Perfection

Matthew 5:48 tells us to be perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect. But what kind of perfection is Matthew referring to? This word (perfect) comes from the Greek teleios, which means brought to its end, finished, wanting nothing necessary to completeness, that which is perfect (full grown, adult, of full age, mature). Philippians 1:6 says that he will finish what he started in us. That means that this perfection or completion we are commanded to have is not something we are to work for on our own. We can't do it!  Paul rebukes the Galatians (Gal 3:3) for trying to epiteleo (to bring to an end, accomplish, perfect, execute, complete) in the flesh (on their own) what was started in the Spirit. Nothing we can do makes us perfect. Those of us with a tendency towards perfectionism will try and try but never attain to what we think we need to do and who we think we need to be. The law will never make us perfect (Heb 7:19).  

So what brings us to this place of maturity (perfection) in the Spirit? First you need to have faith that Christ finished it all on the cross. The trying or testing out of this faith brings perseverance (endurance, steadfastness, patience), and when this is fully developed, you will be perfect (James 1:3-4).

Our idea of perfection has become so messed up. We expect ourselves and others to always do the right thing and when there is sin, we see ourselves as bad. The idea that there is right or wrong makes us often feel as if we are right or wrong. When we sin, there is a break in our relationship with the Lord, but we as people of God are never wrong. The cross restored our relationship with the Father and set us in right standing with him (Rom 8:30). Whether or not we sin, we are always right in God's eyes. If we sin, the only requirement to restore ourselves to God's standard is to confess our sin and to accept his forgiveness.     

We need to lay down all our expectations of ourselves and of others. God does not expect us to be perfect in and of ourselves. We have already been made perfect by his Son. There is no law or standard we need to live up to. Neither sin nor the law have any power over us (Rom 6:7, 7:6). Once we realize that the only requirement is to believe this, we can be released from a lifetime of trying to attain a fleshly perfection that can never be reached.  

God accomplished it all for us. There is a freedom in knowing that we can mess up and God still loves us. And whatever mistakes or sins we make do not detract from the perfection that comes from God alone. This is simply a testing out of our faith that ultimately brings us to maturity in Christ.