| Will Christians Ever Be Perfect While Here On Earth? | ||||||
At the end of the passage in Matthew 5:43-48, Jesus says, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." The Greek word here (teleios) signifies when referring to God, complete, coming to an end, that which is finished. When referring to people it signifies consummate soundness, and includes the idea of being whole. More particularly, when applied to believers, it denotes maturity. This word (teleios) is also used in James 3:2, "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." This too is a picture of maturity in Christ. In Philippians 1:6 which says, "being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;" the "good work" being spoken of here, means in a physical and moral sense which produces benefits. It also suggests attractiveness and excellence. In context, Paul is expressing his confidence that the Philippian believers will maintain their fruitful activity until Christ returns. He bases this confidence not on the people’s own faithfulness, but on God’s purposes and faithfulness. This can be said of us as well. As we continue focusing our eyes on the Lord and being obedient to His directives we will reap benefits (the principle of reaping and sowing). The following two scriptures use a form of the above Greek word (teleioo) for the word "perfected." Philippians 3:12, "Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me;" and I John 2:3-5, "Now by this we know that we know Him if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." This word means to complete, accomplish, carry through to the end, bring to a successful conclusion, reach a goal, fulfill; bringing to maturity. In Hayford’s Bible Handbook on pages 716, 717 it says: "God’s perfection means that He is complete in Himself. He lacks nothing; He has no flaws. He is perfect in all the characteristics of His nature. He is the basis for and standard by which all other perfection is to be measured (Job 36:4; Psalm 18:30; 19:7; Matthew 5:48). "By contrast, man’s perfection is relative and dependent on God for its
existence. As applied to a person’s moral state in this life, perfection may refer
either to a relatively blameless lifestyle (Genesis 6:9; Job 1:1; James 3:2) or to a
person’s maturity as a believer (Philippians 3:15; James 1:4). Because perfection in
this life is never reached, man will continue to sin (Phil. 3:12, 15; I John 1:8). A
believer’s perfection in the next life, however, will be without sin (Ephesians 5:27;
Colossians 1:28; I Thessalonians 5:23)." |
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| Resources: 1.) Hayford’s Bible Handbook 2.) The Spirit-Filled Life Bible |
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