How Does God Perfect Us?

This is a great question that deserves some attention. First of all, what part of us needs perfecting? If we are born again, are we not “one spirit” with Him?

“But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. 6:17). Many more verses could be added here that make it clear that we are a new creation, created in righteousness and seated with Him in heavenly places. Our spirits have been perfected.

What about our minds? “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God” (Rom. 12:2). This appears to be our responsibility. Understanding God’s good and perfect will depends upon renewing our minds to His nature and the new creation that we have become.

What about our behavior? How has God has provided for our ongoing growth and maturity? “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2 Tim. 3:16-17). It is the Word of God that brings correction, reproof and instruction that we might be complete. There is no indication that it is the Word plus sickness, or the Word plus tragedy or the Word plus any other experience. The Word is enough.

What about our relationship to others and the world? “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:11-13). The “five-fold” ministry is given to the church for its perfecting.

Doesn’t God use or allow bad things in our lives in order to teach us and perfect us? If that is true, it is declaring that God’s provision for His body (see above) is inadequate and insufficient. If bad things are our teachers, for what purpose did God give His Spirit and His Word?

We can certainly learn from experience and suffer the bumps and bruises of life, but we don’t have to. God has given us His Word, His Spirit, His better covenant, His promises, His authority, His faith, His armor, the gifts of His Spirit and the keys of the Kingdom so that we might be fully equipped to overcome the hardships of a fallen world.

Sadly, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge” (Hosea 4:6). As long as we believe that God’s Word and Spirit are insufficient, we will allow the powers of ignorance and darkness to be our “teachers.”