3/27/21 – Mt. 5:48 “Be Perfect”

One of the most challenging verses in the Bible is Mt. 5:48 where Jesus says, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” We know from the greater context of scripture in 1 Jn. 1:8-10 that Jesus is not speaking of sinless perfection but of maturity and completeness. The reality is that the better we know Jesus the more we will become like Him (1 Jn. 2:6), the more perfect we will become.

The immediate context (Mt. 5:43-47) talks about the importance of love, even loving our enemies no matter how we are treated. That takes spiritual maturity. Loving our enemy also takes faith, for according to Paul in Rom. 5:5, “the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Let’s trust God to help us to be perfect and to love like we should.

I look forward to seeing you at Catawba Baptist Church in Rock Hill, SC tomorrow morning at 10:30. We will be having the Lord’s Supper. We are also beginning again both Children’s Worship during the 10:30 service and Sunday School Life Groups at 9:00 am. The following Sunday is Easter and we will be having a sunrise service at 7:00 followed by light refreshments and an Easter Musical during the 10:30 morning service. The following Sunday, April 11 at 10:30 former New York Yankee Bobby Richardson will be speaking during the morning service. We would love to have you join us. Have a great day!