THEY THAT WILL STAND PERFECT IN CHRIST
To be perfect is to be upright and blameless, and be without reproach, flaw or blemish. He that will be in perfect standing with God will thirst after His word (Ps. 119:11,105). He will do what is right in the eyes of God and always be in pursuit of holiness. He must stand out for God and not move with the crowd (2 Cor. 6:14-17). He that will stand perfect will not conform to the standard of this world but rather run after that which is good and the perfect will of God.
God demands nothing short of perfection from us. He told Abraham: “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect” (Gen 17:1). Jesus gave the command: “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matt 5:48). Enoch (Gen. 5:24, Heb 11:5), Noah (Gen 6:9), and Job (Job 1:8) walked so closely with God to the extent that the perfection of God rubbed on them. God proclaimed them perfect. He that will serve God must walk in a prefect way.
My eyes shall be on the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with me; he who walks in a perfect way, he shall serve me. He who works deceit shall not dwell within my house; he who tells lies shall not continue in my presence (Ps. 101:6-7).
In Hebrews 6:1 (KJV), we are admonished to go on to perfection. Apostle Paul pressed every day towards perfection (Phil 3:10-12). He was never satisfied with his state of perfection, but always strived to become better. That is what it means to stand perfect in Christ. It is a continuous process, which demands that we daily examine our lives in the light of His words and do away with every flaw and imperfection, as the Holy Spirit reveals them to us daily. No wonder we are admonished to stand perfect and complete in all the will of God (Col. 4:12). Standing (and not sitting) perfect in Christ is an active and not a passive process. We cannot rest on our oars until we get to the feet of Jesus in Heaven, where our perfection will be complete.
The highway that leads to heaven is the way of holiness, and no unclean person will find it (Is. 35:8). He that will stand perfect in Christ in this world must (1) depart from iniquity – 2 Tim 2:19, 2 Cor. 7:1, (2) bear fruits worthy of repentance – Matt 3:8, (3) walk worthy of the Lord fully pleasing Him- Col. 1:10, 1 Thess. 2:12, (4) walk in love and not be a stumbling block to others – Rom 14:21, 1 Cor. 8:13, 1 John 4:16-17, and (5) have his tongue under control (James 3:2). May the Lord help us as we renew our determination to stand perfect and complete in Christ daily. That will take us to heaven.
Have a blessed Sunday.
Pastor Akindele Odeshi
RCCG, Jesus House For All Nations