Perfected In Christ
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To understand what “Perfected in Christ” means, we must first understand what the word “Perfect” means.
[Perfection] is the devoting, not a part but all our soul, body and substance to God.
John Wesley
Perfection is a condition of wholeness or purity. In many cases, this results from bringing something to its full measure, or from cleansing.
There is perfection in Christ and perfection in will and purpose of God
The Hebrew term most often rendered by “perfect” is tāmîm (tomim)
(lit meaning “complete,” “without defect” or conformed to a standard or pattern”
derived from the root tmm (Tovmemmem) (“be complete, finished”).
This is why Christ on the cross said “it is finished” meaning it is competed.
In over half of its occurrences tāmîm refers to animals that are physically sound or “without blemish”
Of course we know that Christ was the perfect sacrifice…the perfect lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
A lamb without spot or blemish....The true picture and example of perfection.
Therefor as Christ was perfect we also can be perfected in him or more accurately, through him.
As the definition goes…to be perfect and therefore acceptable for sacrifices.
When we go before the throne of God…we can now be seen and accepted as perfect in the sight of God through Christ.
Elihu also proceeded, and said,
Suffer me a little, and I will shew thee That I have yet to speak on God’s behalf.
I will fetch my knowledge from afar, And will ascribe righteousness to my Maker.
For truly my words shall not be false: He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee.
The bible in the old testament uses “perfect” to describe a human being in reference to Elihu in the book of Job, where Elihu claims that he is “perfect [tāmîm] in knowledge” because he is divinely inspired.
Not perfect within himself but rather, perfect because “He that is perfect in knowledge is with thee”
The OT (esp Psalms and Proverbs) frequently uses tāmîm to describe human conduct that is completely obedient to God’s will.
I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Does he mean that he will never make a mistake?? No
He is saying that his actions and intentions will be with respect to the Attributes and laws of God (he will walk in the ways of God)
We cannot be perfect within ourselves but rather we can be perfect if the one that is perfect dwells within us...
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
We are complete in him (Jesus Christ) or rather completely furnished and fitted with every things we need to be successful and to once again enter into a right and perfect relationship with God.
In Intertestamental Judaism
Hebrew tāmím is a prominent term in the writings of the Qumrân community. In the Manual of Discipline (1QS) alone, tāmîm occurs eighteen times, especially in the expression “(walking) in perfection of way,” which denotes a “full observance” of God’s will as revealed in the statutes of the community (see, e.g., 1QS 8:10, 18, 21; cf. 2:2; 3:9f.; 9:19; etc.). Sometimes tāmîm denotes members of the community (e.g., 1QS 3:3; 4:22; 1QM 14:7; 1QH 1:36). The expression lēḇ ŝālēm (“undivided heart”)
In other words: The word perfect when attached to a person of the community is referring to a person that is “Undivided of heart or commitment” in full observance of Gods will
Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:
This meaning: be pitiful or compassionate and courteous or respectful.
being of one accord or like minded in complete obedience and in the perfect will of God.
Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
The young rich man was obviously not undivided in his commitment to God: his riches were a stumbling block to singleminded discipleship
His allegiance was divided between his riches and the will and purpose of God (no man can serve two masters)
In the Epistle of James téleios also means “whole” or “complete,” sometimes in the specific sense of “mature.
But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
“And let Patience or steadfastness have its full effect , that you may be perfect [téleios] and complete [holóklēros], lacking in nothing”,
In other words, believers have not reached “completeness” or “maturity” until their faith, through testing, has produced steadfastness, and steadfastness has shown itself in a “complete work” (érgon téleion), as in, “total obedience.”
But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed.
Such obedience involves not only hearing but also doing the “perfect [téleios] law, the law of liberty” (v 25). The “perfect” law may mean the “whole” law as summarized in the love commandment (cf. 2:8; see TDNT, VIII, 74f), or it may mean the OT law as “completed” by Christ’s reinterpretation
“perfect law of liberty”
Law:
a binding custom or practice of a community : a rule of conduct or action prescribed (see PRESCRIBE sense 1a) or formally recognized as binding or enforced by a controlling authority
Liberty:
the quality or state of being free
permission especially to go freely within specified limits
complete definition and meaning:
Because we have been made free from sin, we are to continue in obedience and faithfulness.
the perfect law of new testament covenant, of liberty that has been perfected through Christ Jesus and made available to us through his blood and has set us free from the bondage of that very sin (or the grip and control) and the stain thereof...freedom from the law of sin (according to the old testament)
we now have the liberty to come boldly before the throne of God through the atonement of the blood of Christ...we have been set free and made perfect in him.
this law is not as the old testament law but rather, a law of new covenant freedoms.....a law of complete freedom and liberty from sin.
When we look into the “perfect law of liberty”, we are not simply knowing or understanding the meaning but actually being a doer of the work, not a hearer only...being obedient to the laws of God.
for this very reason we can live free from the guilt of sin and the punishment of it through obedience. We can be truly perfected.
It is apparent, therefore, that among the NT authors the concept of “perfection” (as reflected in the use of the teleióō word group) has a variety of nuances.
For none of these writers do these terms mean “total sinlessness.”
We are made free from sin or “sinless” because of the sinless lamb that was slain in our stead.
and through the salvation plan of God, the blood of Christ is applied to our lives and we become a new creation.
Nonetheless, it is clear that these writers view “perfection” (whether conceived of as undivided loyalty to God, an unimpeded relationship with God, wholehearted obedience to God’s will, fully developed love, or an advanced level of maturity in Christ) as a goal toward which the Christian strives with the utmost seriousness.
not the goal of being perfect within ourselves, but the pursuit of the one that is perfect.
The word perfection entails two concepts:
one: physical perfection: (genuine gold, clean animals, healed persons, ritual purification)
two: Moral perfection: (innocence, a clean heart, pure words).
physical or spiritual perfection starts at our rebirth.....
Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
The bible states that we must be born again, not just born again any old way or born again according to tradition, but born again the bible way only.....
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
Not the way of man but according to and as directed by the word of God
This type of perfection lays the foundation that we need to build our spiritual house upon....the very beginning of the perfecting process
We then move on to the second which is Moral Perfection which is according to obedience to the word and a holy way of life.
Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto 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.
meaning: not continually laying the foundation for ourselves of these things, but let us move on to perfection....or to begin building that spiritual house
Not staying on the milk of the word (or remaining in a state of infancy) but moving on to strong meat (maturing in Christ).
Ultimately, it is only through Jesus Christ that we can be wholly and completely perfected
Through his death, burial and resurrection as well as through a life lived with singleness of mind....one that brings glory and not reproach upon the name of our Lord and Savior.
Our lives are lived, in the spiritual sense, through redemption, purification and cleansing.
Of the death of this old man of flesh and the birth of the new man in Christ Jesus who perfects and completes us all.
As well as in the physical sense, completely in the ongoing pursuit of perfection....perfecting our walk through him in full obedience to his word.
For perfection in the New Testament means:
Perfected in Christ (made perfect by him)
Mature (fully developed and prepared)
Complete or whole
Initiated or engaged actively
Having integrity (complete and undivided)
Uprightness (strong moral rectitude or righteousness)
Our perfection is not because we are perfect but rather, because we know the one that is perfect
Because Jesus Christ is perfected in us both physically and spiritually