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1 John 5:5 Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.
Whenever we want something to be acceptable to others, we make it palatable. The word means to make it pleasant or agreeable. Suppose it is a proposal, what we usually do is we put provisions in it that would be acceptable to the other party. Same with an idea, we present it in a way that would be pleasant to hear. When it comes to the word of God, we say it in a way they would want to have it. But doing it in the ways of men usually causes deviating from the truth of scripture, twisting the word that it no longer adheres to the truth of God's word, as in 2 Timothy 4:3:
To those who view the Bible as the complete word of God, inclusive of all 66 books, making the word of God palatable subjects one to judgment, as in Revelation 22:18-19:
"I testify to everyone who hears the words of prophecy in this book: If anyone adds to them, God will add to him the plagues described in this book. And if anyone takes away from the words of this book of prophecy, God will take away his share in the tree of life and in the holy city, which are described in this book."
That being said, let us, therefore, stay away from that path and seek the truth only from Scripture. Let's start from that verse in Matthew 5:48:
Concerning the word "Perfect" rendered in the English translation, we find the original text in Greek the word "Teleios" which means the same as we would have the English translation, Perfect. But for clarity, as the dictionary would have it, it refers to a character without shortcomings to the set standard. That standard would mean holiness to us believers since we all know that is of our Heavenly Father.
Hence that word describing our Father would have the same meaning directed to us.
The first thing to notice is that the verse (Matt.5:48) sums up Jesus’ teaching on fulfilling the law, (Matthew 5.17) as He sets the relationship of the Law to the disciples. The expectations for his disciples are of a whole life fulfilling the law – not just passing through by skipping certain things, not even in thought.
So verse 48 sums up all teachings on this subject in line with the Levitical command to be holy as ‘the Lord God is holy.' Thus the tasks do not require its comprehension alone but a whole-life conversion to it. The calling is to emulate the character of God.
But one may ask, how in the world can one become holy when there is only one who is holy; the Lord our God? Even His chosen people Israel failed miserably despite the covenant with blood.
At the time of Jesus' ministry, it was just logical for him to set first the disciples' relationship to the law, to set the mode on the new way, a far better and more effective way than the Law. For once He had accomplished the Law with the offering of himself as the propitiation for sin, then the Law became null and void; hence providing another way for the worshippers of God to become holy. The Law's purpose was not seen in the Old Testament writings even by the Israelites placed under it. This brings to mind a post on Facebook that gave an appropriate explanation of the matter. This is how the author puts it:
When the Bible speaks of “the law,” it refers to the detailed standard God gave to Moses, beginning in Exodus 20 with the Ten Commandments. God’s Law requiress his people compliance in three categories: civil, ceremonial, and moral law. The Law was given to separate God’s people from the evil nations around them and to define sin (Ezra 10:11; Romans 5:13; 7:7). The Law also clearly demonstrated that no human being could purify himself enough to please God—without the need for a Savior.
God has always been full of grace (Psalm 116:5; Joel 2:13), the reason people have always been saved by faith (Genesis 15:6). God did not change that in either the Old and New Testaments times (Numbers 23:19; Psalms 55:19). The same God who gave the Law also gave His gift through Jesus (John 3:16) demonstrated through the sacrificial system provided in the Law to cover sin. Jesus was born “under the law” (Galatians 4:4) and became the final sacrifice to bring the Law to fulfillment and establish the New Covenant (Luke 22:20). Now, everyone who comes to God through Christ is declared righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 3:18; Hebrews 9:15). (Frank D. Germano, posted in Facebook dtd. Feb. 3, 2019, 9:44 PM)
Checking out the supporting Scriptures, I am sure anyone can see the validity of his thoughts. Now to nail the answer to the question, "So what is the new and effective way of becoming holy?" We find the answer to that question from the author of the book of Hebrews, It's a favorite cliche of modern Christians Hebrews 10:14...
"For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy."
That refers to the death of Jesus. Let us widen our scope to get the proper context of that verse; getting through to the 4th verse from where we were, we find verse 18:
"And where these have been forgiven, sacrifice for sin is no longer necessary."
At this point, we should ask a leading question, what sacrifice for sin is it talking about? That leads us to the beginning of the chapter which tells us what it is all about in the first place, starting from verse 1...
1 The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming—not the realities themselves. For this reason, it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship. 2 Otherwise, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed {{{once for all}}}, and would no longer have felt guilty for their sins. 3 But those sacrifices are an annual reminder of sins. 4 It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.
Well, there we have it, brethren, the death of Christ Jesus as a propitiation for sin is the New and Best Way of becoming holy, and the rationale for it is provided for us as well. But, how does that relate to us believers of Christ, especially those who are non-Jews? On that concern, we go to our mentor Apostle Paul who was sent to the Gentiles.
Let us go to his letter to the Romans where he referred to Hebrews 10:14 above. He said in Romans 6:10:
The death he died, he died to sin {{{once for all;}}} but the life he lives, he lives to God.
Hebrews 10, gave us the meaning of Jesus' death. Now having died a sacrificial death as required by the Law, He must have lived a dedicated life in total obedience to His Father. Hence, in the same way, he tells us now in Romans 6:12-13:
12 Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. 13 Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness.
What Paul meant when he said we had been brought from death to life, was acknowledging our death with Him on the cross by faith, and thus our being one with Him in his resurrection; for he said:
Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. (Romans 6:3-4)
That is the significance of the Gospel of Christ to us. Christ’s sacrifice on the cross is not like the sacrificial lambs, nor that of bulls and goats, for they are only a foreshadowing, the reason why they had to be offered repeatedly. Hence, those worshipping God never reached holiness for they do it cyclically, like supposed Christians who repented from sin but still kept on at it. (Hebrews 10:1-4) On the other hand, the gospel logically implies, that since the death he died is once for all--making perfect those being made holy, Hebrews 10:14--and the life He lived is for the Father, then, in the same way, we ought to count ourselves dead to sin and alive to God. Being made holy, we should not allow our bodies to be used for sin, nor let sin reign in our mortal flesh; the act of offering oneself, like one dedicated to Him as implements for righteousness. (Romans 6:8-13)
The purpose of His death is to set us free from slavery to sin so that we may be slaves to righteousness, (Romans 6:18) dedicated to the Father as He was. Thus we become perfect as our Father is perfect.
Most Christians believe this is impossible, but God's word says otherwise. Is anything impossible for God? (Luke 18:27) Scripture tells us ‘With man this is impossible, but with God everything is possible.’ (Mathew 19:26) It is God that works in us that we will and do His pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) Is anything impossible for one who believes this? See Mark 10:23 below:
“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “ Everything is possible for one who believes.”
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