top To Ancient SDA's ... To "What's New?"
A few of the Biblical quotes
in which Inspiration speaks about
"perfection" and being "perfect"!
Perfection is a thing to progress on to...
Hebrews 6:1-2
"Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on to perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment".
It can be attained in this life...
Genesis 6:8-90
"But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD. These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations [in his day], and Noah walked with God".
It can be maintained...
Genesis 17:1-2
"And when Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said to him, I am the Almighty God; walk before Me, and be you perfect. And I will make My covenant between Me and you, and will multiply you exceedingly".
It means NOT doing what the people of this world do...
Deuteronomy 18:9-13
"When you are come into the land which the LORD your God gives you, you shall not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. There shall not be found among you any one that makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire [this requires prayerful consideration], or that uses divination, or an observer of times, or an enchanter, or a witch, or a charmer, or a consulter with familiar spirits, or a wizard, or a necromancer. For all that do these things are an abomination to the LORD: and because of these abominations the LORD your God does drive them out from before you. You shall be perfect with the LORD your God".
The ability to be perfect comes from God...
2 Samuel 22:33
"God is my strength and power: And He makes my way perfect".
God knows whether we are or not, for it is a heart condition...
1 Chronicles 28:9
"And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve Him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek Him, He will be found of you; but if you forsake Him, He will cast you off for ever".
It can be given up...
1 Kings 11:4
"For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods: and his heart was not perfect with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father".
It can be kept even though not all things are done correctly...
1 Kings 15:14
"But the high places were not removed: nevertheless Asa's heart was perfect with the LORD all his days".
It is a state of being and brings protection...
2 Chronicles 16:9
"For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him. Herein you have done foolishly: therefore from henceforth you shall have wars".
It is possible to do right actions with a wrong motive...
2 Chronicles 25:2
"And he did that which was right in the sight of the LORD, but not with a perfect heart".
To be perfect is to have a right character...
Job 1:1
"There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil".
God supplies the power...
Psalm 18:32
"It is God that girds me with strength, and makes my way perfect".
The perfect person can sometimes be seen to be perfect...
Psalm 37:37
"Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace". [but would you like to see what John Wesley had to say about that?"]
It is the driving force of the Christian...
Proverbs 11:5
"The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way: but the wicked shall fall by his own wickedness".
Perfection comes through being associated with Christ...
Ezekiel 16:14
"And your renown went forth among the heathen for your beauty: for it was perfect through My comeliness, which I had put upon you, says the Lord GOD".
It is part of the character of God the Father...
Matthew 5:48
"Be you therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect".
It is most easily seen by works of love...
Matthew 19:21
"Jesus said to him, If you will be perfect, go and sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me".
It is clearly demonstrated in the life of Jesus Christ...
Luke 6:40
"The disciple is not above his Master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his Master".
It is the union with Divinity that produces it...
John 17:23
"I in them, and You in Me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them, as You have loved Me".
It is a present and a continuing condition...
1 Corinthians 2:6
"Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought..."
Therefore it is also future as the child develops into the man...
1 Corinthians 13:10-11
"But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things".
But don’t put it off till then, you must be a child first...
2 Corinthians 13:11
"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".
Don’t try to be perfect in your own strength...
Galatians 3:3
"Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now made perfect by the flesh?"
You won’t think you have it, only God (and others) know...
Philippians 3:12
"Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus".
But you must accept His word that you may be in His sight, and will be...
Philippians 3:15
"Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing you be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this to you".
This should be taught amongst us...
Colossians 1:28
"Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus..."
Study of the word will bring deeper experiences of it...
2 Timothy 3:16-17
"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 perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works".
Jesus became perfect, even to the perfection of the cross...
Hebrews 2:10
"For it became Him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons to glory, to make the Captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings".
He "became" by experiencing problems...
Hebrews 5:8-9
"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which He suffered; and being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation to all them that obey Him..."
There is to be a summit of perfection...
Hebrews 11:39-40
"And these all, having obtained a good report through faith, received not the promise: God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect".
The Spirit of God will produce the results...
Hebrews 13:20-21
"Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do His will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen".
There is a "roundness" required, a "height or maturity" to reach...
James 1:3-4
"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing".
[Return to "Perfect Christian"]
It is also shown clearly by a person’s words...
James 3:1-2
"My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man [or woman] offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body".
Again we are reminded that He will do it, if we do not stop Him...
1 Peter 5:10
"But the God of all grace, who has called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect, establish, strengthen, settle you".
It is the character, or spirit, of love which expresses it most fully...
1 John 4:16-18
"And we have known and believed the love that God has to us. God is love; and he that dwells in love dwells in God, and God in him. 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 [sure of God’s word]. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear: because fear has torment. He that fears [or worries] is not made perfect in love".
And so the actions of Hannah, and the actions of Mary, show us just what God expects of us.