Be ye Therefore Perfect

Whenever we think about the word “perfect” we always hear the phrase, “Well, nobody is perfect,” But when we look at the scriptures, and when we look at Gods requirements, does God expect us to be perfect? And were there people mentioned throughout the scriptures who reached perfection?

Genesis 17:1 KJV

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.

Hold up did I read that right? Is that a typo? No, it is in fact the truth that The Most High God appeared unto Abram and told him to walk before him and to be perfect. Now, you have to ask yourself a question… Why would God ask Abram to do something that would not be humanly possible? Because God understood being perfect in his eyes is something that he requires and is something that is actually attainable. But was Abram alone in this battle? Has anyone else achieved such a feat? Why yes!

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.

Here we see that Noah was a man that was found perfect in Gods eyes. How? Well let us first look at a closer definition of “perfect” using the Strongs Concordance.

Strong's Number

H8549

Original Word

תּמים

Transliterated Word

tâmîym

Phonetic Spelling

taw-meem'

Parts of Speech

Adjective

Strong's Definition

From H8552; entire ({literally} figuratively or morally); also (as noun) {integrity} truth: - without {blemish} {complete} {full} {perfect} sincerely ({-ity}) {sound} without {spot} {undefiled} upright ({-ly}) whole.

Perfection is completion. To be wholly and sincerely upright according to Gods standards.

Have you ever seen a video game and it has different versions of the same game? Like standard and deluxe? Well God wants you with all the upgrades and bundles. He wants the complete edition.

Genesis 17:1 KJV

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.

Like some on the face of the earth you have somewhat of a moral and civil compass. You do many things that one can consider to be “good” or make one a “good person.” But God is now calling Abram to take it all the way. Don’t stop at the things man may deem as "good" or "acceptable" but come full circle to the things I want you to do to be good.

Wisdom of Solomon 15:3 KJVA

For to know thee is perfect righteousness: yea, to know thy power is the root of immortality.

To know God is perfect righteous and to truly understand him and his power is the root of immortality. That sounds like a lot of important stuff right? Well how do we get to know him? Or verify if we or someone else knows him or not?

1 John 2:3-5 KJV

And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. [4] He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. [5] But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.

You see immortality is the treasure hidden away, the lock is perfection and the key is the application of his laws and commandments. Boom, that’s it. We can end the article here. But let’s break it down a little more.

We can truly know God (not just know of him) if we keep, meaning hold on to and apply his laws, statues, and commandments. If we do not apply his laws, we can claim we know him but that would then be considered a lie and that person a liar in God's eyes and they would not be in the truth. But we perfect his love through application as he requires of us.

Deuteronomy 18:13 KJV

Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

God commands us to be perfect with him. Someone may say, “No that is the Old Testament brother. God does not require that of us as new creatures in Christ.” Well, did Christ teach anything different?

Matthew 5:48 KJV

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Christ reiterated the very things The Most High God commanded. Be perfect just as God is perfect. Sounds like a tall order? Well remember, you can do all things through Christ that strengthens you! And God doesn’t put more on us than we are able to bear.

Acts 24:22 KJV

And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.

See perfection is all about striving to be more complete, more thorough.

Acts 18:26 KJV

And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto them, and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.

You may be doing some things right or good but other areas are missing or need to be filled in to help make you complete. These are examples of how when we are dealing with perfection we are dealing with completion.

Matthew 19:16-24 KJV

And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? [17] And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. [18] He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, [19] Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. [20] The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? [21] 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. [22] But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. [23] Then said Jesus unto his disciples, Verily I say unto you, That a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. [24] And again I say unto you, It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God.

You may be in a place where you do so many things well but may lack in a particular area. The goal is to acknowledge that area and fill it in accordingly. It isnt easy but it is possible.

2 Corinthians 7:1 KJV

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The goal is to continue to purge ourselves from anything that is not of The Most High God and his spirit so we may be complete in our holiness.

1 Kings 8:61 KJV

Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

When the bible makes reference to the heart, it is often times making reference to the mind. You have to allow your mind to be complete with The Most High God. By allowing your will and spirit to be completely focused on doing his will and moving according to his laws.

1 Kings 15:3 KJV

And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father.

When we are in sin, our hearts, our minds are no longer completely focused on him. And this happens not only when we fall short but rather when one chooses to add sin to sin or live an iniquities or sinful lifestyle. You are no longer concerned with getting right the way you should be. What made David perfect was not that he was without fault but rather how he moved through his faults.

1 Chronicles 29:19 KJV

And give unto Solomon my son a perfect heart, to keep thy commandments, thy testimonies, and thy statutes, and to do all these things, and to build the palace, for the which I have made provision.

This is what having a perfect heart entails of. But we can seek The Most High God and ask, but we must still follow through.

2 Chronicles 15:15-17 KJV

And all Judah rejoiced at the oath: for they had sworn with all their heart, and sought him with their whole desire; and he was found of them: and the LORD gave them rest round about. [16] And also concerning Maachah the mother of Asa the king, he removed her from being queen, because she had made an idol in a grove: and Asa cut down her idol, and stamped it, and burnt it at the brook Kidron. [17] But the high places were not taken away out of Israel: nevertheless the heart of Asa was perfect all his days.

We have to seek The Most High with all of our desire. And in doing so we will find him. And in finding him we will know him and we will be blessed by him.

2 Corinthians 13:11 KJV

Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

This is how we get The Most High God on our side and gain favor from him.

Ephesians 4:13 KJV

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:

The goal is to teach others so they too may come into the knowledge of the truth and work to perfect themselves so as many that believe in him and come to repentance will be saved.

2 Esdras 9:22 KJVA

Let the multitude perish then, which was born in vain; and let my grape be kept, and my plant; for with great labour have I made it perfect.