Perfectionism is a Trap That Keeps Us in a Works-Based Gospel
The Bible says to be holy as I (God) am holy (1 Peter 1:16). It also says to be perfect as I am Perfect (Matthew 5:48). These scriptures point to us abiding in Christ. He is the one who is holy not us. This is why Christ imputed his righteousness to us meaning he added righteousness to our account. We are only righteous through him. You see it is all about leaning on him because without him we can do nothing. We can only be holy or perfect through abiding in Christ.
See the below scripture:
Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. – John 15:4
The above scriptures about perfectionism and holiness have been taught in such a way as to attempt to accomplish the goal of holiness and perfectionism on our own by works, and that is simply pride and lack of understanding. We cannot accomplish this by works, but by abiding in Christ.
When we focus on perfectionism, we focus on trying to become good enough to reach perfection through works. That’s the old way. That’s the law. The law was too much of a burden for man to fulfill. This is why Jesus Christ fulfilled the law and through abiding in Christ we fulfill the law.
This makes enjoying the benefits of the gospel attainable to every man. This is why Isaiah prophesied saying to come and buy bread with no money.
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.” – Isaiah 55:1
This not having to work for perfection, but resting into perfection through abiding in Christ removes the burden of perfection and the burden of condemnation when we do not attain to perfection in our weak fleshy attempts.
It doesn’t matter how hard we try, we have to humble ourselves and realize our own righteousness is as filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We cannot attain to God’s standard outside of Him. This is why God points us to himself when he requires holiness and perfection of us.
Be careful not to enter back into bondage through a spirit of religion. Remember at the core of a religious spirit is to take the focus and glory off of Jesus Christ and to place it on the self-righteous who gloat in their own works.
Jesus spoke about such people who love to add false burdens on others:
They pile heavy burdens on people’s shoulders and won’t lift a finger to help. – Matt 23:4 Contemporary Version
They could help men and remove the burdens through teaching and operating out of the revelation from God’s word instead of leaning to the wisdom of their own minds.
The wisdom of God looks like the below:
But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be entreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. – James 3:17
Pure meaning no hidden motive, unadulterated, unmixed. It just is so. It’s just the truth.
Peaceable, not causing strife.
Gentle and easily entreated: There is a grace in enacted this that makes it plausible to attain. Not a heavy burden or an impossible task.
Full of mercy: compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm.
Good fruits: This is not a gospel of doing what you want and God will just overlook it. It is a gospel that will always show some fruit that a person has been abiding in Christ. There should be some forward motion in Christ.
Without partiality: This gospel is for everybody not just certain people who can attain a level of work and being successful at the law on their own. No partiality.
Without hypocrisy: Those who do walk in pride and self-righteousness are hypocrites because they cannot keep themselves from all sin on their own. They got some stuff in their closet too.
Those who walk in perfectionism follow wisdom that is the very opposite of the above. They often become successful at what is considered the big sins, and lord it over others to uplift themselves without examining their hearts for other sins like pride.
They lack mercy and seek to condemn others while lifting themselves. Perfectionism is a form of self-worship when one is doing well, and a form of self-condemnation when one notices he or she isn’t doing well. It’s a works-based salvation and acceptance system. This isn’t how the kingdom of God operates. See part II next week when we discuss perfectionism as a trap.
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