In Christ Alone We Are Made Perfect
By Aurora Coldwater
If you were to take a look around, you would see people. People who struggle. Each and every one of us with our own temptations and desires. In short, we are imperfect. “For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23 and, “each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his OWN desires and enticed” James 1:14. No one other than Christ has ever been perfect and no one except Christ can save (Acts 4:12). We are all guilty of death according to Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life.”
But there’s a bright side. We have a Savior who came to “seek and to save the lost.” (Luke 19:10) Romans 5:8 states that, “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” He lived a perfect life, died a cruel death, and was raised again to make salvation available to all.
Christ was and is complete and perfect, Hebrews 5:8-9. He lived a REAL life with REAL temptations! Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who does not sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” Christ is BETTER. Under no other covenant were sins so completely washed away. Christ’s blood was the perfect sacrifice. A lamb without blemish. He freely gave His life for our transgressions. Isaiah writes of Him in Isaiah 53:5-6: “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to His own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all”
He willingly came, knowing He would die one of the cruelest deaths known to man, for the very people whose sins put Him there. Even in the midst of so much agony He asked God to forgive them who had cried “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” The latter part of Hebrews 12:2 says, “who for the JOY that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has set down at the right hand of God.” Not only did he endure the cross, but he did it GLADLY! He lived a perfect life, to become the perfect sacrifice, so that we might become perfect in Him. “For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified” (Hebrew 10:14). You may also see Galatians 2:19-20; Hebrews 10:23; Hebrews 11:40; James 2: 22.
He lives for us. He provided an opportunity to be eternally with Him in heaven! Death is NOT the end all for us. We have a hope. We get to be with Him someday, and NO ONE can get between you and God. Therefore let us strive each and every day towards the perfection of our faith in Christ Jesus our LORD.