If you have ever read the teachings of Jesus you have undoubtedly noticed that he makes very direct and what often seem impossible statements regarding how we are to live. He says "Be holy as I am holy". He says "you say don't murder but I say if a man looks at another man with anger in his heart then he is guilty of murder"(paraphrase). These commands and many others that he gives us in the gospels appear as though he's calling us to live an impossible life of perfection. In the past my reaction to these statements as to try as hard as I could to be a good Christian. I've been learning recently that I don't think that's what he's after at all. How good is good enough? I know I don't have to be good to have a relationship with God but I've lived as though I have to be good in order for Him to love and accept me.
In order to really follow the commands of Jesus, it would take a miracle. It would take perfection. That's exactly what Jesus was. That's the miracle of the gospel. God sent His son to live a miraculous and perfect life because you and I couldn't. We don't have to strive for that perfection in an effort to gain his love or acceptance. We are loved and accepted because of who Christ is not because of our efforts to do good things. Our actions should flow out of our relationship with Christ. They are a result of that relationship rather than a means for us to establish that relationship.
Jesus isn't calling us to "try real hard and I'll see you in heaven when this thing is over". He's saying I did what you couldn't do. He's calling us to know him. The more we know him the more we will love him and our lives will naturally start to look more like him. This is a result of him changing our hearts rather than a disciplined act of our will and our determination to be "good". This is really good news.
