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Hebrews 5:9 clearly states, "And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;"
"Being made perfect" leaves me with questions of what exactly does it mean to be "perfect"? Jesus teaches, (John 14) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Faith without works is dead. With faith comes works of "obedience". To be faithful, we are to obey. We either believe what He says, or we don't. 1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2: 2-9)
The question then remains what is "perfect" and what are the commandments we are to keep? 1 John 4:17-18 contains the answer. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
This is one verse that has taken on a new meaning in my life as an actuality in that: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in Christ; but Christ casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Christ.
It is a truth. Christ is that "perfect love". Not us.
(1 Corinthians 13)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Christ, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Christ, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Christ, it profiteth me nothing.
Christ suffereth long, and is kind; Christ envieth not; Christ vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Christ is the "love" people are thirsting for. They do not need my love. My love smothers. My love confines and imprisons and demands and enslaves. Christ's love sets free. I am truly convinced it is Christ's love that casts out fear...not ours.
So, when He tells me to "be perfect" then it doesn't mean "perfect" as in sinless. His love has already taken care of my sin. Hear the verses in context and tell me "perfect" has anything to do with crucifying Jesus Christ afresh? Day after day. Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) said, "Let us move on to perfection..."
Debated:
Matthew 5:42-48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." in its context.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Debated: "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." in its context.
Luke 6:30-49
[30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [32] For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. [33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. [34] And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. [37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. [39] And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? [40] The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. [41] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? [42] Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. [43] For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. [49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
2 Corinthians 13:9-14
[9] For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. [10] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. [11] 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. [12] Greet one another with an holy kiss. [13] All the saints salute you. [14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Matthew 19:21-23
[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.
Again, "perfect" is love. That is the command.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God does it. Furnished unto all good works of..."Love" To be "perfect" as God in heaven is perfect, has nothing at all to do with being "sinless". If you believe the perfect Jesus was teaching was man's ability to be sinless by his own straining...
then you are wasting precious time on a burden that yields no fruit.
Galatians 3:3
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Romans 15:1-3
[1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
I would like to add a few personal revelations:
Those that tear down and reproach and steal and lie and cheat an inflict harm on us...they are weak. So very weak. They don't know Christ. We are called to bare because we ARE stronger through Christ. It is His shoulders that carry the weight.
I want to love myself more. But not like you may suspect. Not in that I have this longing to love myself more and be more selfish with my time and gifts and resources...but in that I have a longing to fully embrace who I am as a vessel given unto Him for His purposes.
"Being made perfect" leaves me with questions of what exactly does it mean to be "perfect"? Jesus teaches, (John 14) If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Faith without works is dead. With faith comes works of "obedience". To be faithful, we are to obey. We either believe what He says, or we don't. 1 John 2:4 "He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him." (1 John 2: 2-9)
The question then remains what is "perfect" and what are the commandments we are to keep? 1 John 4:17-18 contains the answer. "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love."
This is one verse that has taken on a new meaning in my life as an actuality in that: "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. [18] There is no fear in Christ; but Christ casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in Christ.
It is a truth. Christ is that "perfect love". Not us.
(1 Corinthians 13)
Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not Christ, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.
And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not Christ, I am nothing.
And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not Christ, it profiteth me nothing.
Christ suffereth long, and is kind; Christ envieth not; Christ vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;
Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;
Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
Christ is the "love" people are thirsting for. They do not need my love. My love smothers. My love confines and imprisons and demands and enslaves. Christ's love sets free. I am truly convinced it is Christ's love that casts out fear...not ours.
So, when He tells me to "be perfect" then it doesn't mean "perfect" as in sinless. His love has already taken care of my sin. Hear the verses in context and tell me "perfect" has anything to do with crucifying Jesus Christ afresh? Day after day. Paul (inspired by the Holy Spirit) said, "Let us move on to perfection..."
Debated:
Matthew 5:42-48 "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." in its context.
[42] Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. [43] Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. [44] But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; [45] That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. [46] For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? [47] And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others ? do not even the publicans so? [48] Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Debated: "The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." in its context.
Luke 6:30-49
[30] Give to every man that asketh of thee; and of him that taketh away thy goods ask them not again. [31] And as ye would that men should do to you, do ye also to them likewise. [32] For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. [33] And if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same. [34] And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again. [35] But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. [36] Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. [37] Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: [38] Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again. [39] And he spake a parable unto them, Can the blind lead the blind? shall they not both fall into the ditch? [40] The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master. [41] And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but perceivest not the beam that is in thine own eye? [42] Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye. [43] For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit; neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. [44] For every tree is known by his own fruit. For of thorns men do not gather figs, nor of a bramble bush gather they grapes. [45] A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh. [46] And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say? [47] Whosoever cometh to me, and heareth my sayings, and doeth them, I will shew you to whom he is like: [48] He is like a man which built an house, and digged deep, and laid the foundation on a rock: and when the flood arose, the stream beat vehemently upon that house, and could not shake it: for it was founded upon a rock. [49] But he that heareth, and doeth not, is like a man that without a foundation built an house upon the earth; against which the stream did beat vehemently, and immediately it fell; and the ruin of that house was great.
2 Corinthians 13:9-14
[9] For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection. [10] Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the power which the Lord hath given me to edification, and not to destruction. [11] 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. [12] Greet one another with an holy kiss. [13] All the saints salute you. [14] The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.
Matthew 19:21-23
[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.
Again, "perfect" is love. That is the command.
[16] All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: [17] That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.
God does it. Furnished unto all good works of..."Love" To be "perfect" as God in heaven is perfect, has nothing at all to do with being "sinless". If you believe the perfect Jesus was teaching was man's ability to be sinless by his own straining...
then you are wasting precious time on a burden that yields no fruit.
Galatians 3:3
[3] Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
Romans 15:1-3
[1] We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. [2] Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification. [3] For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.
I would like to add a few personal revelations:
Those that tear down and reproach and steal and lie and cheat an inflict harm on us...they are weak. So very weak. They don't know Christ. We are called to bare because we ARE stronger through Christ. It is His shoulders that carry the weight.
I want to love myself more. But not like you may suspect. Not in that I have this longing to love myself more and be more selfish with my time and gifts and resources...but in that I have a longing to fully embrace who I am as a vessel given unto Him for His purposes.
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