The Trap of Perfectionism

"For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy. 15 And the Holy Spirit also testifies that this is so. For he says, 16 “This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts and I will write them on their minds.” 17 Then he says, “I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.” 

I have always been a little bit of a perfectionist. A perfectionist is usually hardest on themselves. A perfectionist who becomes a Christian can be tempted to be a perfectionist about their obedience to Christ. Expecting perfection of ourselves as a Christ follower denies the power of the cross. It has its roots in pride and ego. If someone thinks they are perfect, they usually have even bigger problems. Being a disciple of Christ becomes all about religious activity that makes us a "better" Christian. 

The author of Hebrews today says, "He made perfect those who are being made holy." These verses are in the context of the writer describing how Jesus' death on the cross was and is the once and for all sacrifice for our sins. Not only has Jesus' sacrifice covered our sins, the passage says God will never again remember our sins. He has forgotten them because Jesus died for them once and for all. It is finished Jesus said on the cross!

So does this mean we can sin over and over again, since we are forgiven and our sins are forgotten?  No, this is the reason we are being made holy. No longer is holiness our own work, but God's work in us. It is really counter-intuitive. Christians often think if we try harder we can become more holy. It's the "Pull yourself up by the bootstraps" mentaily. But the opposite is true. It is only as we surrender our self-will that the power of the Holy Spirit can make us holy.   

The essence of being made holy is that we have been set apart for God. God makes us holy so He can use us as his ambassadors in the world. The fruits of being made holy is a transformed life, where we begin to do and say the things Jesus did if he were us. 


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