Archive for the ‘Perfection Of Christ’ Category

Genesis 17:1

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

This was the confirmation verse (a verse given specially at the time when He publicly confessed his faith in Christ) for the first man at whose funeral I officiated today.

God speaks to Abram and says:

“I Am God Almighty, walk before me and be blameless.”

Most translations use the word “blameless” here.  The original Hebrew literally means “complete,” or “whole.”  Elsewhere in the OT this word is translated as “with out blemish” and even “perfect.”

We often read this as a command.  The God who creates this covenant with Abram declares his just requirement of those who would be his:  Be whole. Be complete. Be without blemish. Be Perfect.  This is God’s demand.  That we would be perfect in love for him and for one another.  But who among us (let alone Abram!) has done this?

The original language does leave room for this to be a promise–not merely a command.  “Walk before me and you will be: complete, whole, without blemish, perfect.”  How wonderful. How true.

For there is one (and ONLY one) who has truly been totally whole, complete, without blemish and perfect: Jesus, the spotless “lamb of God.”  This Jesus lived a perfect life on our behalf.  His own righteousness, his own perfection is credited to our account as we trust in him.  And our wicked thoughts, words and actions are given over to him wholly (along with the deserved punishment for these acts) through his death on the cross.

The end result is that all who trust in Jesus are counted whole, complete, without blemish and even perfect in the sight of God on behalf of Jesus. wow.

Not only that, but Jesus has promised to one day return and raise our bodies from the ground making them gloriously new. On THAT day–we will experience, not merely by faith, but by sight our own wholeness, completion and perfection in Him.

Thank you, Lord Jesus.

Posted in Death and Resurrection, Perfection Of Christ, Resurrection, Trust, forgiveness | No Comments »

Error-less! (Or “What do the Yankees and Jesus Have In Common?”)

Tuesday, June 2nd, 2009

With last night’s game, the First Place New York Yankees (pause to enjoy the look and sound of those words) established a Major League record of 18 consecutive games without a fielding error.  They are playing some phenomenal defense.  That’s about 54 hours without a miss-throw or a dropped or bobbled ball that resulted in a misplay. WOW!  Eat your hearts out Boston!  :-)

Can you imagine being error free, mistake free, SIN free for over two days?  How ’bout a DAY?  Wouldn’t it be WONDERFUL to go one whole day without sinning?!  Wouldn’t it be great to go an HOUR without doing, saying or thinking something that offended God or wounded another person?  How ’bout even a minute?  I’d take even a minute.

Thankfully, there is One who lived an error-free LIFE for us.  Jesus was absolutely PERFECT in every way.  He perfectly loved His Father in Heaven.  He perfectly loved His neighbors.  And He did this for you.

Jesus took your sins and carried them to the cross putting them away for good.  In exchange for your sins, he gives to you, as a free gift, his very own righteousness, his perfection, his error-free life.  This perfection is credited to YOUR account, so that when you stand before God on that last day, he will see not your sins but the righteousness of Jesus and will welcome you into his presence.  WOW!

Romans 1:17 For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”

Romans 3:21 But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. 22 This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.

2 Corinthians 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Posted in Perfection Of Christ, Salvation, Sports | No Comments »

Flawed Heroes

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

I was saddened to read this story about Swimming Star, Michael Phelps, smoking pot from a bong.  During the Olympics we were reminded of a DUI event that betrayed bad judgment in the past.  Now this.

I was a swimmer in high school.  I was terrible and didn’t ever compete well.  Never-the-less, I worked very hard and have just a glimpse of what it must take to do what Phelps did in the Olympics.  And I sure enjoyed watching.  I made sure not to miss an event and was yelling and jumping around as I watched and cheered him/them on in each race.  It was exciting TV and a good story.

This recent episode, puts Phelps in a long list of flawed heroes.  How tired I get of hearing of celebrities, athletes, politicians and especially people in the church falling into gross sin.  But It’s nothing new, really and should remind us never to “idolize” people or put them on too lofty a pedestal.  Not one person is immune to falling in dramatic and tragic ways.  Not one.  Not you.  Not me.  As Paul warns, “So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don’t fall!” (1 Corinthians 10:12)

The bible is FILLed to over-flowing with flawed “heroes.”  Moses was a murderer who wanted nothing to do with God’s call.  Samson was not faithful to the Lord’s plan for his life and consorted with prostitutes.  David (The man “after God’s own heart” of all things) became an adulterer and a murderer.  Jonah was a depressed, suicidal Call-avoiding bigot.  Saul persecuted the church.  The disciples were a mess.

There is only ONE who is worthy of our absolute trust and emulation.  Jesus, himself.  He alone never yielded to temptation and proved faithful to the Father in every respect.  (see Matthew 4:1-11 and Hebrews 4:15)

Posted in Culture/society, Perfection Of Christ | 1 Comment »