GOSPEL MESSAGE & RECORDING
When Christ teaches that we are to be “perfect” just as the heavenly Father is “perfect,” he is not speaking regarding nature or substance, but rather, us as Christians, being willing to participate in the work of salvation that God is doing in and through us. Meaning, we are not to ever think that we can become God. We are humans after all, and God is God. We can never become God but we can become “godly.” It is this “godliness” that we must aspire to. It is our goal to become like God. As St. Athanasius states in his work, On The Incarnation, “God became man so that man might become like God.” It is the devil’s handiwork to make us think that we cannot become like God. The saints are proof that we can become like God. That is, we can become “godly.” This is what Christ means when he says, “be perfect.”
As Christians, we are so easily willing to set limitations to our spiritual growth. “Half-hearted” fasting coupled with “quick” and “easy” prayers lead us to place of complacency. Eventually, we end up thinking that the godly aspects of Christianity are for the saints and not for the “common”/ “regular” Christian. Firstly, there is no such Christian. Common or regular Christians are a contradiction to the Word of God. God calls us “friends”, “sons,” and “daughters”. We are, in fact, extraordinary.
If such is the case, then we can overcome sin, however minor or major.
A mindset that believes that we can attain perfection will always set high goals and expectations for the development of spiritual life. This leads us to a realization that we can overcome the plans of the enemy. Then we begin to believe that God loves and cares for us. With this, we will be confident in our walk with the Lord. And we will live as “overcomers.”