BE PERFECT

1. Introduction

a) What is he meaning of being perfect?

i) It means wholeness and completeness; flawless; the highest level of maturity or morality.

2. What are the 3 stages of perfection?

a) Perfect Relationship

i) We are perfected because of our eternal union with the infinitely perfect Christ. When we become his children, we are declared “not guilty”, and thus righteous, because of what Christ, God’s beloved Son, has done for us. This perfection is absolute and unchangeable, and it is this perfect relationship that guarantees that we will one day be “completely perfect” (Philippians 1: 6).

@1. 6being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 NIV)

@2. 8See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. 9For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form, 10and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority. (Colossians 2:8-10 NIV)

@3. 8First he said, “Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them”—though they were offered in accordance with the law. 9Then he said, “Here I am, I have come to do your will.” He sets aside the first to establish the second. 10And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. 11Day after day every priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. 12But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, 13and since that time he waits for his enemies to be made his footstool. 14For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:8-14 NIV)

@4. And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected forever those who are being sanctified.”

b) Perfect Progress

i) We can grow and mature spiritually as we continue to trust Christ, learn more about him, draw closer to him, and obey him. Our progress is changeable (in contrast to our relationship) because it depends on our daily walk – at times in life we mature more than at other times. But we are growing toward perfection if we “press on” (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”.). These good works do not perfect us; rather, as God perfects us, we do good works for him.

ii) 1Further, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you. 2Watch out for those dogs, those evildoers, those mutilators of the flesh. 3For it is we who are the circumcision, we who serve God by his Spirit, who boast in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh— 4though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If someone else thinks they have reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: 5circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; 6as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for righteousness based on the law, faultless. (Philippians 3:1-6 NIV)

c) Completely Perfect

i) When Christ returns to take us into his eternal kingdom, we will be glorified and made completely perfect.

ii) 20But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20, 21 NIV)

iii) All phases of perfection are grounded in faith in Christ and what he has done, not what we can do for him. We cannot perfect ourselves; God can work in and through us; “He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Philippians 1: 6).

3.​What is the difference between becoming perfect and becoming holy?

a) 14For by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. (Hebrews 10:14 NIV)

b) We have been made perfect, yet we are being “sanctified” (holy – set apart for his special use). Through his death and resurrection, Christ, once for all, made his believers perfect in God’s sight. At the same time, he is making them holy (progressively cleansed and set apart for his special use) in their daily pilgrimage here. We should not be surprised, ashamed, or shocked that we still need to grow. God is not finished with us. We can encourage this growth process by deliberately applying Scripture to all areas of our lives, by accepting the discipline and guidance Christ provides, and by giving him control of our desires and goals.

4. Can we be perfect through the law?

a) No!

i) 2I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? (Galatians 3:2, 3 NIV)

ii) The believers in Galatia, some of whom may have been in Jerusalem at Pentecost and received the Holy Spirit there, knew that they hadn’t received God’s Spirit by obeying the Jewish laws. Paul stressed that just as they began their Christian lives in the power of the Spirit, so they should grow by the Spirit’s power. The Galatians had taken a step backward when they had decided to insist on keeping the Jewish laws.

iii) We must realise that we grow spiritually because of God’s work in us by his Spirit, not by following special rules.

5. How can we be perfect?

a) Like our Heavenly Father.

i) 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. (Matthew 5:48 NIV)

b) In character – in this life, we cannot be flawless, but we can aspire to be as much like Christ as possible.

c) In holiness – Unlike the Pharisees, we are to be devoted to God’s desires rather than our own, and carry his love and mercy into the world.

d) In maturity – we can’t achieve Christ-like character and holy living all at once, but we must grow toward maturity and wholeness.

e) In love – we can seek to love others as completely as God loves us.

6. What must we do?

a) Don’t wait for perfect conditions before you act.

b) 4Whoever watches the wind will not plant; whoever looks at the clouds will not reap. (Ecclesiastes 11:4 NIV)

c) Waiting for perfect conditions will mean inactivity. This practical insight is especially applicable to our spiritual life. If we wait for the perfect time and place for personal Bible reading, we will never begin. If we wait for a perfect church, we will never join. If we wait for the perfect ministry, we will never serve. Take steps now to grow spiritually. Don’t wait for conditions that may never exist.

7. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we strive to perfection just as God our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5: 48).

b) Pray that we move on to maturity in our complete understanding of the faith and go beyond the elementary teachings of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment (Hebrews 6: 1 – 2).

i) 1Therefore let us move beyond the elementary teachings about Christ and be taken forward to maturity, not laying again the foundation of repentance from acts that lead to death, and of faith in God, 2instruction about cleansing rites, the laying on of hands, the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. (Hebrews 6:1, 2 NIV)