Come into Perfection

Scripture says that Christ was made perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 5:7-8, 9 [Christ] Who in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto Him that was able to save Him from death, and was heard in that He feared; though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him

What is this perfection?

Many say no one is perfect only Christ is perfect, as if it were impossible for us to come into perfection being destined to remain subject to sin. However, that is not the case.

Let us review some of the definitions of perfect as found in the Merriam-Webster dictionary:

• being entirely without fault or defect

• satisfying all requirements : accurate

• legally valid

• pure, total

• lacking in no essential detail : complete

• [obsolete definition] mature

• [obsolete definition] certain, sure : contented,

• [verb]: to bring to final form: to make perfect : improve, refine

• Synonyms: absolute, faultless, flawless, ideal, immaculate, impeccable, indefectible, irreproachable, unblemished

Now let us look at the scriptures to see what God tells us about coming to perfection, because if it were impossible for the people of God to come to Perfection, He would not have put in His word things like:

Ephesians 4:11-13 And He gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 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 fulness of Christ:

When we look back at the definition of perfect, we see these words: accurate, mature, refined, lacking in no essential detail. When applied to the scripture it will read: for the maturing,or refining of the saints, till we all come in the unity of the faith...unto a total, complete, sure man - one who is stable and not carried about with every wind of doctrine.

Ephesians 4:14-16 - that we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; but speaking the truth in love, may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: from whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

The instruction to be perfect was not a new concept in the New Testament, but was also given in the Old Testament where it states that there were people who walked with a perfect heart before the Lord. That is to say, before the Lord, their heart satisfied all His requirements of how their heart should be towards Him, they were sure, and contented before Him. (See the example of David, Asa and Hezekiah)

God instructed Abraham:

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.

Hebrews 6:11-15 - And we desire that every one of you do shew the same diligence to the full assurance of hope unto the end: 12 that ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises. For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by himself, saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.

Perfection has much to do with being patient. In order to attain perfection in any given area, one must patiently continue to become better in their given talent or responsibility. In today's world of instant this or there's an app for that, many are accustomed to getting things quickly without putting forth much effort in the field of patience. So patience in itself may be a strange concept, however there is much to be gained from patience.

Christ teaches us: In your patience possess ye your souls (Luke 21:19).

As we read in the beginning, Christ learned obedience and through the practice of obedience, He was made perfect, complete, entire, lacking nothing. He practiced obedience to his earthly parents which trained Him in obedience to His Heavenly Father.

Revelation 14:12 - Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus

Philippians 1:3, 6 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 6 being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: [till Christ's coming]

Christ is the One who makes us complete, He perfects us as we allow Him to work in us: by His teaching us and our learning to submit to Him in obedience as He left an example for us to do.

James 1:4 - But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

In Him we are complete, legally valid, IF we continue to abide in Him. In Him we are taught how to avoid sin and He gives us the power to do so in order to keep our heart (spiritual garments) clean.

Colossians 2:9-11 - For in Him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in Him, which is the head of all principality and power: in whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 - And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: to the end He may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.

Being Patiently obedient, we come into Perfection and Holiness through Christ Jesus our Lord. Glory Hallelujah!

Hebrews 10:35-39 - Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. For yet a little while, and He that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, My soul shall have no pleasure in Him. But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

May the name of Jesus be praised both now and forever more. Amen and amen