What Does It Mean To Be Perfect?

 Just wondering, is there anyone out there who has not committed sin since they received Jesus as Lord and Saviour and were born again? Is there anyone out there who is perfect? What does it really men to be perfect?

“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. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." (Matthew 5:43-48, NKJV)

Jesus referred to a common attitude amongst the Jews during the Sermon on the Mount. The people practiced love for their neighbours and hatred for their enemies. From a human perspective, it sounded logical and sensible but Jesus pointed to God's irrevocable standard, a higher standard than what the people were used to. Loving our enemies is what we are called to; it is humbling because to love one's enemies, one has to forsake pride and the desire for revenge. That is not easy, human speaking. Hating our enemies makes us no different from unbelievers. Loving our enemies is a portrayal of God's perfection - He loves everybody without exception which is why people are free to make their own choices even when those choices have adverse consequences. 

"And this, so that I may know Him [experientially, becoming more thoroughly acquainted with Him, understanding the remarkable wonders of His Person more completely] and [in that same way experience] the power of His resurrection [which overflows and is active in believers], and [that I may share] the fellowship of His sufferings, by being continually conformed [inwardly into His likeness even] to His death [dying as He did]; so that I may attain to the resurrection [that will raise me] from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it [this goal of being Christlike] or have already been made perfect, but I actively press on so that I may take hold of that [perfection] for which Christ Jesus took hold of me and made me His own." (Philippians 3:10-12, AMP)

Apostle Paul was a great man of God. He surrendered totally to God and yearned to know more of God and the power of His resurrection. May God help us to have such a longing for God - a longing to fear Him and keep His commandments. After serving God faithfully for decades, Apostle Paul was not satisfied with past testimonies. He wanted a NOW testimony; he longed to experience the power of God, the revelation of God and the wisdom to preach the Gospel. Interestingly, Paul was to say, 'Not that I have already obtained it or have already been made perfect'. That did not disqualify him because his heart was in the right place; he loved God unconditionally; he was ready to be killed for the sake of the Gospel; he had no agenda of his own. You see, we are not perfect but we strive towards perfection. Our imperfections are not an excuse for sinning. 

"If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (1 John 1:6-10, NKJV)

The Epistle of John was written to Christians not unbelievers. Basically they were informed that there is a tendency for us to miss the mark. That is not to say the sacrifice and atonement of Jesus was incomplete or imperfect. Jesus cried out on the cross of Calvary that His work of redemption was finished. Anyone who repents and receives Jesus as Lord and Saviour will be saved. When we sin (as we shall from time to time), there is no condemnation, our consciences prick us and we run to God in repentance. The Christian life starts with repentance and ends with repentance. The Blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin when we confess our sins. We receive forgiveness, are refreshed and restored to continue the race in front of us.

What does this all mean? The Greek word for 'perfect' in Matthew 5:48 is 'teleios' meaning 'having reached its end, complete'. It also conveys the idea of maturity. Sinless perfection is a trait that belongs only to God. He makes no mistakes, is perfect in all His ways, knows the beginning from the end and vice versa; He is pure, no blemish or stain. Our God is awesome and holy. Prophet Isaiah beheld a vision of the Lord:

"In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw [in a vision] the Lord sitting on a throne, high and exalted, with the train of His royal robe filling the [most holy part of the] temple. Above Him seraphim (heavenly beings) stood; each one had six wings: with two wings he covered his face, with two wings he covered his feet, and with two wings he flew. And one called out to another, saying,
“Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord of hosts;
The whole earth is filled with His glory.” (Isaiah 6:1-3, AMP). 

When he saw this, he cried out "Woe is me! For I am ruined, because I am a man of [ceremonially] unclean lips,..." (Isaiah 6:5, AMP). The holiness of God, His purity, perfection, power, and omniscience should draw us to our knees before Him. Jesus said, "...for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:14). God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). You see, a prerequisite for spiritual maturity starts is humility. As we humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God, we realise that all that we have is given to us by God and to be perfect in God's sight, we must let go and let God have His way. 

Perfection for Christians is about the condition of the heart and not an absence of sin. About Noah, the Bible says, "Noah was a just man, perfect in his generations. Noah walked with God." (Genesis 6:9). Noah was later to drink wine and get drunk and lay naked - a clear error of judgement and a sin in God's sight. Moses was the meekest man on earth but he missed Canaan because his anger at the sin of Israel led him to dishonour God (Number 20:10-12). Apostle Peter engaged in hypocrisy and Apostle Paul rebuked him (Galatians 2:11-12). Thomas doubted Jesus (John 20: 24-29). 

Recognising our imperfections helps us not to be legalistic, bombastic, lacking in compassion. It helps us to run to God in humility, to minister in humility, to serve in humility and to see everyone as a potential Christian.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. " (John 3:16)

Your comments are welcome. Have a blessed day.