CHRISTIAN PERFECTION

1. Jesus speaks “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”. <BIBLE:Matt. 5:48.>
This statement has nothing to do with a person being without sin, fault, or error. But rather it deals with growth or maturity. This is speaking to spiritual rather than natural growth.
Paul addressees the subject of perfection in 2nd < Cor.13:9>“For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection” The word for perfection here is “katartisis” S# <STRONGS:NT:2676> (perfection by training and discipline) I want to address at this time the word “teleios” S# 5046the word Jesus uses in the text; Strong’s dictionary defines it as; full grown, complete, of full age or a man. (adult) This word is found twenty times in the New Testament.
The Christian begins the walk with God by as a baby. (new born) This new child requires care by someone who has grown and matured enough to feed, care for and teach; until he is able to care for it’s
self.“ As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” <BIBLE:1 Peter 2:2:>
If a newborn Christian does not receive proper nourishment it will die of spiritual malnutrition. This
Nourishment must include both the teaching and receiving of proper instructions from the “Word.”
Paul writes the Corinthians; “I could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, (natural
man) even as unto babes (infants, immature) in Christ.” <BIBLE:1 Cor. 3:1> He then tells them that after several
years as a church, they were still unable to eat meat offered them. They began in a great revival, (see <BIBLE:Acts ch.18;See 1st. Cor. 5:1-16.) but problems had developed among the body, some causing divisions. There were also sins of fornication, of going to law with one another, of eating meat sacrificed to idols, and of improper
conduct in many other things. Paul blames this on the fact “Some have not the knowledge of God.”1st’Cor. 15:34

also see ch<BIBLE:. 8:7.> It appears Paul is placing blame on carnal unqualified teachers and pastors for conditions of the Corinthian Church.The prophet Isaiah looks at the condition of Israel in Isaiah 28:9, and laments; “Whom shall he teach knowledge, and make to understand doctrine?” Then he answered the question with, “Them that
are weaned from the milk and drawn from the breasts.” Hosea declares, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge I will also reject thee.” Ch.4:6
James advises the Christian to “Let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Ch. 1:4 The word for perfect here is also “teleios”. James is saying don’t be too fast
to grow up; it is a process of learning, and experience that if it is properly completed will lead the person to a point of being “entire” ( complete in all parts) wanting nothing. In other words, you can grow to perfection in Jesus. Malachi; looking to the future Church says, “Ye shall go forth, and grow
up as calves of the Stall." ch.4:2 I think he meant that there is sufficient food in the House of the Lord for a person to attain full growth without having to look elsewhere for something to satisfy the need. “If any lack wisdom let him ask God.” James 1:5
Paul after sending Timothy to Ephesus as Bishop writes to him, “Be strong in grace that is In Christ
Jesus and the things you have learned commit to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others.”
2Tim.2:2 2 This man who declared himself to be “a wise masterbuilder” of the Church 1st. Cor.3:10, uses
body parts to explain the working nature of the spiritual Body of Christ in chapter 12 of this letter.
Also states that as a part of the plan of God for the Church, there are gifts of apostleship, prophets,
teachers and miracles (power “dunamis”). Paul continues to address this need in his letter to the
Ephesians in chapter 4:11-13. Here he names the five callings of ministry in the Church, and explains the purpose of each calling or ministry. “For the perfecting (here the gr. word is “katartismos” meaning to equip. completely) of the saints, for the work of the ministry the edifying (building up) of the body of Christ.till we all come to the knowledge of the Son of God. And unto a perfect man, (teleios) unto the measure of the stature (maturity) of the fullness of Christ.”The condition of the Christian Church has changed little since this letter to the Corinthians. At the time
of this letter, he could not speak to them as “spiritual but as carnal” because they walked as men, not as “Children of God”. (spiritual) “ I have fed you with milk, and not with meat, for ye were not able to bear it, and neither are ye now able. .”1st. Cor.ch.3:1-2. He also warns in ch. 2:14; that spiritual things must be spiritually discerned. See Col 1:9.
Peter, instructs in his first epistle chapter two verse two; “As newborn babes, (infants) desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” See also 2nd Pet.3:18 and Eph. 4:15.
Paul recognized the fact that he was once a child “I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: But when I became a man I put away childish things. ”1st.Cor.13:11.
Then in ch. 14:20 he admonishes “Brethren, be not children in understanding; but be men.”
The writer of the book of Hebrews sees an existing problem with those he is writing; and states “We have many things to say and hard to be uttered, (of interpretation) seeing ye are dull (slowful) of
hearing; For when ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one, teach you again.” Ch.5:11-12.
One of the great problems in world society causing much delinquency among the youth today is the fact; children are raising children! The same condition is prevalent in the church today. We are short in quantity of teachers that are able, by knowledge and experience to teach the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. One of the requirements for a bishop is being “apt to teach.” (Skillful) 1 Tim.3:2.
Everyone that has knowledge is not, skillful in teaching. This is the reason church leadership must be careful in selecting those that are placed inteaching positions that will impact the future spiritual growth and maturity of the body of Christ. Growth to perfection (teleios) of the Christian Church depends on the joining of knowledge of God’s word and the Holy Ghost anointing. “I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you” Phil.3:14-15