What Standard Should We Use?

Until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the 

Son of God, growing into a mature man with a stature 

measured by Christ’s fullness.

—Ephesians 4:13—

THE apostle Paul warned that we should not compare ourselves with others: “For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise” (2 Cor 10:12). The standard that we are to use that will actually help us attain eternal life is Christ Himself. He is what God the Father desires us to become.

Like Jesus, we are to love our enemies: “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43–45).

Or, as the apostle Paul put it: “For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will hardly die for a righteous man; though perhaps for the good man someone would dare even to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. … For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life” (Romans 5:6–8, 10).

The growth God seeks in us requires a desire to please God and not ourselves (Hebrews 11:6; Ephesians 5:8–10). As always, our best example of this is Christ “who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to hold, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross” (Philippians 2:6–8).

“Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me’” (Romans 15:2–3). “Give no occasion for stumbling, either to Jews, or to Greeks, or to the church of God; even as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of the many, that they may be saved” (1 Corinthians 10:32–33).

James offers that we pray for wisdom (James 1:5–8). “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but the foolish despise wisdom and instruction” (Proverbs 1:7).

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ” (Ephesians 1:7–9).

The apostle Paul summarizes succinctly what I’m trying to get at in this article — “Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Again, our standard should be Jesus himself! And the more time we spend in reading about him and what he did (and why he did it) in the gospel accounts — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John — the more we’re going to understand and appreciate everything about who he was here on earth. This doesn’t mean that the act of reading is going to accomplish it, but it’s a definite starting point. As Paul urged Timothy, “Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15). The only way for the word of God to get into us is by our getting into it. We make the time for what we deem valuable. If we’re really wanting to go to heaven, then we need to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).

It’s not about just gaining knowledge, because knowing puffs up (1 Corinthians 8:1). It’s about gaining love, the love of Christ: “That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith — that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God” (Ephesians 3:17–19). “We have the mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16).