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 We
“strive” or “press” toward perfection, and die without
ever having reached our ideal. (Phil. 3:12-16) In an absolute
sense, sinlessness is so above man that John said, “If we say
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not
in us.” (1 Jn. 1:8) Context of the same passage shows that we
achieve an acceptable relationship with God through forgiveness.
(1 Jn. 2:1)
So,
many commands to a Christian are obeyed “so far as one is able”
— there being varying degrees to which different saints may
measure. Christ may forgive one man more than He does another,
that they may both stand before Him justified. This does not say
truth is relative, but that we may reach differing levels
of knowledge and response.
But
someone, reasoning along these lines, asked the question, “May
one have the “mind of Christ” as far as he is able?
May ones attitude be less perfect than another’s, and both be
acceptable before God? It seems that one’s attitude, one’s
heart, is either right or wrong before God — that there can be
no relativity in such matters. An illiterate can give his heart
to God as com-
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pletely as can the scholar,
and is probably more likely to do so. And the babe in Christ,
who stumbles and falls often, may be as intent on overcoming his
weaknesses and serving the Lord, as the mature Christian of long
standing. One may need more forgiveness — but this very thing
may contribute to his love for Christ, and determination. (Lu.
7:47)
Does
not Christ teach that we must love God with “all thy heart,
and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind”? (Matt. 22:37)
Phillip would only baptize one who believed with all his heart.
(Acts 8:37) It may not take much of a man to be a Christian, but
it does take all there is of him.
And
the man who gives himself completely, wholeheartedly to Christ,
will be satisfied with nothing less than a lifetime of striving
to do all the Lord asks of him. (Lu. 17:10) That kind of servant
will not make distinctions in God’s laws (Jas 2:10) or
discount some “just so the heart is right.” He knows that
heart is wrong!
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