Leslie M. John
No one is perfect
“And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith” (Philippians 3:9)
A person’s efforts to gain salvation and imputation of righteousness by good works and by being obedient to the Old Testament laws and commandments would be futile. Failure to keep one law is tantamount to breaking all the laws. The law points guilt of a person and never saves him. It is the blood of Lord Jesus Christ alone that cleanses a sinner of his/her sins.
Apostle Paul repeatedly wrote this fact in his epistles. He was happy that the righteousness that was imputed to him was not through the good works that he did, but through the faith in Jesus Christ. He was happy that the Old Testament law did not provide him the blessedness of being called as righteous. Also, his own good works could not provide him salvation. He was happy to know the truth that he was righteous because it was bestowed on him though faith in God. He was also happy to know the fact about his resurrection.
In the epistle to Philippians 3:13-14 Paul says that he does not want to count himself as having become perfect. He realizes that the purpose of his calling to serve Lord Jesus Christ was not fulfilled. There was always some thing short of expectation in him, and the need was always there to go beyond what he has already achieved. There was always still some area where he needed to be perfect. His message to us is clear that it is not possible for any man to become perfect, but his message is that one can do one’s best to become perfect. It was just as he himself failed in his ventures, and, therefore, he desires that every one would press on further, just as he would do, to achieve goals to please God who called him through Lord Jesus Christ.
It is, therefore, apt for every child of God not to grumble when he/she faces any suffering, but rejoice in God because every child of God will be heir of God and joint-heir with Lord Jesus Christ. Paul said that he did not reckon his sufferings could be compared with the abundant blessings he would receive in eternity. He goes on to give us the blessed hope that our sufferings are not so intense when they are to stand in comparison with the glory that would be revealed to us.(Romans 8:17-18)
“I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:14)";