Jesus tells us to be perfect. I have heard people say He just meant to mature....that no one can be perfect.
I just looked up "perfect" in the New Testament....Paul writes of it constantly. I think Jesus meant "perfect".
I believe satan has convinced us that no one is "perfect". So....we don't try to be perfect.
The BOM says: "And now it came to pass that according to our record, and we know our record to be true, for behold, it was a just man who did keep the record; for he truly did many miracles in the name of Jesus; and there was not any man who could do a miracle in the name of Jesus, save he were cleansed every whit from his iniquity." 3 Nephi 3:1-2
I was told during prayer one day that I hadn't sinned that day. It never occurred to me that I could do it.
We are told to keep His commandments. I didn't murder that day. I did not rob anyone. I did not lie. I did not covet.....
The Lord had the rich young man come to Him....(Matthew 19):
16 And, behold, one came and said, Good master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life?
17 And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? There is none good but one, that is, God; but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments.
18 He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness.
19 Honor thy father and mother. And, thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.
20 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up; what lack I yet?
21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven, and come and follow me.
Jesus did not say to Him...."You lie! No one can be perfect but me!"....He accepted what the young man said and built upon it.
(by the way...when Jesus confronted him about being called "good"...that only God is good....who is the "good" shepherd? Jesus was just forcing the young man to consider that Jesus "is" God....)
Anyway...how can we have a perfect Jesus live in us....in fullness....and not be perfect ourselves?
