Christian Support Group Community Group
This is a place for everyone who loves Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior (or those who are seeking Him), to come and discuss important issues in their lives and find support from fellow believers in regards to their faith and life. We uphold the Bible and living a Christ-like life, not as a way to heaven, but as a reflection of our love for God.
A young child may be the perfect image of his father. There may be a great difference in age, in stature, in power, and yet the resemblance may be so striking that every one notices it. And so a child of God, though infinitely less, may yet bear the image of the Father so markedly, may have such a striking likeness to his Father, that in his creaturely life he will be perfect, as the Father is in His Divine life.
This is possible. It is what Jesus here commands. It is what each one should aim at. “Perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect,” must become one of the first articles of our creed, one of the guiding lights of our Christian life.
Wherein this perfection of the Father consists is evident from the context: “Love your enemies, that you may be sons of your Father which is in heaven; for He makes His sun to shine on the evil and the good: Be therefore perfect, as your Father in heaven is perfect.” Or as it is in Luke 6: 36:
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful.” The perfection of God is His love; His will to communicate His own blessedness to all around Him. His compassion and mercy are the glory of His being. He created us in His image and after His likeness, to find our glory in a life of love and mercy and beneficence. It is in love we are to be perfect, even as our Father is perfect.
(from "Be Perfect" by Andrew Murray)
This is all mine through the faith (granted by grace) that makes Jesus Christ dwell in my heart, and I am established and rooted in His love, the knowledge of which transcends all knowledge.
Oh if only you could believe, you would see the glory of God!
Interesting topic, I guess I need clarification on what is meant by "perfect" used in the context here. Does "perfection" mean without sin or sinless?
In the post, Matthew 5:48 was implied, "Be ye perfect, even as your Father, which is in heaven is perfect." These are the teachings and commands of Christ to his disciples, specifically, away from the multitudes. The word "perfect" used in this verse is "telios"(5406 in Strongs Concordance) it means 'complete in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character.' I think, as Christians, we all strive to be complete in that way and it is a process of learning and growing as children of God and relying on the Holy Spirit and discipline ourselves to study and understand His Word.
The same Greek word "telios" is used for 'perfect' in Hebrews 7:19--"For the law made nothing perfect, but bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God."
In 1 John 2:5, "But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him." Perfected here is 5048 in Strongs which means "to complete, (literally) accomplish, consummate, consecrate, finish." This verse is conditional: "but whoso keepeth his word."
When we keep his word the love of God is perfected in us.
It is interesting to note that Satan was created and "perfect in his ways" (8549 Strongs- meaning "entire, (literally, figuratively, or morally) integrity, truth, without blemish, complete, full)
Ezekial 28.15 "Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou was created, till iniquity (5765- evil, perverseness) was found (4672- come forth, appear, or exist) in thee." He was created perfect in his "ways" (1869- a road, course of life or mode of action) until evil came forth or appeared in him-- so was he really perfect?
Thanks for sharing this topic- very thought provoking!
To teach that such an expectation is a dangerous error is to teach unbelief... .
(from
"Victory over the World" by Charles Finney)