Be Ye Perfect
So let us explore together this very interesting concept of “Christian Perfection.” We get told so often by “well meaning people” that Perfection is for “Eternity” so in the meantime, we just fall short. Well this sort of got me going so I entered “Perfect” into my computer Bible search engine and here is what I found. Apart from a great list of verses, some here listed, I discovered that “In Christ” as St Paul always alluded to, is my only safety, and my Perfection before Father God, so here we go.
Matthew 5:48 “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Phillipians 3:15 “Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.” James 1:4 “But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Genesis 6:9 “These [are] the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man [and] perfect in his generations, [and] Noah walked with God.” Genesis 17:1 “And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I [am] the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” Deuteronomy 18:13 “Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.” 2 Samuel 22:33 “God [is] my strength [and] power: And he maketh my way perfect.” 1 Kings 8:61 “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.” 2 Kings 20:3 “I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done [that which is] good in thy sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.” 2 Chronicles 15:17 “But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.” 2 Chronicles 16:9 “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong in the behalf of [them] whose heart [is] perfect toward him. Herein thou hast done foolishly: therefore from henceforth thou shalt have wars.” Job 1:1 “There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name [was] Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” Job 8:20 “Behold, God will not cast away a perfect [man], neither will he help the evil doers:” Psalm 37:37 “Mark the perfect [man], and behold the upright: for the end of [that] man [is] peace.” Proverbs 2:21 “For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.” Proverbs 11:5 “The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness.” Luke 6:40 “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” Romans 12:2 “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” 1 Corinthians 2:6 “Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:” 2 Corinthians 13:11 “Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” Ephesians 4:13 “Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:” Colossians 1:28 “Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:” 2 Timothy 3:17 “That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Hebrews 13:21 “Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.” James 1:4 “But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 3:2 “For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.”
That sure is an amazing long list of Bible Characters who all were recorded in Scripture as “Perfect” and some even had the title of being this way all their life, but even King David has an amazing track record of perfection and 1 Kings 15:5 records his only failure, but Scripture also records his confession, repentance and forgiveness. From what is listed above, it is very clear to me that as long as we are “In Christ” and have genuine repentance for all past sins, and then put away all these evil deeds and activities that we therefore now walk in the light as he is in the light in the “Love of God.”
One point that stuck with me is the number of times that Father God was speaking to a Human and advised them to walk perfectly before his God. We often hear of walking; “With God,” “Beside God,” “Hand in Hand with God,” but rarely this concept of “Before God.” It is like God tells us that he has given us the “Instruction Manual,” (Bible) so we pick it up, follow its instructions, and forge our path forwards, in a sort of “Military Advance,” with Father God behind us calling out any special instructions on our advance.
Perfection found in Nature, is a growth/growing process; a baby lamb will not remain that way for the next ten years, as much as a bean shoot will look that same way in two years. Continual growth is what makes perfection in Nature; a growing and blossoming sprouting and fruiting, new leaves, new branches, new growth thus we have perfection. 2 Peter 3:18 “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever.” Dear Reader; let us each resolve to be now and ever to remain, “Perfect – in Christ.”
