A while back I had posted a question on social media asking “what exactly is the gospel?”
It’s a word or term many Christians often use, but if we are asked, what is the answer that we would give that defines the gospel of Jesus Christ?
There was one person who gave a two word answer, in fact, it was an adjective and a name.
The gospel, simply stated, is “King Jesus.”
But again, what exactly does that mean??
Those who know me know how often I talk about Eden. It’s not that I’m obsessed with wondering what life was like before we decided to cover ourselves with fig leaves, running around naked and not caring, but moreover I talk about Eden often because the Bible starts with it and ends with a completed version of Eden. Naturally, it’s worth paying attention to. I believe within the words of scripture are painted pictures of a perfect, or “complete” design within a sacred space.
There’s a commonality between the garden described in Genesis and the garden described in Revelation: the “tree of life”. Some argue that the tree of life is Jesus himself. Whether you’re at theology or you can exegetically determine the tree being a literal representation of Jesus or not, what we do know is the source of all life is centered within the confines of this set part location.
In other words, “the source of all life is centrally located in the hub of the perfect dominion where man and his creator dwell together.” Hold onto that thought…
Recently, we’ve had discussions around multiple topics that have let us all to the same place. A place of contemplating what completeness and wholeness actually mean.
Jesus, the perfect representation of covenant faithfulness, makes a statement that, if we are honest, we simply don’t believe. That is, until we have a better understanding of exactly what he meant.
Here in the middle of the sermon on the mount, he says “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” And we say, “yeah right, Jesus! That might happen once I get to heaven!
If you’ve said that, you are amongst the majority, but I would also lovingly tell you, you’re wrong and have misunderstood the gospel.
The gospel as simply but profoundly as “King Jesus” couldn’t be more accurate. Every good and perfect thing that we have comes from Jesus. Freedom from sin, joy, peace, life, vitality, confidence, hope, even all heavenly spiritual blessings are simply but profoundly accredited to King Jesus.
When Jesus exhorts the crowd to be perfect, he is telling them and us, to walk in the full measure of wholeness that comes by being connected to God, and at the same time continuing on that journey of completeness.
Perfection is translated from the Greek word τέλος (telos), meaning "end" or "completion."
stemming from- tamiym in Hebrew meaning "complete, whole, entire, sound."
When Jesus mentions peace, or Paul talks about a “peace which transcends all understandings” or maturity is mentioned in the fifth chapter of the book of Hebrews, it all points back to this idea of wholeness or completeness.
I bring up Eden once again because it’s important to remember that out of it, flowed four rivers which would saturate the ground thus providing a necessary portion of what plants needed to thrive and the Earth to produce sustenance for it’s inhabitants. At this point in the biblical narrative, rain had not yet existed. The Earth was moisturized from the ground up.
Inside out.
Upside down.
Everything about the kingdom of God is different than the way of the world, including perfection.
In our physical realm, we exist in a “means to an end” mindset. We established goals, we have dreams, we have ambitions and motivations all which lead us to seeking a finish line.
Jesus is teaching us that even to finish this race of life well, our source of sustenance will only come from within. The victory cannot be achieved, but rather must be received.
He is the source of all life, he is King Jesus. He is the faithful one, the one who has the only true source of fullness. It’s interesting that in the New Testament it speaks of the spirit that raise God from the dead is within those who believe and follow king Jesus, and Jesus himself said “if you believe in me according to the scriptures, rivers of living in water will flow from within you.”
John 7:38
There may have to be some unraveling of our own understanding when it comes to how we see ourselves. Friend, you cannot do anything more to achieve a higher level of love from God.
You cannot cleanse your own sin, you cannot defeat death, you cannot produce sustainable life, but you can receive all of that.
Our understanding, if you so desire the freedom Jesus offers, is going to have to shift from
“Living for” to “living from”.
Are we working simply to make it to the weekend or to make it to the next vacation or are we living from a place of peace knowing that with due diligence, God will provide no matter what, and he loves his children.
Are we hesitant to step in faith to an assignment because we do not yet feel equipped or knowledgeable, or are we being bold realizing at the same spirit that raised Christ from the dead is living within us?
Are we justifying sin, believing that perfection means achieving flawlessness, or are we walking in the fullness of life that is offered to us through an intimate relationship with Jesus?
I challenge you today to wrestle with your own understanding of perfection, maybe even an understanding of fullness and completeness.
Are we the ones making our own definitions and telling Jesus how it is, or are we willing to be humble enough to allow him to think according to his kingdom?
