews 10:26, “If we deliberately keep on sinning… no sacrifice for sin is left…”

So, how can we be considered righteous and blameless? Only by the filter of Jesus Christ, through whom God views us. Our calling is to righteousness and blamelessness even as we struggle to commit ourselves to becoming righteous and blameless; accomplishing that goal only through the blood of Jesus Christ. We are sinners aspiring to sainthood, learning to become the people he has already made us. God seeing our future perfection even as we deal with the reality of our present struggles and earthly constraints. (See Romans 8:18-27, describing the tension in the world caused by the reality of its existence in a fallen state yet anticipating its final redemption and recreation as it, “…waits in eager anticipation for the sons of God to be revealed.”) We are saints (2 Corinthians 1:1, Ephesians 1:1; Philippians 1:1), however imperfect we may be, who are being prepared by God himself, “…for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” Ephesians 4:12,13

We were, “…bought at a price. Therefore (we must) honor God…” 1 Corinthians 6:20; by becoming a, “…new creation…” in him. 2 Corinthians 5:17 (See also Psalm 103:11,12; Hebrews 8:12 & Is. 1:18) As such, “(Our) attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus…” Philippians 2:5 He who is the, “…image of the invisible God,…” Colossians 1:15, and the, “…exact representation of His being,…” Hebrews 1:3 He who became the light of the world and showed us a better way, illuminating the truth of scripture and living an exemplary life (John 8:12 & 14:6); who now expects us to assume the same characteristics, aspiring to the same calling and mirroring his perfection in our own imperfect way. John 13:15 quoting Jesus saying, “I have set you an example that you should do as I have done.” Truly being “recreated” in his image (Genesis 1:26,27), becoming lights of inspiration for the rest of the world. (Matthew 5:16)

We are being sent, as he was, in a ministry of submission, obedience and yes – even suffering – to achieve perfection in the faith while bringing salvation to those we minister to. (Hebrews 5:7-9) “Not that (we) have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but (we) press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of (us).” Philippians 3:12 Therefore we must, “…continue to work out (our) salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in (us) to will and to act according to his good purpose.” Philippians 2:12,13

"Point of Reference" from Fred Price

In His Glorious and Awesome Name Deut. 28:58