(Courtesy Reaching Higher Ministries)
“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:48)
What does it mean that a Christ-follower has to be “perfect?” I mean, “Are we actually supposed to be perfect…literally?”
Here is the definition of the word “perfect” [teleios in Greek] from HELPS Word-studies…
Original Word: τέλειος, α, ον
Transliteration: teleios
5046 téleios (an adjective, derived from 5056 /télos, “consummated goal”) – mature (consummated) from going through the necessary stages to reach the end-goal, i.e. developed into a consummating completion by fulfilling the necessary process (spiritual journey).
Please understand: the Greek word ‘perfect’ does not always denote the idea of perfection or complete holiness as our English word ‘perfect’ does.
So then...how does the New Testament use téleios in some occurrences? Christians are expected to be ‘perfect’ in the sense of being in the process of becoming full-grown or mature…
- …in loving both friends and enemies (Matt 5:44-47; cf Luke 6:36)
- …by their commitment to Christ (Matt 19:21)
- …in their spiritual discernment (1 Cor 2:6,14)
- …by their Godly attitude (1 Cor 14:20)
- …in knowledge of the way of salvation (Phil 3:15)
- …by being in union with Christ (Col 1:28)
- …in remaining true to God’s will (Col 4:12), being able to distinguish between good and evil (Heb 5:14)
The apostle Paul and other Christ-followers were ‘perfect’ – although not sinless (see Phil 3:15). So are you starting to see the point about the meaning of the word teleios [“perfect”] and what it means to be perfect?
Hence, does a true child of God have to literally be perfect on earth? No!
But, does a true Christ-follower have to be mandatorily in the process of being made eternally perfect? Yes!
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified (Rom 8:28-30).
There is no justification (salvation) without accompanying sanctification (being made into God’s image). And there is no sanctification without the accompanying glorification (God’s final removal of sin from everyone who receives the gift of eternal life, which happens upon a Christ-followers meeting with the Lord – see 1 John 3:2).
Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God. Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God (1 Cor 6:9-11).
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Posted 28th September 2017 by Reaching Higher Ministries
BIBLE DEVOTIONS FOR LIVING 