Jesus said, “Be Perfect as Your Heavenly Father is Perfect.”
~ Matthew 5:48.
James 3:2 "For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a PERFECT man, able to bridle the whole body as well." “If anyone does NOT stumble” shows by “if” that God EXPECTS us to be “a PERFECT man.”
"Having God look at you through the "lens of Jesus"" requires us to put on our spiritual “wedding garment” of Christ Himself (Gal 3:27), who is also the Full Armor of God in Ephesians 6.
“Perfect,” Teleios in the Greek language, moral perfection, fully mature developed character.
Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become PERFECT, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” Being “Perfect” along “The Way” to eventual Christlike maturity onto the final perfection at the end of this life is God’s plan for us. James 1:4 “And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be PERFECT and complete, lacking in nothing.” Therefore being perfected is a journey of “endurance” in The Way of Jesus to live our lives and to have greater Christlike maturity.
Philippians 3:15 “Let us therefore, as many as are PERFECT, have this ATTITUDE; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you.” It the Holy Spirit who says some have attained the “PERFECT” status God desires for His people. Having Christian “attitudes,” as Christ our example had in the gospels, is God’s Command for us to have “perfection” in His sight.
1Corinthians 13:12 “For now WE SEE in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
Eph 6:18 “With all prayer and petition PRAY AT ALL TIMES in the Spirit, and with this in view, be on the alert with all perseverance and petition for all the saints.” Pray always (Luke 18:1) to see the Face of God through Jesus so you will be changed in His image from “glory to glory” and be supernaturally EMPOWERED to OVERCOME the devil and be saved from sin (2Th 1:11).
James 4:7* “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” PERFECT SUBMISSION TO GOD results in minimizing conflict with the devil.
The devils could be restrained and cast into the “Lake of Fire” with God’s Command, however God’s objective for us to be perfect and holy, listening to Him and OBEYING Him is for our SAFETY and SECURITY. PERFECT Obedience to God is His Desire and gives Him Joy and Happiness.
Jesus defines true Love as truly OBEYING the Commandments of God. Jesus said, “If you love Me, you will keep My Commandments” (John 14:15). The Son of God spoke the “Oracles of God” and it is the Father speaking through His Son for Christians to continue OBEY God’s Commandments today. Revelation 14:12* “Here is the perseverance of the saints who keep the commandments of God and their faith in Jesus.” It is God’s COMMAND for Christians to persevere all of our lives to OBEY the COMMANDMENTS OF GOD and keep the Faith in Jesus.
God promises Jesus His Son will save people from their sins. Mt 1:21* “And she will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people from their sins.” Ask Jesus to save you from your sins in prayer.
1Th 4:3* “It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4* that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5* not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6* and that in this matter no-one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.” 7* “For God did not call us to be impure, but to LIVE A HOLY LIFE.” 8* “Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but REJECTS GOD, who gives you His Holy Spirit.”
2Corinthians 3:18 “But WE ALL, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
Sometimes, as the example of God killing two Christians in Acts 5 is required so Christians will DILIGENTLY SEEK THE FACE OF GOD. (2Chron 7:14 the nation will die if it continues to fail to seek the Face of Jesus.) Ps 78:34* When He killed them, then they sought Him, And returned and SEARCHED DILIGENTLY for God.”
Psalm 119:2 “How blessed are those who observe His testimonies, Who seek Him with all their heart.”
ASV “Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, That seek him with the whole heart.”
To be PERFECT requires Christians to seek God “with ALL of their heart.”
Hebrews 11:6* “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God MUST BELIEVE that He is, and that He is a REWARDER of those who DILIGENTLY SEEK HIM.” God requires PERFECT Christians to DILIGENTLY SEEK HIS FACE (1Cor 13:12) and expect God’s Blessings!
ALL CHRISTIANS are COMMANDED in the “Love Chapter” 1Corinthians 13:12 to continually see the Face of God, as in a “mirror dimly,” and Jesus. 2Chron 7:14 “seek My Face” was God’s O.T. Command also. Heb 13:8* “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” God says, “I change not” (Malachi 3:6).
“Surrender” to Jesus means putting aside our own lusts and evil desires and instead being led by the Holy Spirit is His desire. Jesus is our example and it is God’s Command to not seek our own will, but the Will of God (John 5:30).
Jesus surrendered His Will completely to being “led by the Spirit” of His Father, so Christ as the “last Adam,” felt he could do nothing on His own. John 5:30* “I can do nothing on My own initiative. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is just, because I DO NOT SEEK MY OWN WILL, but the Will of Him who sent Me.”
Washed by the WORD, as Jesus washed the feet of His disciples is God’s plan for making Christians suitable and sanctified for eternal life Eph 5:26.
In Acts 4 it was God’s Command to “preach and teach” in the Name of Jesus. Unlike today’s Christian lawyers, the disciples of Jesus were willing to DISOBEY THE GOVERNMENT and suffer persecution and die as martyrs to “Preach and Teach” in the Name of Jesus. Today Christian lawyers sin by opposing Christian law and as a result most teachers turn most children away from God so the children’s souls are lost in the public schools and so the USA is being lost by U.N. Treaties and the nation is being given over to its enemies to be ruled (Colossians 3:17).
Acts 5:32 (LO) “And we are witnesses of these things, and the Holy Spirit also, whom God has given to them who SUBMIT to His Government.” Christians need to SUBMIT to the Kingdom of God on Earth, submit to Christian leaders willing to make America a Christian nation and have the Gospel of Jesus Christ taught in the public schools to save as many children as possible.
Matthew 5:48 “Therefore you are to be PERFECT, as your Heavenly Father is PERFECT.” Our Heavenly Father was with His Son Jesus Christ crucified on the Cross showing extreme Self-Control and Love as we should also as we suffer for His Name of Jesus (Acts 4).
John 14:15 “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” Jesus said, “If you Love Me, you will Obey Me.” To Love Jesus means fulfilling the FIRST and SECOND LAWS of God as Jesus COMMANDED.
Mark 12:29-31 “Jesus answered, “The foremost [COMMANDMENT] is, ‘HEAR, O ISRAEL! THE LORD OUR GOD IS ONE LORD; AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ “The second [COMMANDMENT] is this, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” (Note: Jesus defined “neighbor” as a Samaritan who worshipped the same God, however with doctrinal heresies. Jesus did not mean to love enemies as “yourself,” though Jesus commands Christians to “love your enemies.” Though Jesus Christ gave His LIFE to love His enemies enough to save them if they turned to obey God, God does NOT love His enemies the same as HIMSELF.)
If we LOVE JESUS, then Christians will not yield our bodies to sin. Romans 6:13 “Do not go on presenting the members of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God.”
Romans 10:3b “They did NOT submit themselves to the RIGHTEOUSNESS of God.” To be “Perfect,” Christians must SUBMIT to the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD!
Romans 12:1 “I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” To be PERFECT and fulfill the GREATEST COMMANDMENT of God and Jesus, is to Love God and Love your neighbors and NOT yield one’s body to sin.
Deuteronomy 32:4 [Jesus] “He is the Rock; his work is perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright He Is!”
Soldiers and police are required to have a “PERFECT HEART” for in 1Chronicles 12:38 “All these, being men of war, who could draw up in battle formation, came to Hebron with a PERFECT heart, to make David king over all Israel; and all the rest also of Israel were of one mind to make David king.”
We are COMMANDED to pray to have PERFECT HEART so to keep God’s Commandments. 1Chronicles 29:19 “and give to my son Solomon a perfect heart to keep Thy commandments, Thy testimonies, and Thy statutes, and to do them all, and to build the temple, for which I have made provision.”
Psalm 19:7 “The Law of the LORD is PERFECT, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.”
To have the Mind of God and Jesus is commanded for ALL Christians. Job 36:4 “For truly my words are not false; One who is perfect in knowledge is with you.”
Song of Solomon 5:2 “I was asleep, but my heart was awake. A voice! My beloved was knocking: ‘Open to me, my sister, my darling, My dove, MY PERFECT ONE! For my head is drenched with dew, My locks with the damp of the night.’” The Bride of Christ is COMMANDED to be PERFECT. In Revelation 7:14 COMMANDS Christians to wash their robes in the Blood of Jesus and The Lamb of God.
Though God works to guard us, Christians are also required to guard our thoughts and hearts. We are also to “guard the issues of our hearts” and purify ourselves of giving place to evil thoughts.” It is God’s supernatural gift for every Christian to have the “mind of Christ.” Luke 12:15* And Jesus said to them, “Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.” Luke 17:3* “Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.” Luke 21:34a* “Be on guard, that your hearts may not be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life.” Philippians 4:7* And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” 1Timothy 6:20* “O Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to you, avoiding worldly and empty chatter and the opposing arguments of what is falsely called “knowledge.” 2Timothy 1:12* For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day.” 2Timothy 1:14* “Guard, through the Holy Spirit who dwells in us, the treasure which has been entrusted to you.” 2Timothy 4:15* “Be on guard against him yourself, for he vigorously opposed our teaching.” 2Peter 3:17* “You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, be on your guard lest, being carried away by the error of unprincipled men, you fall from your own steadfastness.” 1John 5:21* “Little children, guard yourselves from idols.”
2Timothy 2:19* “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.” 20* “Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver vessels, but also vessels of wood and of earthenware, and some to honor and some to dishonor.” 21* “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from sin, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.” 22* “Now flee from youthful lusts, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.”
Romans 2:6 God “WILL RENDER TO EVERY MAN ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS: 7* to those who by PERSEVERANCE IN DOING GOOD seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life.” Christians are commanded to aim to be as perfect as Christ is, in their dedication in doing good works in order to inherit glory, honor, immortality and eternal life.
1Co 9:26* “Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air.” Christians are commanded to run the race aiming for Christ being led by the Holy Spirit.”
1Co 9:24* “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but ONLY ONE RECEIVES THE PRIZE? Run is such a way that you may win” and inherit eternal life. Christians are commanded to strategize and make their plans so to win an everlasting crown.
Romans 10:4 “For Christ is the aim [objective] of the Law, for righteousness, unto every one that believeth in Him.” Christians are commanded to AIM FOR CHRIST and His righteousness. “We see Him through a glass darkly” (1Cor 13:12). Christians seek the Face of God 2Chronicles 7:14 seek to be forgiven and their land healed. By aiming for the Face of God and Jesus Christians see the end of their destination and walk straight for it that we may inherit eternal life with Him.
“God is Love” and Christians are commanded to run after God through Jesus Christ as in a veritable chasing after His Love and Life. In 1Co 14:1* “Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy.” Pursuing Jesus the God of Love requires Christians not to be cessationists which basically says God ceased His spiritual gifts, but seeking His Charisma spiritual gifts. It continues to be God’s Command in the same context as God’s Love Chapter in the same biblical context. God has NEVER CHANGED and ceased giving spiritual gifts the apostles had. In Hebrews 13:8* “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today, yes and forever.” Christians greatly sin by failing to aim for perfection in the spiritual gifts given by Jesus until we are ALL MATURE and not just the first century Christians (Eph 4:11-13).
The spiritual gifts the apostles had will continue “until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fulness of Christ” (Eph 4:13).
2Cor 13:11b “Be perfected; be comforted; be of the same mind; live in peace: and the God of love and peace shall be with you.”
“Perfection” has Limits ordained by God, just as a cut jewels have facets radiating light and marking the boundary of the gems.
Psalm 19:7 “The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.”
Psalm 50:2 “From Mount Zion, the perfection of beauty, God shines in glorious radiance.”
Psalm 119:96 “Even PERFECTION HAS ITS LIMITS, but your COMMANDS have NO LIMIT.” God’s light and character go on throughout eternity with no limits.
God will Help us to be in PERFECT peace with the Mind of Christ. Isa 26:3 “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, whose THOUGHTS are fixed on You!”
God will Help cleanse our conscience from sin and dead works as we repent and ask Him for the “mind of Christ.” Hebrews 9:14 “How much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without blemish to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?”
“God is Light,” Christians are commanded to walk in God’s Light in fellowship with one another. 1John 1:7* “If we walk in the light as He Himself [Jesus Christ] is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
The peace we are to pursue is having PEACE WITH GOD. In John 14:27 Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful.”
Romans 14:19 “So then let us follow after things which make for peace, and things whereby we may edify one another.”
Philippians 2:21* “For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” WWJD? What Would Jesus Do? Seek after what Jesus would do in your daily lives. Make His desires your desires, His interests, your interests…
John 17:23 “I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be PERFECTED in UNITY, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me.” Christians are perfected by the Holy Spirit, the Helper, who intercedes on our behalf in prayer, as we do not know how to pray with our minds sometimes.
Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your MIND, that you may PROVE what the Will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and PERFECT.”
In God’s Love Chapter 1Corinthians 13:10 “but when the PERFECT [Jesus] comes, the partial will be done away.” We will always in partial in the perfection God wills for us in the Bride of Christ to possess.
God COMMANDS for us to have PERFECT HOLINESS in our life.
2Corinthians 7:1 “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, PERFECTING HOLINESS in the fear of God.”
God’s POWER is PERFECTED in our weakness. 2Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me.”
The fleshly sin of legalism cannot result in the kind of PERFECTION God requires us to become. Galatians 3:3 “Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?”
Jesus will work with every Christian whose names are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life to become PERFECT. Php 1:6 “For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will PERFECT it until the day of Christ Jesus.” Jesus will process work to perfect us gradually over time.
Apostle Paul admitted he had NOT BECOME PERFECT, and in the same manner neither should Christians today… Philippians 3:12 “Not that I have already obtained it, nor have ALREADY BECOME PERFECT, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.”
God EXPECTS those who want to be PERFECT to have this Biblical attitude written in Philippians:
Philippians 3:8-17 “More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish in order that I may gain Christ, v9 and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, v10 that I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; v11 in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. v12 Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.” v13 “Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, v14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” v15 “Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; 16 however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained.” v17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
Imitate the behavior of those who have the pattern of the “image and likeness” of Christ Jesus in their life. As Jesus “walked,” Christ is our example of how to behave in our lifestyles today.
Put on Christ, Cloth yourselves with Christ Jesus and the Armor of God which is God’s gift to all those who will believe. Colossians 3:14 “And beyond all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity.”
Pray for one another that each one of “you may STAND PERFECT and fully assured in ALL the WILL of GOD” (Col 4:12b).
The perfect patience is demonstrated in Christians belongs to Jesus Christ in each believer. 1Timothy 1:16 “And yet for this reason I found mercy, in order that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His PERFECT PATIENCE, as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.”
Hebrews 5:8 “Although He was a Son, He learned obedience from the things which He suffered.” Jesus was the Son of God and learned obedience from the things which He suffered throughout His life.
Jesus learned PERFECT obedience through the things He suffered. Hebrews 2:10 “For it was fitting for Him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to perfect the author of their salvation through His sufferings.”
Jesus Christ the Lamb of God was sinless, yet His Heavenly Father required that He had to suffer so to learn OBEDIENCE in every circumstance to His Father rather than obeying mere men. Obedience and Perfection is a process of being matured, growing up into the “image and likeness” of God which is God’s desire for all Christians.
The problem of suffering is explained by the fact wicked people enjoy making others suffer. The Bible has written the spiritual drive for the wicked is so powerful they take pleasure in wickedness and that they cannot even sleep at night unless they have made others suffer.
God makes His people suffer so they will learn to be holy and have spiritual discipline. God also judges those peoples that are not in the safety of being in covenant with Him through Christ and sometimes brings suffering to them so they either learn to repent and seek Him or at least learn not to hurt other people or there will be consequences in this life and in the next.
Hebrews 7:19 “(for the Law made nothing perfect), and on the other hand there is a bringing in of a better hope, through which we draw near to God.” We draw near to God through Jesus Christ, the “better hope” of PERFECTION.
Through Christ, Christians are made PERFECT forever. Hebrews 7:28 “For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever.”
Heb 10:14 “For by one offering He has PERFECTED for ALL TIME those who are sanctified.” Jesus has legally PERFECTED the BRIDE OF CHRIST FOREVER.
Hebrews 12:2 “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Fixing our spiritual eyes on Jesus is God’s COMMAND for all Christians seeking His Face.
Jesus is ALWAYS the same and It was God’s COMMAND to continually seek His Face in the Old Covenant.
2Chronicles 7:14 “and My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and SEEK MY FACE and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”
Psalm 27:8* “When Thou didst say, “Seek My face,” my heart said unto Thee, “Thy FACE, O LORD, I shall SEEK.”
Hosea 5:15* “I will go away and return to My place Until they acknowledge their guilt and SEEK MY FACE; In their affliction they will earnestly SEEK Me.”
It remains God’s COMMAND to seek His FACE through Jesus Christ in the New Testament Covenant.
1Corinthians 13:12 “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now I know in part, but then I shall know fully just as I also have been fully known.”
It is God’s COMMAND to continually seek His Face in the New Covenant.
2Corinthians 3:18 “But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.” Being changed into His “image and likeness” is God’s desire (Genesis 1:26).
God affirms it is by His Will that spirits of men be made PERFECT. Heb 12:23 “to the general assembly and church of the first-born who are enrolled in heaven, and to God, the Judge of all, and to the SPIRITS of righteous men made PERFECT.”
James 1:4 “And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be PERFECT and complete, lacking in nothing.”
James 2:22 “You see that faith was working with his works, and AS A RESULT of the works, faith was PERFECTED.” Doing the WORKS of Jesus perfects our faith.
All stumble in many ways yet God expects us to become PERFECT. James 3:2 “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a PERFECT man, able to bridle the whole body as well.”
1Peter 5:10 “And after you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself PERFECT, confirm, strengthen and establish you.” God will help us to become PERFECT as He is perfect (Mtt 5:48).
Jesus will work to turn you fro your wicked ways. Acts 3:26* “For you first, God raised up His Servant, and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.”
God and Jesus expects Christians to change behaviors and abstain from wicked sin. 2Timothy 2:19* “Nevertheless, the firm foundation of God stands, having this seal, “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the Name of the Lord abstain from wickedness.”
1John 2:5 “but whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God has truly been perfected. By this we know that we are in Him.”
1John 4:1 “No one has beheld God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us.”
1John 4:15-17 “Whoever confesses that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides in him, and he in God.” v16 “And we have come to know and have believed the love which God has for us. God is love, and the one who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.” v17 “By this, love is perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment; because as He is, so also are we in this world.” “Abiding in Love” is key to being made PERFECT in Jesus. “BECAUSE AS HE IS, SO ALSO ARE WE TO BE IN THIS WORLD.”
1John 4:18 “There is no fear in love; but PERFECT love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.” When PERFECT LOVE cast out fear, it confirms God’s work in us.
Jesus COMMANDED “Be Perfect as your Heavenly Father is PERFECT” (Mtt 5:48).
How can we be PERFECT as our Heavenly Father is PERFECT? By perfectly doing our Heavenly Father’s Will as He reveals His Will as He did for Christ in His life.
Sanctification is our duty and spiritual work and is also the work of God and Jesus in our lives.
1Th 4:3* For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality;
1Th 4:4* that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor,
1Th 4:7* For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification.
1Th 5:23* Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1Timothy 4:1* “But the Spirit explicitly says that in later times some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to deceitful spirits and doctrines of demons, 2* by means of the hypocrisy of liars seared in their own conscience as with a branding iron, 3* men who forbid marriage and advocate abstaining from foods, which God has created to be gratefully shared in by those who believe and know the truth.” 4* “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected, if it is received with gratitude; 5* for it is SANCTIFIED BY THE MEANS OF THE WORD OF GOD AND PRAYER.”
An important part of holiness and personal sanctification is NOT LISTENING TO OTHER VOICES of “seducing spirits.” John 10:27* “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
2Ti 2:21* “Therefore, if a man cleanses himself from these things, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work.”
Heb 2:11* “For both He who sanctifies and those who are sanctified are all from one Father; for which reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren.”
Heb 12:14* “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.” God COMMANDS Christians to pursue the SANCTIFICATION process, or we will NOT see God.
1Pe 1:2* “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.”
1Pe 3:15* “Sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.” The Holy Spirit will WORK to sanctify you, but you MUST WORK to believe Jesus Christ so to sanctify yourselves! John 6:29* “Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the WORK of God, that you BELIEVE in Him whom He has sent.”
To see God and Jesus is to be willing to believe Him and speak the words He gives you to speak and do the work that He gives you to do. John 12:49 “For I did not speak on My own initiative, but the Father Himself who sent Me has given Me COMMANDMENT, what to say, and what to speak.” As the Father through Christ sends Christians to do His Will, to be perfect is to perfectly do His COMMANDMENT to express our Heavenly Father’s WORD, through Christ.
One Way to hear God’s Voice and His Will is to receive the additional gift of the Holy Spirit, the Counselor (John 15:26), the Comforter, which is the Promise of the Father). Jesus PROMISED Christians would receive God’s POWER to live the Christian life and do what God and Jesus have commanded for our lives (Acts 1:8). The early disciples had to pray in “ONE ACCORD” for ten days until the additional gift of the Holy Spirit had been given to them in Acts 2.
To wait upon God in Jesus until we receive the additional “Gift of the Holy Spirit” is the COMMAND the Father and Jesus.
Luke 24:49 “And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are CLOTHED WITH POWER from on high.”
Old Testament saints including the original apostles of Jesus, until Pentecost were ALREADY FILLED and indwelt with the Father’s Holy Spirit as well as all believers in the O.T. as written in the Holy Scriptures.
Job 32:8 “But it is a Spirit in man, And the breath of the Almighty gives them understanding.” King David feared losing the Holy Spirit in him that was his comfort and inspiration as Prophet of God. “Do not cast me away from Thy presence, And do not take Thy Holy Spirit from me” Ps 51:11. However since the additional gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out in Acts 2, this additional gift is required to EMPOWER Christians to OVERCOME and the power to save Christians from sin.
Mt 16:18* “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades shall NOT OVERPOWER it.”
John 16:33* “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have PEACE. In the world you have tribulation, but TAKE COURAGE; I have OVERCOME the world.” Christians are commanded to TAKE COURAGE spiritually for one’s soul.
Romans 8:37* “But in all these things we overwhelmingly CONQUER through Him who loved us.”
Romans 8:31* “What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?” 32* “He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” 33* “Who will bring a charge against God’s elect?” “God is the one who justifies; 34* who is the one who condemns?” “Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.” 35* “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?” 36* “Just as it is written, “FOR THY SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG; WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”” 37* But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.” 38* “For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39* nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
“Overcome” is translated as “CONQUER” in modern translations.
Strong’s 5245 Greek: hupernikao hoop-er-nik-ah'-o
from 5228 and 3528; TDNT - 4:942,634; v
KJV - be more than conqueror 1; 1
1) to be more than a conqueror, to gain a surpassing victory
Strong’s 3528 Greek: nikao nik-ah'-o
Translated “OVERCOME” in several translations of the N.T.
from 3529; TDNT - 4:942,634; v
KJV - overcome 24, conquer 2, prevail 1, get the victory 1; 28
1) to CONQUER
1a) to carry off the victory, come off victorious
1a1) of Christ, victorious over all His foes
1a2) of Christians, that hold fast their faith even unto death against the power of their foes, and temptations and persecutions
1a3) when one is arraigned or goes to law, to win the case, maintain one's cause
NLT Ro 12:21* “Don’t let evil get the best of you, but conquer evil by doing good.”
TCNT Ro 12:21* “Never be conquered by evil, but CONQUER evil with GOOD.”
Re 2:7* “‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who OVERCOMES [conquers], I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the Paradise of God.’”
Re 2:11* “‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. He who OVERCOMES [conquers] shall not be hurt by the second death.’”
Re 2:17* “‘He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who OVERCOMES [conquers], to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it.’”
Re 2:26* “‘And he who OVERCOMES [conquers], and he who keeps My deeds until the end, TO HIM I WILL GIVE AUTHORITY OVER THE NATIONS.’”
Re 3:5* “‘He who OVERCOMES [conquers] shall thus be clothed in white garments; and I will not erase his name from the book of life, and I will confess his name before My Father, and before His angels.”
Re 3:12* “‘He who OVERCOMES [conquers], I will make him a pillar in the temple of My God, and he will not go out from it anymore; and I will write upon him the Name of My God, and the Name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which comes down out of heaven from My God, and My new Name.”
Re 3:21* “‘He who OVERCOMES [conquers], I will grant to him to sit down with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne.”
Re 5:5* “and one of the elders *said to me, “Stop weeping; behold, the Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has OVERCOME [conquers] so as to open the book and its seven seals.”
Re 6:2* And I looked, and behold, [Jesus Christ on] a white horse, and he who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him; and he went out conquering, and to CONQUER.
Re 17:14* “These will wage war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will OVERCOME [conquer] them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those who are with Him are the called and chosen and faithful.”
Re 21:7* “He who OVERCOMES [conquers] shall inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.” Christians are COMMANDED to CONQUER and to OVERCOME as Jesus has Conquered and is now at this time overcoming His enemies (1Cor 15:27-28). Jesus said, “Either you are for Me or against Me.”
1Co 15:25* “For Christ must reign until He has put all His enemies under His feet.” Christians are a nation of “kings and priests” and must rule and reign today until Christ turns everything over to His Father. It is now or never for Christians to take charge and rule with Christ, for in eternity it will be too late. 1Co 15: 28* “And when all things are subjected to Him, then the Son Himself also will be subjected to the One who subjected all things to Him, that God may be all in all.” Eternity will be too late to learn to rule with Christ, now is the time before everything is turned over to His Father forever.
Acts 2:33* “Therefore Jesus having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the Promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear.” Jesus will pour out the Holy Spirit upon all Christians who wait upon Him seeking His Will, seeking His Face and working to believe Him and His WORD.
John 16:13* “But when He, the Spirit of Truth, comes, He will guide you into all the Truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears [from God the Father and Jesus], He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come.” God expects Christians to “walk the walk” and “talk the talk” as Christ obeyed His Father in Heaven.
Isaiah 63:14* “As the cattle which go down into the valley, The Spirit of the LORD gave them rest. So You Led Your people, To make for Yourself a glorious Name” [Name of Jesus Colossians 3:17 “No other Name under Heaven given among men, by which we must be Saved” Only the Name of Jesus Acts 4:12].
Romans 8:14 “For all who are being Led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God.”
Galatians 5:18 “But if you are Led by the Holy Spirit, you are not under the Law.” “Salvation is by Grace,” however God requires Christians to be led by the Holy Spirit. Being “justified by faith” requires Christians to express their faith by living works. Faith without works is dead” and will not save Christians. Christians must show their faith by their works in their lives.
God’s Will is expressed in “dreams and visions.” Acts 2:17* “‘In the last days, God said, I will pour out my Spirit upon all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, and your old men will dream dreams.’” To hear the PERFECT VOICE of Jesus and to be Led by His Spirit, to understand His dreams and visions is the fulfillment of being PERFECT, just as Christ PERFECTLY expressed the Will of His PERFECT FATHER in Heaven.
Jesus said, “And I assure you that the time is coming, in FACT it is here, when the dead will hear My Voice--the VOICE of the Son of God. And those who LISTEN will LIVE” John 5:25. Those who actually LISTEN to the VOICE of JESUS will have eternal LIFE.
Psalm 95:7 “for He is our God. We are the people He watches over, the sheep under His care. Oh, that you would listen to His Voice today!
John 10:3 “The Gatekeeper opens the Gate for him, and the sheep hear His Voice and come to him. He calls His own sheep by name and Leads them out.”
John 10:16 “I have other sheep, too, that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to My Voice; and there will be One Flock with One Shepherd.”
John 10:27 “My sheep RECOGNIZE My Voice; I know them, and they follow Me.”
1John 2:1 “My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous.” Believe upon the Lord Jesus Christ and be Saved from your sin.
1John 3:23 “This is His commandment, that we believe in the NAME of His Son Jesus Christ, and Love one another, just as He commanded us.”
1John 2:6 “The one who says he abides in Him ought himself to walk in the same manner as He walked.” Christ’s lifestyle is our example of how Christian lifestyles should be today.
2John 4 “I was very glad to find some of your children walking in truth, just as we have received commandment to do from the Father.” Christ believed the Spirit of Truth as we should also believe in the Spirit of Truth. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.”
2John 6 “And this is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, just as you have heard from the beginning, that you should walk in it.”
3John 3 “For I was very glad when brethren came and bore witness to your truth, that is, how you are walking in truth.”
Ephesians 5:27 “that He might present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or [sin] any such thing; but that she should be Holy and blameless.”
1Peter 1:15 “Like the Holy One who called you, Be Holy yourselves also in ALL your behavior.”
1Peter 1:16 “it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.”
2Co 7:1* “Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.”
1John 5:20 “We know that the Son of God has come, and has given us understanding, in order that we might know Him who is true, and we are in Him who is true, in His Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life.”
This is the Bible Doctrine on Being Perfect as Jesus Commanded.
1Th 5:21* But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good.” “Prove All Things” for God says, “I Am willing.”
Amen
Rev. William Burk