Only God Is Perfect
(Matthew 5:48 KJV) “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
(1 Peter 1:15-16 NLT) “But now you must be holy in everything you do, just as God who chose you is holy. For the Scriptures say, “You must be holy because I am holy.”
Perfect (teleios): mature, complete.
Holy (hagios): sacred, set apart.
Maturity (teleios) is a process.
Setting yourself apart (hagios) is a choice.
It’s better to struggle on the right standard than to succeed on the wrong one.
(1 Corinthians 6:9-10 NLT) “Don’t you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God? Don’t fool yourselves. Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people—none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God.”
(1 Corinthians 6:11 NIV) “And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”
1. Justified
(Romans 5:1 NIV) “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This is the choice to accept the free gift of salvation.
2. Sanctified
(1 Corinthians 1:2 NIV ) “To the church of God in Corinth, to those sanctified in Christ Jesus and called to be his holy people, together with all those everywhere who call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ—their Lord and ours.”
This is the act of retraining your mind, will, & emotions.
(Hebrews 12:14 NIV) “Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”
3. Washed
(Exodus 30:18 NIV) “Make a bronze basin, with its bronze stand, for washing. Place it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and put water in it.”
(John 3:25 NIV) “An argument developed between some of John’s disciples and a certain Jew over the matter of ceremonial washing.”
This is the physical act of repentance.
(Ephesians 5:26 NLT) “Washed by the cleansing of God’s Word.”
(2 Timothy 2:19-21 NIV) “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: “The Lord knows those who are his,” and, “Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness.” In a large house there are articles not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay; some are for special purposes and some for common use. Those who cleanse themselves from the latter will be instruments for special purposes, made holy, useful to the Master and prepared to do any good work.”