From First to Last

A righteousness that is by faith from first to last~ Romans 1:17

 I have been perplexing recently over Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:48 'Be perfect therefore as your heavenly father is perfect'.

What could that possibly mean? How can I ever be perfect? What the heck kind of instruction is that?

It's not that I ever expect to be perfect, and I know instinctively that he isn't saying that I must literally be perfect. I know I am saved by grace, made acceptable through Jesus, but what does it actually mean? That is what bothers me about it.

I have become convinced over the years that one of the main purposes of Jesus' teachings on the mount is to raise the bar beyond reach. For example, 'you have heard it said, do not kill, but I tell you that anyone who hates his brother in his heart is guilty of murder'!

Categorically I must state that I am not dismissing the aspirational aspects of the sermon on the mount. I believe we must pray for our enemies, love those who hate us, turn the other cheek. But some of those things are not always practical or possible.

I am not a pacifist. At least, not entirely. I am glad we stood up to Hitler, for example. Evil should be opposed. But I would say that the scriptural remit here, is for me not to take personal revenge.

But then take Jesus instruction that we must give to all who ask? Give and do not hold back.

I am wealthy in the wider context of the world. I have been told I am among the top 5% of the richest peoples on earth merely by being in the UK.

But there are weeks when I have not had money for food or for transport andhave had to find some solution to that.

Why tell you this? Well because it makes no practical sense for me to give to anyone who asks. Would it be okay, for example, for me not to feed my children because some charlatan saw that I had no ability to refuse whatever was asked of me.

It is unlikely, but the teaching gives rise to this kind of scenario.

But the aspiration of the command to generosity, and , for sure, at times, reckless giving, stands firm.

But Jesus puts these things there for a reason.

I believe the clue as to why is in his words in Matthew 5:20

For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

There are two reasons he says this. The first is, of course, that the Pharisees have an external righteousness only. And Jesus would have us know that the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Justice and compassion must exceed legal morality.

But that is not to say that legal morality is not important. Don't forget that God's law is perfect.

Perfect.

Jesus came not just to show us a better and less legalistic way. He came to do legal business. In essence the second reason he speaks of the greater righteousness in the sermon on the mount,  is to show us that we cannot possibly meet the standard ourselves,  even if we could keep the law.  (We may not kill,  but we have felt hatred).  So he came to justify us in the eyes of the law.  He says that he did not come to do away with the law, but to fulfil it. To meet all it's legal obligations. To perfect it.

And his actions mean that his righteousness is imputed (Transferred, counted and accredited) to us who believe.

Justified means that it is just as if I had never sinned. It also means 'it is just as if I have always obeyed'.

Jesus righteousness is accredited to you.

You stand before Almighty God as righteous as Jesus himself.

Now that is grace.

That is perfection.

And it is this perfection that Jesus refers to that will get us into the kingdom,

So yes, legalistic righteousness is extremely important.

And here is my point, to lend weight to today's text; this righteousness is by faith.

It could never be achieved by your own efforts,

NEVER.

Were you to pour your heart and soul into every action to do your best from the second you were conscious to the moment you closed your eyes in death, though you 'gave all you had to the poor and surrender your body to the flames'. You would still be a sinner. You would have been born in sin, and have died in sin, from first to last.

The only way this perfection comes is when you lay hold of the sacrifice of the Son of God, by faith.

You cannot earn or keep this by human effort. But by grace you have been saved, through faith, and this, not from yourself. It is a gift of God.

There is no way round it. This righteousness is by faith, from first to last.

And the amazing thing about God's imputed righteousness is that, when you understand this grace, it starts to not only be imputed but also imparted, by the Holy Spirit, and we are changed from one degree of glory to another.

Heavenly Father, we are so grateful for the gift of faith, that saves us and we are even more grateful for Jesus. Thank you for saving faith, from the first day we believed,

To this day,
And for all days,
.
Amen