At first glance, the word "perfect" gives an impression that to be perfect means you will never say or do anything wrong or never make any mistake. This is obviously quite unattainable.
The word "perfect" in Scripture comes from Greek word "teleios", which means mature, fully grown up, complete all-round, nothing deficient or defective. Notice that a person can be fully grown up but can be defective in some area of his body. Or he is mature but may not be complete. Therefore, a more accurate description for a perfect person means, a person who is fully mature and grown up in "full personality" - in body, soul and spirit in the sight of God.
To be perfect is a command of Christ. If personal perfection is not attainable Jesus would not have commanded His people to be perfect.
Jesus said to His disciples, "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as you Father in heaven is perfect" (Matthew 5:48, NKJV, emphasis added).
The word "therefore" indicates that the meaning of being "perfect" is revealed a few verses earlier. In the context, Jesus said that a person is considered a perfect person if he:
"Loves his enemies, bless those who curse him, do good to those who hate him, and pray for those who spitefully use him and persecute him" (Verse 44).
In my opinion, the ultimate goal of personal perfection is that divine love, agape love or the love of God is manifested in the character and personality of a person. Without the love of God in a person it is quite impossible for him to love his enemies. In this message we shall examine the Scripture to find out whether it is true that divine love is the ultimate goal of our personal walk with God.
Paul's Teaching on Perfection
Paul's ministry is not only to preach Christ for the sake of His Body, the Church, but also to present every man perfect in Christ:
"I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His Body, which is the church. Him we preach, warning everyman and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfection in Christ Jesus" (Col. 1:24,28, emphasis added).
Paul admitted that he had not attained complete maturity yet. There is still something lacking in him:
"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" (Phil. 3:12, NKJV, emphasis added).
The next few verses in Phil. 3 and 1 Cor. 9:24 to 27 show that Pual compared himself to a man running a race and heading for the finishing line. He was not going to stop until he got there. He would not look behind but did all he could to reach there. In order to do that he needed self discipline and self-control. Towards the end of His ministry Paul did see the finishing line and he ran for it!
"For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I hve finished the race, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:6).
Peter's Teaching on Perfection
In the Second Epistle of Peter beginning from verse 2 to verse 8 of Chapter 1, Peter gives a vivid picture of a Christian's walk to perfection by faith in the promises of God. By grace God has given every true Christian His divine nature - the nature of God (2 Peter 1:4).
Christian walk is a walk of faith. Beginning with faith there are actually seven steps to Christian perfection - Virtue, Knowledge, Self-control, Perseverance, Godliness, Brotherly kindness and Love (verses 5 to 7). Without faith, no one would be able to take the first step!
1. "Virtue" comes from the Greek word "arete" meaning exellence, be trustworthy or being faithful. Exellence is revealed through faithfulness. An example is:
Jesus said, "He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much; and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much" (Luke 16:10).
2. "Knowledge" means knowlege of God, His Word and His Will. The opposite of knowledge is ignorance. God's people must not be ignorant of the "signs of times", "God's timetable for the nation of Israel and the Church". Every Christian needs to know that God's purposes for men cannot come to their full consummation unless Israel and the Church are included.
3. "Self-control" or "temperance" comes from the Greek word "egkrateia". It is one of the nine-fold fruit of the Holy Spirit. I believe we can view self-control and endurance or perseverance together as "bottle-neck" of our walk with God. If we fail to make through these then we can make no further progress. Take as an example of Paul in 1 Cor. 9:24,25 as an athlete running a race:
"And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things ...." (1 Cor. 9:25).
"temperate in all things" means having self-control.
Notice that we are not to compete with our fellow Christians, but are competing with the forces that oppose us and keep us from obtaining the prize. The forces can be lust, fleshly desire or fleshly appetite or moodines.
4. "Perseverance" comes from the Greek word "hupomone" meaning endurance, patience or constancy.
The writer of Hebrews said, "And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promise" (Hebrews 6:11,12, emphasis added).
"For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise" (Hebrews 10:36, emphasis added).
In other words, we need endurance to do the will of God in order to recieve the promises of God.
5. "Godiness" comes from the Greek word "eusebeia" meaning peity, holiness, devout and well-reverant.
In my opinion, a godly person or a person with godliness means the presence of God is with such a person. In other words, when such a person is with you, he makes you think of God.
Paul wrote to Timothy, ".. exercise youself toward godliness. For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come" (1 Tim. 4:7,8, emphasis added).
In other words, godliness requires excercise to develope. Godliness excercise is more important than physical bodily exercise because there is promise of the life both now and and eternity! I believe all spiritual exercise are towards godliness. Examples are prayer, Bible study, Scripture memorisation and fasting.
Jude wrote Christians, "...to convict all who are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have committed in an ungodly way, and of all the harsh things which ungodly sinners have spoken against Him" (Jude 15, emphasis added).
Notice that "ungodly" is mentioned 4 time which indicates that all true Christians need to cultivate godliness.
6. The phrase "Brotherly kindness" comes from the Greek word "philadephia" meaning fraternal affection, brotherly love or love of the brethren. This is the love for our fellow Christians.
Many of us assume that we love our fellow Christians. But, if we are honest enough many of us are likely to admit that it is not easy. In my opinion, this is one of the most severe tests in our Christian walk. But, the Scripture is very clear, through the new birth we are in covenant relationship with our fellow believers and so expected to love one another. Peter said, to love our Christian brothers is an act of obedience:
"Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart" (1 Peter 1:22).
To love one another is a new commandment of Christ. It is also the most powerful method of evangelising the world:
Jesus said, "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:34,35).
7. "Love or Charity" comes from the Greek word "agape". It is the love of God or God's kind of love. God loves the world with agape love (John 3:16).
Paul said, "For when were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for the ungodly" (Romans 5:6,8).
That is the reason why Jesus commanded us (His disciples) to love our enemies, love sinners, love the ungodly with agape love (the love of God) if we want to be perfect! (Matthew 5:43 to 48).
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