Perfection
September 2020 – Grace & Truth Magazine
Perfection
“The law of Moses” occurs 21 times in Scripture and refers to the law God gave to Israel through Moses. It is not something that Moses came up with by his own effort. The Ten Commandments are part of this law. Interestingly, for those who study numbers in the Bible, 21 is 3x7, three speaking of a full witness and seven of completeness or perfection.
Law, although not the law of Moses, has had rule at every point of human history. Adam was given a command, but he disobeyed. Every person since Adam has lived under a law of some kind (Rom. 2:12-16), for God’s expectations were made known to all people (1:18-19). Yet, man has never been able to fully do what the holy and righteous God wants, and thereby man faces judgment. For those of a tender heart, this prospect has led them to Christ. However, others persist in their useless efforts because it gives them some kind of satisfaction.
The last paragraph of the Concise Bible Dictionary’s definition of the law of Moses says, “Man naturally clings to law because it recognizes him as alive in the flesh. And though the curse follows the not keeping it in all points, yet he is not willing to give up that ground. Christ glorified is the One whom God now recognizes – He only suits God’s glory. Hence everyone that is not ‘in Christ’ is a sinner already condemned by the light that has come in.”
Did you notice that comment, “He only suits God’s glory”? The Lord Jesus Christ is perfection! There is absolutely no way for man, in his own strength, to meet God’s demands of a perfect life. The only means by which we can attain God’s standards is found in Christ. This is only done through faith, by accepting God’s offer of salvation through the finished work of the Lord Jesus at Calvary.
Even as believers we are unable to live a perfect life, for the flesh remains in us until we are taken from this scene. Yet, as we read God’s Word, pray and draw closer to our beloved Savior, our hearts and minds will change and we will seek to act out of love for the Savior, not from a system of rules and regulations. May we always look to Jesus!
By Paul Alberts