What is Biblical Perfection?
TELEIOS is used in Rom. 12:2, 1 Cor. 13:10, James 1:17, Matt. 5:48. 1 John 4:18, Col. 4:12
EPITELO is used in Romans 15:28, 2 Cor. 7:1, 2 Cor. 8:6 11, Gal. 3:3, Phil, 1:6….
TELEIOTES is used in Col. 3:14….
HAPAS is used in 1 Tim 1:16, Acts 5:17, Mark 8:25….
TELEIOO is used in JN. 4:34, 5:36, 17:4, Acts 20:24, Hbr. 7:19, 1 John 2:5, Heb. 2:10, 5:9, 7:28, 9:9, 10:1, 11:40, 12:33….
KATARTIZO is used in 1 Peter 5:10.
TELEIOS
teleios
Pronunciation
te’-lā-os (Key)
Part of Speech
adjective
Root Word (Etymology)
From τέλος (G5056)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
8:67,1161
Vines
Outline of Biblical Usage
brought to its end, finished
wanting nothing necessary to completeness
perfect
that which is perfect
consummate human integrity and virtue
of men
full grown, adult, of full age, mature
EPITELO
epiteleō
Pronunciation
e-pē-te-le’-ō (Key)
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
From ἐπί (G1909) and τελέω (G5055)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
8:61,1161
Vines
Outline of Biblical Usage
to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete
to take upon one’s self
to make an end for one’s self
to leave off
to appoint to, impose upon
TELEIOTES
teleiotēs
Pronunciation
te-lā-o’-tās (Key)
Part of Speech
feminine noun
Root Word (Etymology)
From τέλειος (G5046)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
8:78,1161
Outline of Biblical Usage
perfection
the state of the more intelligent
moral and spiritual perfection
HAPAS
hapas
Pronunciation
hä’-päs (Key)
Part of Speech
adjective
Root Word (Etymology)
From ἄλφα (G1) (as a particle of union) and πᾶς (G3956)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
5:886,795
Vines
Outline of Biblical Usage
quite, all, the whole, all together, all
TELEIOO
teleioō
Pronunciation
te-lā-o’-ō (Key)
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
From τέλειος (G5046)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
8:79,1161
Vines
View Entry
Outline of Biblical Usage
to make perfect, complete
to carry through completely, to accomplish, finish, bring to an end
to complete (perfect)
add what is yet wanting in order to render a thing full
to be found perfect
to bring to the end (goal) proposed
to accomplish
bring to a close or fulfilment by event
of the prophecies of the scriptures
KATARTIZO
katartizō
Pronunciation
kä-tär-tē’-zō (Key)
Part of Speech
verb
Root Word (Etymology)
From κατά (G2596) and a derivative ofἄρτιος (G739)
Theological Dictionary of the New Testament Reference
1:475,80
Vines
Outline of Biblical Usage
to render, i.e. to fit, sound, complete
to mend (what has been broken or rent), to repair
to complete
to fit out, equip, put in order, arrange, adjust
to fit or frame for one’s self, prepare
ethically: to strengthen, perfect, complete, make one what he ought to be.
We know that Jesus commands us to be perfect, and this it only attainable to the truly crucified soul, who has come out of the bondage’s of sin, you cant be perfect in Christ when you spit in His face by living like the world, and sinning everyday, in thought, word and deed, come on, those who think you cant forsake your porn, drunkenness, adultery, idols etc, and follow Jesus, and His example, to live a moral and upright life, are under the strong delusion, and truly hate Jesus by their selfish actions!
When false professing “Christians” (sinners) ask people if they are sinless, “do you still sin” “oh, you don’t sin”, “you sin every day” or “we all sin everyday” they are fulfilling the devils will for their life, and are soul damning. If any man is truly walking(presently) in the Light, he is cleansed from all sin by the Blood of Jesus.
Ways to know you are still in darkness, or went back to it:
1. You have any evil in your heart, as in, you commit the sins listed below:
1Co 6:9-10 “Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, 10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.”
Mar 7:20 And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man.
Mar 7:21 For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders,
Mar 7:22 Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness:
Mar 7:23 All these evil things come from within, and defile the man.
Rev 21:7 He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son.
Rev 21:8 But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Rev 21:27 “And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.”
Gal 5:16 This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.
Gal 5:17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would.
Gal 5:18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.
Gal 5:19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness,
Gal 5:20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies,
Gal 5:21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Gal 5:24 And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.
Gal 5:25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.
Gal 5:26 Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another.
Rev 21:8 “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
******Many are deceived, and thus have no idea all the wicked evil they commit, so they think they aren’t doing the evil, but are, and are willingly ignorant.
2. Any willful sin
3 Any sin that God has commanded you to forsake through His conviction and you are refusing
4. You arent sanctified (Acts 20:32, Gal 5:13-21)
5. You are a current sinner (Pro 11:31, 1 Pet 4:17-18, Gal 2:17-21)
If you were saved, and went the route of Peter or David, you must repent or you will spend eternity in hell. Backsliders get a worst hell! Don’t end up like Judas.
Bible says:
sin no more (Jn 5:14, 8:11)
sin not (Ps 4:4)
cease from sin (1 Pet 4:1)
awake to righteousness, sin not (1 Cor 15:34)
Be you perfect (Mat 5:48) **Jesus is looking (2 Chronicles 16:9)
Be you holy (Lev 11:44, 19:2, 20:7, 1 Pet 1:16)
Be like Jesus (1 Jn 2:6)
Really, be like Jesus (1 Pet 1:19- 20, 2 Pet 3:14, 1 Tim 6:14, Jam 1:26-27)
The Absurdity of ‘no one is perfect’.
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. Matthew 5:48
In the Bible ‘Perfect’ means: Maturity, lacking nothing necessary to completeness, consummate human integrity and virtue. It does NOT mean Godlike Perfection but it DOES mean a heart of Perfect Devotion to God, walking in full obedience. The axiom ‘no one is perfect’ is NOT found in the pages of Scripture. Basically this excuse was invented by the notion that God requires total and absolute Perfection from man and since NO Human can achieve such a thing, Christ had to show up on scene, live a perfect life without sinning and then offer Himself as a Provision in man’s place to satisfy God so He would no longer see ‘sinful’ man but only Christ in his place. Man has but to ‘believe’ in this Provision and be avowed ‘Perfect’ in Christ. (Even though he remains wretched to the core) This is basically the premise of ‘Christian’ belief in the world today.
However this is another absurdity NOT found in the Bible. The reason it sells so well among present day believers is they have all been convinced (by more illogic) that everyone is born in sin, saved in sin and can NEVER Stop sinning! That teaching is here. Therefore if they were to actually consider what the Bible says about perfection, sin and Purity of heart as truth, they would be terrified out of their wits. Imagine what this would mean to them ….. ‘NO fornicating Christians, NO Drunken Christians, NO Christians living in the lust and filthiness of the flesh!’ That would empty out the ranks of professed believers in short order
If a ‘believer’ actually had to ‘Work out’ their Salvation in fear and trembling and Make their calling and election sure in Christ, (Phil2:11, 2Pet1:10) by putting forth a genuine effort to ADD to their faith …. It would be the end of fantasy land for a LOT of people. Then instead of constantly telling the people they are nothing more than poor helpless sinners saved by Grace the Preachers would actually have to ‘Present’ EVERY man Perfect in Christ! Col1:23. And bring everyone to a full knowledge of God, unto a Perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ! Eph4:13, and be Examples to the flock! 1Tim4:12. Contrary to the daydream most professed believers are under the Bible actually REQUIRES a Christian to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service .And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Rom12:1-2
The common excuse of everyone sinning daily in thought, word and deed is a DEADLY fallacy among the professed. These people live in constant defeat because they have never truly Repented or Strived to enter the Narrow Gate, Dug Deep to lay a firm foundation in Christ or Counted the Cost of Discipleship. (2Cor7:10-11, Matt7:14, Lk6:48, 13:24, 14:28) If they had their hearts would have been made Truly PURE by Obedience to the truth and the Purging Blood of Christ! (1Pet1:22, Heb9:14) They say it’s ‘Prideful’ to claim a Departure from iniquity (2Tim2:19) or Deeds befitting repentance. (Acts26:18) As though a person is seeking to Self-Justify if they Obey Christ, stop sinning and DO what is Right … WHEN the Master Commands us to GO AND SIN NO MORE!!! (John5:14, 8:11) {Do we believe the same thing? Most of you don’t even believe what Jesus said is possible!}
Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up. James4:8-10
Perfection in Christ is DOING what He said to Do. It’s a moral up-rightness walking in Purity of heart through faith working by love. The lust of the flesh, eye and pride of life has been put to death in repentance and the mind is renewed by Partaking of the Divine Nature. What’s happened in the Churches is that they have taken man’s ability to obey God out of the equation and by doing so have turned him into self fulfilled prophecy of defeat and ruin. His only hope is to Flee the System and turn to Christ.
Jesus died for a purpose, not to take our place, or to become blackened sin as most teach and believe, He was a spotless sin offering, to ransom mankind from the bondage’s of sin, on our behalf, since we cannot atone for our past sins, we punished Him, for our sinful choices, He shed His precious blood, to reconcile us back to the father, on condition of repentance and faith proven by deeds, the term on our behalf fits the redemption plan, because its not in our place, or Jesus taking our deserved punishment, but he died on our behalf, to ransom us from the dark to the light, a pardon for past sins, Romans 3-25, when we repent of and forsake them, as we crucify our flesh as commanded, our works of faith, a command from God, to receive His mercy and grace.
The Death of Christ was Ransom to Redeem man from the Corruption of sin. It was Darkness to Light, from the Power of Satan to God! (Acts26:18) To them(early saints) Jesus came to DESTROY the Works of the Devil and Deliver them from Bondage. There was no Retributive Justice involved, the Reconciliation stands on what He did in our Behalf. NOT how He took our place and obeyed God for us.
Our dead in sin. Its obvious. That goes for the backslidden saint, or the never saved, but not the infant who cant walk in sin.
John the Baptist taught nothing different (Lk 3:6-18). Jesus makes alive again. Read the prodigal son (Lk 15), you can be a son, die, and be alive again. Its based on sin (1 Jn 3:8-10).
Your supernatural “holy spirit” election doctrine is not taught anywhere in the bible, save, romans 9 proof texting, which romans 9, if read with the quotes out of the OT it uses shows its about nations that God allows (lk 4:4). God allowed Israel to sustain so Jesus could come. This same Jesus you reject.
So many proof text, to their destruction, and support “chief”(meaning the greatest EXAMPLE) sinners being saved in sin by “grace”, you will be surprised to see that Paul was not a sinner.
Rom 9:15, 1 Tim 15-16,1Pet 2:10 about obtaining mercy (eleeho), then take it back to the OT Hosea 2:23, Pro 28:13. You will see chief sinners admit it and quit it. This is what is taught in Romans 9, the sinless Godman Jesus gave you a way out of sin (Mat 1:21). through the phyiscal seed of Israel (Rom 1:3, Heb 2:14-18). Do you have the promise in you? (Mk 4:9-20)
Also, one does not have to get this detailed with words, since we are made in God’s image (1 Cor 11:7) we have a conscience to do it (Rom 2:13-15)
As the baby is a innocent child of God (Jer 19:3-5, Mat 19:13-14, Eze 16:19-21), Jesus says you must be converted and become one (mat 18:3), innocent. Study the word for convert in Mat 18:3, strepho vs the word convert in James 5:19-20, epistrepho. Some have to come back and become as a child (1 Pet 2:1-2) because they are brethren turned sinners again.
Deut 1:39, Jam 4:17, a baby cant sin
Read the parable of Mat 25:14-30, one servant ended up in hell
Being born again means made innocent by God. Its a gift of God, praise Jesus. But, you can lose that
Look at this:
Heb 3:12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief (apistia), in departing from the living God.
See, you can become faithless (1 Tim 4:1, Isa 59:13-21)
So by grace are you not saved by faith (pistis) if you have evil (Mk 7:20-23, Rev 21:27). Evil is against God(3 Jn 11), so, you are without faith (Rom 14:23). So if faith cometh by hearing the Word (Rom 10:17), and you dont do the Word (Rom 2:13-15), do you think you are justified (Rom 8:33)?
Remember, God wont justify the wicked (ex 23:7)
True grace teaches us not to do sin (tit 2:11-12). False grace tells you to sin (Jude 1:3-4)
Adam sinned and died spiritually. However, that is not passed on. as God does not create dead sinners (Ecc 11:5, Eze 18, Deut 24:16)
Jesus saves from sin (Mat 1:21). Jesus also frees us by the Spirit (rom 8:1-13)
Biblical Perfection
Perfection… “Be Ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.”
PERFECT?… In this world?… Really? When we define “perfect” in terms that would make it impossible for us to emulate, then of course it’s impossible for us to be “perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.”
However, Jesus still commands us “Be Ye Perfect…” Now you could charge Christ with being disingenuous but I doubt that questioning His character would be a good thing to do… Or you can search for the answer to what He truly meant… When God tells us to “buy truth” then He is telling us that truth will cost us! Therefore, you must be willing to “Pay The Price” for truth.
I submit to you that YES we can be “perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect.” Will we ever be perfect in that we know all that is knowable like He does? NO, of course not! Will we ever be perfect in that we have the power to do all that is doable as He does?… NO, we will never be that kind of perfect. Yet, we still can be PERFECT just like our Heavenly Father as Jesus commanded!
How, can we do that? God conducts Himself in a way where He uses ALL His knowledge and ALL His abilities in a benevolent manner… The scripture tells us that God is love (Agape’); that He chooses the highest good of His creation… The perfection that Christ requires of each of us is that we do the same; that we love Him with ALL our heart, mind, soul, and strength and that we love others as we love ourselves… And we do that based on the amount of knowledge (light) and ability each of us currently possesses.
So, when God COMMANDS you to love Him with ALL your heart, that ALL is based on your knowledge and ability. That is the same perfection of heart that that He has! And as our knowledge and abilities grow then our ALL changes likewise. Your ALL in the future may well be different than your ALL today and my ALL is different than your ALL… Yet in this manner each of our “perfection” is exactly the same as our Heavenly Father!
So of course we can be “perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect!” Jesus never would have commanded us to be perfect if we didn’t have the ability to obey Him! It is a perfection of the heart… A perfection of the ultimate intention of our heart… To do the very best we know of with the amount of ability we have! PRAISE GOD!!!
Therefore, NOT SINNING or “Go and sin no more” as Jesus commanded two different people and “Be Ye perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” is the standard that Christ set for those who would choose to follow Him, for those who would be His disciples. And He has called us all to be His disciples… That’s NORMAL Christianity!
PERFECT IN CHRIST
A man can be perfect in Christ. Who used to sin and who still has the ability to sin he can still be perfect in Christ because he has confessed all sin and is not sinning now.
I have never said I have never sinned.
I have never said that I couldn’t sin in the future.
I have never said that I have not sinned since becoming a Christian.
I’m simply declaring that I am living holy right now.
1 John 3:7 KJV
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
I’m Righteous in 2 ways.
My past sins have been forgiven and I’m obeying God right now.
Colossians 1:27-28 KJV
….. Christ in you, the hope of glory: Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Peter 1:14-16 KJV
As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;
Genesis 6:9 KJV
These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.
TO HIM WHO OVERCOMES.
1 John 5:4 KJV
For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.
1 John 5:5 KJV
Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
Revelation 2:7 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Revelation 2:11 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; He that overcometh shall not be hurt of the second death.
Revelation 2:17 KJV
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.
Revelation 2:26-28 KJV
And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. And I will give him the morning star.
Revelation 3:5 KJV
He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.
Revelation 3:12 KJV
Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name.
Revelation 3:21 KJV
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.
Revelation 21:7-8 KJV
He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be my son. But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
