Portray Christ

“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt 5:48 (NIV)

In the language of the New Testament, the word perfect (Greek: telios) means nothing necessary for completion, finished, mature, complete, having reached the end. Upon conversion, you received the imputed righteousness of Christ. You were made fit for heaven. The righteousness of Christ was deposited into your account. From the moment of conversion on, you embrace the process of becoming who you are in Christ. You begin to workout what God has worked in.

• “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ.” Col 1:28 (NIV)
• “But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” Romans 3:21-24 (NIV)

God’s standard is perfection. In your human effort, you will never measure up to God’s standard. Jesus has met the standard on your behalf. The Christian life is not about your ability to live up to God’s standard. The Christian life is about surrendering to the Lordship of Christ and allowing Him to live His life through you. You are a vessel through which the life of Christ is portrayed to a watching world.

Have you given Jesus full access to every area of your life? Is there anything in your life that inhibits the fruit of the Spirit from being evidenced through your life? Confess known sin, receive God’s forgiveness, and allow Christ to portray His life through you each moment of every day.

Pursuing God,

Stephen Trammell
Executive Pastor
Follow me on twitter at: http://twitter.com/stephentrammell