This statement by Paul may leave some to wonder whether the daily striving to follow is futile if despite our efforts we remain sinners still. If we all come short regardless of our best efforts then why is effort required?
The answer should be an encouraging one. God himself, perfect and all powerful, has made declarations that certain faithful followers were “just and perfect.” Of Noah God said, “Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) With that description of Noah’s walk with God, did Noah come short of the glory of God? Assuredly yes! No human being in this fallen state is equal to the glory of God, yet a man who is a devoted disciple, walking with God in a covenant relationship, relying fully upon the merits of Christ, can be just and perfect in his generation (in their time and place), and it is to this that we aspire.
Too often as Christian’s we get caught up proclaiming ourselves hopeless sinners and then praising Christ for our pardon, but we must be very careful. “Focusing on [Christ’s] achievements rather than our failures does not give us one ounce of justification for undisciplined lives or dumbing down our standards. No, from the beginning the gospel has been “for the perfecting of the saints, … till we … come … unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.” (Ephesians 4:12-13)
On the other hand, if you are using your aspirational desire for a more perfect walk with Christ to beat yourself up for all the ways you fall short, such behavior is neither productive nor righteous. “We should not demean or vilify ourselves, as if beating up on ourselves is somehow going to make us the person God wants us to become.”
– “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
When we do, we are giving into a clever deception of the devil and denying the power of Christ to change us if we walk humbly before him. And not just humbly, but disciples of Christ should be among the most optimistic and cheerful people in this world.
“Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do all things that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.” — Doctrine and Covenants 123:17
How can we respond positively to our shortcomings?
If at the end of your daily scripture study, “You are pretty certain you are not going to get good marks on your gospel report card, then the final commandment in the chain is sure to finish the job: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father … in heaven is perfect.” With that concluding imperative, we want to go back to bed and pull the covers over our head. Such celestial goals seem beyond our reach. Yet surely the Lord would never give us a commandment He knew we could not keep.
“Many who struggle with this issue: “I am just not good enough.” “I fall so far short.” “I will never measure up.”… Satan has somehow managed to make covenants and commandments seem like curses and condemnations… yet, we can pursue personal improvement in a way that doesn’t include getting ulcers or anorexia, feeling depressed or demolishing our self-esteem.
– “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland
As was stated in a former post in this study, the purpose for the cleansing and justifying powers of the atonement is to bring the sinful man into a redemptive relationship with Christ, referred to as a covenant relationship, a relationship that has the power to make good men better until we are made perfect through Christ. During this life we can aspire to be the best versions of ourselves and be maintained in good works through daily reliance of the Holy Spirit, being cleansed when we come short through repentance. This person is what the scriptures call “a saint.” All faithful disciples of Christ should think of themselves as saints not sinners.
– What is a Saint?A repentant sinner, living in a state of grace, bound in a covenant relationship with God, and striving to the end to be like Christ.
“Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him … ,” (Moroni 10:32, Book of Mormon). “Love God with all your might, mind and strength, then … by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ.” Our only hope for true perfection is in receiving it as a gift from heaven—we can’t “earn” it. Thus, the grace of Christ offers us not only salvation from sorrow and sin and death but also salvation from our own persistent self-criticism. (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)
“When Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” — Genesis 17:1
Let us think on the great lesson learned from the great patriarch Abraham, who grew in faith until he came to trust that there was no commandment given of God that he could not follow. He came to view obedience as the way to increase in faith and knowledge. When commanded to sacrifice his son and heir to the promise, he did not shrink from obedience but went forth in faith believing that God would provide a way for him to obey even in this, and that in his obedience the Lord would reveal himself and his purposes. His commitment to perfect obedience is a testament and example to us all.
Surely, Abraham is among the greatest of God’s servants on earth, and nearly all of us come short of his righteous example, but he was mortal, and he did show us how to walk as mortal men in a covenant relationship with God.
“Every one of us aspires to a more Christlike life than we often succeed in living. If we admit that honestly and are trying to improve, we are not hypocrites; we are human. May we refuse to let our own mortal follies, and the inevitable shortcomings of even the best men and women around us, make us cynical about the truths of the gospel, our hope for our future, or the possibility of godliness. If we persevere, then somewhere in eternity our refinement will be finished and complete.” (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually” by Elder Jeffrey R. Holland)
Rather than proclaim ourselves hopeless sinners while praising Christ’s atoning blood, let us rather proclaim ourselves saints because of Christ’s atoning blood; and cheerfully walk with Christ in our striving to become like him in this life and to become perfected by him in the next life.
(The above post has several excerpts from “Be Ye Therefore Perfect—Eventually, By Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/.../be-ye-therefore...)
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