Introduction

(48) “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

– Matthew 5:48 CSB

Jesus loves us, but He also expects of us. And He doesn’t set the bar low. He says that we are to be perfect, so I want to define “perfect” for us as it pertains to character.

The use of perfect in this verse pertains to being perfect in the sense of not lacking any moral quality. We can see indications of character on the outside by what people do. But what God is looking for goes deep, it goes to the inner man. God looks at our thoughts and intents. These are the motivations behind our actions. He looks at our hearts.

(7) But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the LORD sees, for humans see what is visible, but the LORD sees the heart.”

– 1 Samuel 16:7 CSB

Jesus is coming back for a bride that is holy and blameless, without spot or wrinkle (Ephesians 5:27). He is looking for us to have the very same character as He had on earth.

Jesus was led by and full of the Holy Spirit. If we can get to that place. Our lives will look different. We will look like Jesus.

Character

Let’s talk about character. Character is who you are in private. Character is who you are when no one else is looking. Character is what you do when no one is watching when there is no penalty for what you’ve done.

Character brings the idea of proven experience, of gaining strength through the trials of life. The practical application of character would be when a righteous man endures trials.

Going through trials brings about change. It makes him stronger than he was before. His character and integrity have been strengthened and proven. He knows more about the presence and strength of God.

But how do we know when we get to this place? We produce fruit.

Bearing Fruit

(1) “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. (2) “Every branch in me that does not produce fruit he removes, and he prunes every branch that produces fruit so that it will produce more fruit. (3) “You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. (4) “Remain in me, and I in you. Just as a branch is unable to produce fruit by itself unless it remains on the vine, neither can you unless you remain in me. (5) “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without me. (6) “If anyone does not remain in me, he is thrown aside like a branch and he withers. They gather them, throw them into the fire, and they are burned. (7) “If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you want, and it will be done for you. (8) “My Father is glorified by this: that you produce much fruit and prove to be my disciples.

– John 15:1-8 CSB

What is this fruit? Some might say that it is prosperity. There are many people out there that are prosperous. But why are they prosperous? Is it because of their walk with Christ? Are they wise in the way of the world? There are two things to serve, God or Money.

(24) “No one can serve two masters, since either he will hate one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

– Matthew 6:24 CSB

Others might say that the fruit is miracles. Jesus said:

(22) “On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, didn’t we prophesy in your name, drive out demons in your name, and do many miracles in your name? ‘ (23) “Then I will announce to them, ‘I never knew you. Depart from me, you lawbreakers! ‘

– Matthew 7:22-23 CSB

Jesus didn’t deny that the miracles were real. What He did deny was that He had a relationship with them.

Some might say, souls. I have thought about it in this way before. But it is God who saves.

We have no control over what people do. What we have control of is how we respond to people and situations.

In the end, God is bringing about transformation to those that are His. As we allow the Holy Spirit to change us, we start taking on the form of Jesus. His attributes start showing up in our lives.

Some of the attributes we see in Jesus are called the fruit of the Holy Spirit. You can see these used in every relationship. At least, that is the hope. How are you doing?

(22) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, (23) gentleness, and self-control. The law is not against such things.

– Galatians 5:22-23 CSB

Could these be the fruit that Jesus will produce through us if we remain in Him? This is a rhetorical question. Yes, I believe they are.

The purpose of God is for you to be transformed into the image and nature of Christ.

God wants to build in us the character of Christ. He does this through His word, His Spirit, and His body. Are you surprised?

This fruit is supernatural. You can’t practice it (His love, joy, peace, patience…) without people. It takes practice to receive the fruit from the Spirit, and then use it in relationships.

The yielding of ourselves to the Spirit allows the fruit to grow through us. Don’t worry, people will give you this opportunity more than you would like.

The Divine Nature

It isn’t through our intellect or the amount of information we can recall. That is not how we take on divine nature. It is through His divine power that God provides for everything we need.

(3) His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.

– 2 Peter 1:3 CSB

God supplies everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him.

How do we take part in this divine nature?

(4) By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire.

– 2 Peter 1:4 CSB

We get to take part in divine nature through God’s promises. In this way, we can escape the world’s corruption.

The Foundational Ingredient

(5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith…

– 2 Peter 1:5 CSB

Faith is the foundation that we must have. It is the starting point of our life in Christ. Faith is a supernatural sense that God gives us that assures us of our salvation. But it is only the beginning.

There are things that we are to add to this faith. These things emerge because of this faith.

Why is that? The confession of our faith shows what our belief is, and belief always drives behavior. What are the things that should supplement our faith?

(5) For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, (6) knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, (7) godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.

– 2 Peter 1:5-7 CSB

Notice how these build upon each other. Goodness, knowledge, self-control, endurance, godliness, brotherly affection, and love.

If you have these characteristics, that is good. If they are increasing, that is even better. You can know you are headed in the right direction. By moving forward in these you are increasing in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

(8) For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being useless or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (9) The person who lacks these things is blind and shortsighted and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins.

– 2 Peter 1:8-9 CSB

What is the result? You will be useful to the Master and will be producing fruit. You won’t be unfruitful or useless.

Beloved let’s not forget our salvation and what Christ has done for us.

(10) Therefore, brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election, because if you do these things you will never stumble. (11) For in this way, entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you.
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– 2 Peter 1:10-11 CSB

The Mindset

As we walk out our faith we need to have the right mindset. The situations and circumstances we encounter try to draw our attention from our God. When this takes place we forget where our help comes from

Take your eyes off your circumstances, your victory is in God’s ability.
– Morris Cerullo

We must see these things for what they are. God has a way for us to walk regardless of what we face. He will be with us and walk us through each circumstance, each affliction. He will work it for our good.

(3) And not only that, but we also rejoice in our afflictions, because we know that affliction produces endurance, (4) endurance produces proven character, and proven character produces hope.

– Romans 5:3-4 CSB

We should rejoice when we suffer because it produces something in us. It produces endurance, then proven character, and finally hope.

(2) Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, (3) because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

– James 1:2-3 CSB

Consider trials a joy because they test your faith. This testing produces evidence of your faith. By working your faith muscle, you produce, not only endurance but evidence. This process is making you mature and complete (perfect).

(4) And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.

– James 1:4 CSB