Perfection Is a Rare Commodity

Stradivarius violins are known as the best violins in the world. Famous musicians love to play them. These violins can be strong and powerful, soft and expressive, energetic and brilliant. Said one performer: "It's like a great race car. There's more power than you need, and it responds to the slightest touch."

Antonio Stradivari was a master artisan who lived in northern Italy about 300 years ago. Many people have tried to imitate his unique way of crafting stringed instruments, but none have succeeded. That's one reason why "Strad" violins today are often worth millions of dollars.

Many would say that Stradivarius violins come close to musical perfection. Perfection is a rare commodity. (Today in the Word, June 2007)

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary defines "perfection" as: the quality or state of being perfect or complete, so that nothing requisite is wanting; entire development; consummate culture, skill, or moral excellence; the highest attainable state or degree of excellence; maturity; as, perfection in an art, in a science, or in a system; perfection in form or degree; fruits in perfection.

W.L. Walker tells us, "Perfection is the Christian ideal and aim, but inasmuch as that which God has set before us is infinite-"Ye therefore shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect" (Matthew 5:48)-absolute perfection must be forever beyond, not only any human, but any finite, being; it is a divine ideal forever shining before us, calling us upward, and making endless progression possible."

Read: Phil. 3:12-16; Matt. 5:48

What does all of this mean? Can we become perfect? Is God asking what appears to be impossible, here? If we are not perfect, are we Christians? A lot of confusion has been generated by men who cannot or will not study this concept out. One thing is sure, either we can become perfect, or we cannot become perfect and these passages must be referring to something that may not be evident at first glance. Most of the confusion comes about from an imperfect understanding of the word that we have, translated into English as, “perfect”.

As confusing as the Greek language may be to some, there are times when we must get an accurate and complete meaning from the Greek word or words that are being translated. This is one of those times. If we do not have a proper understanding and simply operate with the English word, “perfect," we will generate all kinds of false doctrine. The Greek word that is used in each of these passages is the word teleios (Telios).

Depending on the form used, this word can be rendered as follows:(In the base form - Telios)-Complete {in job performed, in growth, in character}, completeness, of full age. Teleistas - completeness, perfection; Teleiao - To complete, accomplish, consummate, consecrate, finish, fulfill, (make) perfect. Teleios - Completely, without wavering, to the end. In all of this, are we struck with the idea of infallibility?

A much better word to be used in place of the English word, “perfect,” would be the English word, “mature" which some translations use. Can a Christian become mature in Christ, of full age, complete in character, consecrated, without wavering? I suggest, then, that in many of the passages in which we encounter the word “perfect,” we simply need to insert the word, “mature”.

We can become perfect and yet, there is a perfection that we will not attain to until we have drawn our last breath. We certainly can grow to the point where we realize; deeply realize; personally realize, what our sins have cost and the price tag that they still bear. We need to realize that we are not our own.

We have been bought with a price and we need to consecrate our lives to God. We can grow in character, we can come to full age, we can grow to the point that we will be able to resist the pull of this flesh. And yet, we know that our human weakness will cause us to slip and fall, from time-to-time. Our loving Savior has even covered this contingency with His blood.

Should we, or can we simply depend upon the blood of Christ to take away sin-after-sin? If we have grown to maturity, and if we have grown in our love and appreciation, we couldn’t possibly continue in willful sin. Our hearts should break every time we sin; every time we fail our Lord; every time we listen more to our flesh than we listen to the Spirit of God that has been so richly and freely given to us.

Scripture: Heb. 6:1; Rev. 20:13; Matt. 25:23; John 14:15; Matt. 28:19-20; I Peter 2:11; Rom. 8:1-9; Phil. 4:13; I John 1:8; I John 1:7; Romans 6:1-2.

Let's pray:

Holy Father, This day I pray for strength and courage that I might follow You and do Your will no matter what comes my way in life. I need You every day. I need You to show me what is right and good, to be my source of wisdom in deciding how to act and respond in any given situation, and to provide the strength and courage to do what is required. I thank you for Your love and the constant presence of Jesus in my life.
In His name I pray, Amen

Bless you,

Patti