The document explores the concept of perfection in the Bible, highlighting that true perfection belongs to God alone and is reflected in the teachings of Jesus and the Apostle Paul. It emphasizes that believers are called to emulate God's perfection by living according to His will and responding to life's challenges in a Christ-like manner. Various scriptures illustrate the standards of perfection set by God for individuals, quoting examples from both the Old and New Testaments.

1. Which text in the Bible refers to perfection?
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Lets first look at the words Perfect and Perfection from a Biblical
perspective.
These words in Hebrew are translated as “tamam”
Perfect connotes wholeness, soundness, integrity, and often takes on
ethical significance; Perfection connotes completeness, perfection, and
can carry the aesthetic sense of comeliness or beauty.
Nearly all New Testament occurrences translate Greek words sharing
the tel- stem, from which some half-dozen words are formed that bear
the sense of completion or wholeness.
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2. In Scripture essential perfection belongs to God alone. Jesus says that
the "heavenly Father is perfect”
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”.
Matthew 5:48
Paul speaks of God's will as perfect Romans 12:2. This view is solidly
based in a wide range of Old Testament passages that use words from
the “tamam” group with its ethical connotations.
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The New Testament is aware that Jesus Christ was sinless (Hebrews
4:15 ; 7:26). It speaks of him being "perfect," however, only in the Book
of Hebrews. God made Christ "perfect through suffering" so that he
could bring "many sons to glory”.
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3. “For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in
bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect
through sufferings”. Hebrews 2:10
“And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all
them that obey him;" Hebrews 5:9
Paul refers in part to Christ when he says..
"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be
done away." 1 Corinthians 13:10.
The New Testament does not belabor the perfection of the Son of God,
perhaps because the divine nature (and therefore perfection) of someone
who forgave sins, raised the dead, and ascended to the right hand of
God seemed to make the point obvious enough.
Less obvious is the biblical insistence that God's people are called to
be perfect: "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect" Matt 5:48.
In Scripture nothing is clearer than the unique holiness of God, so this
cannot be a command for sinners to become God's ethical equals. It is
rather the call to "Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;"
Ephesians 5:1
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4. !
Children who treasure their parents typically mimic them. Christians
should mimic their Lord, who is perfect, thus reflecting his perfection
in their lives. For some this will involve a perspective about monetary
possessions having you rather then you having the possessions.
"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and
give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow
me." Matthew 19:21
For others it is not the pride of possessions but the pride of self-
expression that must go:
"For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is
a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body." James 3:2
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5. !
A key New Testament verse for understanding perfection in the
Christian life is 2 Corinthians 12:9, which is to say, challenges in this
life are an opportunity to be perfected.
It is never about what happens to you, it always about how you
respond to what has happened to you.
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6. !
The more you have been perfected, the more you handle life’s
adversities Christ like, which in and of itself will cause fewer
adversities to come upon you in this life.
This does not mean that your life should be riddled with adversity,
that is not what is required by God. Its your attitude and heart
towards God that makes you perfect.
"And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is
made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my
infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me”. 2 Corinthians 12:9
Believers are perfect to the extent that they participate in the cruciform
grace that God offers in Christ. Christ was perfected through the
travail of righteous living amid the bruising realities of an unjust
world.
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7. !
Finally, there are literally dozens of scriptures that discuss perfection
and the ability of man to be perfect before God. There are those in
scripture who were perfect before God by Gods standards, not ours.
Here are a few examples of these references.
Genesis 6:8–9
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.
9 These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his
generations, and Noah walked with God.
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”.
Leviticus 22:21
“And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the Lord to
accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect
to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein”.
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8. Deuteronomy 25:15
“But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure
shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee”.
Deuteronomy 32:3-5
3 Because I will publish the name of the Lord: ascribe ye greatness unto our
God.
4 He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of
truth and without iniquity, just and right is he.
5 They have corrupted themselves, their spot is not the spot of his children:
they are a perverse and crooked generation.
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