Simple Bible Truths Perfection & Grace

Perfection

Earning your standing.

Martha: busy serving, anxious and resentful while Mary sat.
The older brother: “all these years I’ve served you and never disobeyed.”
The rich young ruler: kept every command, walked away sad.
The Pharisee in the temple: “I thank you that I am not like other men.”
Saul of Tarsus: blameless under the law, and an enemy of grace.
“If righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”
Galatians 2:21

Grace

Receiving what you could never earn.

Mary of Bethany: chose to sit at Jesus’ feet.
The prodigal son: came home with nothing, received the robe and ring.
The thief on the cross: nothing to offer, “today you will be with me.”
The tax collector: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner,” and went home justified.
Paul: “by the grace of God I am what I am.”
“By grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
Ephesians 2:8–9

Saul became Paul.

Saul tried perfection. Jesus stepped in. Paul received grace.

TRUSTED THE LAW
Saul: “as to righteousness under the law, blameless.”
TRUSTED CHRIST
Paul: “not having a righteousness of my own, but that which comes through faith.”
“I once thought these things were valuable, but now I consider them worthless because of what Christ has done.”
Philippians 3:7

What it looks like.

PERFECTION
Performance: Martha, busy serving, anxious and upset about many things.
Resentful: the older brother, “all these years I’ve served you.”
Judgmental: Simon the Pharisee, judged the weeping woman at his table.
Comparing: the Pharisee, “I am not like other men.”
Hiding: whitewashed tombs, clean outside, dead within.
GRACE
Present: Mary of Bethany, not producing, just with Him.
Honest: the tax collector, no performance, only “have mercy.”
Vulnerable: David in the Psalms, brought God the raw complaint.
Authentic: Nathanael, “no deceit in him,” named by Jesus.
Surrendered: Paul, “by the grace of God I am what I am.”
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”
Matthew 11:28

Takeaway

Perfection trying to earn His favor.
Grace receiving what you could never earn.
You’ll never be enough. His grace covers you anyway.
What perfection sounds like
  • Earning: “All these years I’ve served you.”the older brother, Luke 15:29
  • Comparing: “I am not like other men.”the Pharisee, Luke 18:11
  • Self-made: “As to the law, blameless.”Paul on his old self, Phil 3:6
  • Anxious: “Worried and upset about many things.”Martha, Luke 10:41
What grace sounds like
  • Mercy: “God, be merciful to me, a sinner.”the tax collector, Luke 18:13
  • Need: “I am no longer worthy to be called your son.”the prodigal, Luke 15:21
  • Loss for gain: “I count it all as loss for Christ.”Paul, Phil 3:8
  • Rest: “One thing is needed.”Jesus to Martha, Luke 10:42
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9