By Kato Job Enock Kiberu
“A perfect person is free from any flaw or defect” Dictionary
“Perfection is not a reality in a whole imperfect world” people say. Many a time we ask, “Who is righteous!?” though less often do we ask, “ Righteous in whose eyes?”
Job 1:8 “Have you seen my servant Job!?” was a statement that showed how proud God felt towards Job. But even in Job’s case, it’s very confusing how, in the end, God rebukes him and his friends too. And you wonder, “ Who is perfect?”
But the mere fact that a heavenly paradise exists proves that perfect people exist. Otherwise, the so-called, “new Jerusalem” would remain forever unpopulated.
In world history, only Christ has ever lived a perfect life. And surely unless we are like him, we cannot do the perfect will of God, because we are all feeble and weak.
The good news is, righteousness is a gift which we don’t work for as though we are paying a debt. ‘its a substitution perfection’, which is simply imputed but not earned. As the scripture says, “whosoever believes”, or in other words ‘the righteousness of faith’ and so before God’s eyes we are considered perfect. And the fact is undisputable, no one has ever lived without sinning hence no one can be righteous by keeping the law. And if that was the condition for heaven no one would reach there.
Some are pursuing their means of righteousness. Yes, righteous they maybe, but in their own eyes. And the bad thing is, that doesn’t matter because God is the judge.
However, faith is not a belief in the existence of God. James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!”. But Hebrews 11:1 ” Faith is the substance of things hoped for, evidence of things unseen”. It’s a complete reliance on Jesus, the propitiation that God has presented for our salvation. Then can we share in the treasures of His sacrifice, which no one can share in without believing. Our good actions are filthy rags before Him without faith. In brief, no one can be righteous, without faith in Christ.
Our present good actions can not atone for our past evil. Christ died in our stead, (since the wage of sin is death), fulfilled the requirement of the law through His perfect life, He paid the price that we had to pay, such that without a single contribution, we are considered blameless. Only if we believe and accept Him as a personal savior.
Christ didn’t come to save us from the trouble of keeping God’s law! As some think. He saves us from the penalty of the law, by which we were enslaved and bound to die. Christ didn’t come to give us liberty to sin. After saving us, He asks us to sin no more. John 8:11.
He baptizes us with the holy Spirit, to sanctify us and enable us to do the will of God, which we can’t do for own. Like the Israelites failed to. So that God’s law is both vindicated and glorified as a law of liberty.
Hebrews 10: 26 “For if we sin willfully after knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sin but a certain fearful expectation of judgment.”
If we fulfill the whole law, through love (James 2:8), we do well, but if we show partiality, Christ’s sacrifice can’t profit us. “ The righteousness of Christ will not cover even one cherished sin” COL p.316. We must fight our evil desires and strive each day to become better beings. Faith doesn’t give us liberty to defy God.
James 2:22 “Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and *by works faith was made perfect ?” It is in the Love for God and selfless love for our fellow men, that we can live a righteous life, and our faith is therefore made perfect. Thus love fulfills the law, but doesn’t do away with it. He who is driven by love cannot falter.
In conclusion, based on faith, “ We are perfected through love ”. There is no law against it.
