Your Words Matter: Perfection

Why are we talking about this?

There is sometimes disagreement/misunderstanding of what Scripture says/means. “Your Words Matter” is for us to dig deeper into the original language and hopefully get a clearer understand of God’s Word.

Perfection may seem daunting or impossible, so let’s look at what it means to be “perfect.”

What does it say?

We’re looking at 3 passages in the OT (His way, His work, His knowledge):

2 Sam 22:28-32 “You save a humble people, but your eyes are on the haughty to bring them down. For you are my lamp, O Lord, and my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the Lord proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. “For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God?”

Deuteronomy 32:3-4 “For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God! “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.”

Job 37:14-16 ““Hear this, O Job; stop and consider the wondrous works of God. Do you know how God lays his command upon them and causes the lightning of his cloud to shine? Do you know the balancings of the clouds, the wondrous works of him who is perfect in knowledge,”

A few verses in the NT also:

Matthew 5:48 “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

James 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

What does it mean?

Current definition of perfect:

having all the required or desirable elements, qualities, or characteristics; as good as it is possible to be.

free from any flaw or defect in condition or quality; faultless.

precisely accurate; exact.

highly suitable for someone or something; exactly right.

absolute; complete.

bring to completion; finish.

Original language use:

Greek - teleios (Matt 5:48, James 1:4) - perfect; mature;

Hebrew - ta-mim (Deuteronomy 32:4, Job 37:16) - complete, unscathed, intact; blameless, without fault, free of blemish; impeccable; honest, devout; honesty, integrity, blamelessness, completeness.

When we look at the definitions of perfect in both the original language as well as how we use it now, we can see the definitions line up.

The process we go through in the pursuit of perfection (not by our own power but by God’s redeeming grace) is what scripture calls sanctification (which we will look at in more detail next week).

Therefore, perfection is not a state of being while alive, but a point of time when God’s calls us “perfect” and calls us home.

How should I respond?

3 points

Perfection/Completion takes time

Just like putting together a puzzle, assembling LEGOs, writing a paper for school, or constructing a model, it takes time and work to finish it. The process is part of the journey and it teaches us and stretches us along the way.

Trust the process

Life is difficult. Sometimes it seems hopeless, sometimes we can’t understand why we have to go through what we go through. But ours is a life that is not easy. God never promised easy; He promised we would never go it alone. We need to lean into our LORD and trust His perfect will for our lives. Ask for Him, Seek after Him, recklessly pursue Him; the same way a lost child lost runs to their mom when they see her.

Prepare to be a living sacrifice

Romans 11:36-12:2 “For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”