What is PERFECTION...?

"According to scripture," where does one find the idea that Adam and Eve were perfect?
God describes finished creation as "very good."

Is perfection higher praise than "very good"?
Or does it point to a completely different concept?

If "perfect" is something Jesus asked us to "be," my guess is there's some logic to that. He could have asked us to "be good." But he said "Be perfect."

Jesus asked us to be complete as the father in heaven is complete... significantly different from being "perfect."

In the ministration of the Spirit, the ministration of reconciliation, fruit bearing is witnessed through the use of many different words, but the goal, of bearing the fruit of the spirit unto our Lord, is the same; whether testified by Peter, John, Paul, James, Jude; in all languages and translations. This simplicity is the unifying quality of the NT witness and all institutions agree on this goal.

Each institution has different methods that seem absolute to them to be able to arrive at this condition of heart and mind and service to the family of God and Jesus. Overtly or subvertly, each institution(denomination) says that our methods(church polity) is the best, the mother. This spirit divides the body of our Lord, but it must need be until the time appointed of the Father. The day of the Lord will bring about a unity that has not and cannot be engineered through human instruments. Job's unity with his family and friends at the end of his ordeal is an object lesson of the unity of the spirit.

Matt 5:44-45
44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. KJV

Matt 5:48
48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. KJV

Our heavenly Father's perfection/completeness is manifested in how he treats others, friend and foe. Doctrine is not completeness. Doctrine is a door and a process whereby we finally arrive at completeness, as it is in the family and ministry of Jesus our high priest. The nations are healed by the leaves of the tree, without the doctrine of the Father and the Son. Some are given to come to the worship of the Lord the way the nations come, as unitarian understanding of God. Israel(the family of Jesus Christ) is not given to be numbered among the nations, for they are a nation of priests. Others are given a human existence only through the worship/honor of their ancestors. These are not given the hope of the resurrection of the body, but they still should not be hated or despised.

Any person that we hate because of their birth, doctrine or habits; any person that we despise because of their birth, doctrine or habits; show that we have not arrived at the full stature of our calling in Christ Jesus, though we have been born of God. Hating and despising are part of the birth and growth process. Birth is not the full stature of our calling, but obviously birth is included and necessary, just as adolescence is necessary, to come to full human maturity through weakness in bearing a family (through birth or doctrine or human service). Jacob went out alone in strength, he came back with a family in weakness.

Joe

Restin said:

Matt 5:48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. NIV

KJV, NASU, NIV, and ASV all use be (ye therefore) 'perfect' in
Matt 5:48, and all similarly say 'as your heavenly Father is perfect'.

Stormy... thanks for bringing up 'COMPLETE' because it fits quite well with 'perfect'!

James 1:4
4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that
you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. NASU

James 1:4
4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may
be mature and complete, not lacking anything. NIV

Col 4:12 ...that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. KJV

Click to expand...

the correct greek word does not mean perfect... it means complete or mature... which again is a significant difference....

George knight was the subject of my last blog. I have a link to his question and answer season at a recent presentation. As I recall he does a pretty good job of talking about perfection in one of his answers. Too bad I can't remember at what time in the session it was though.

StormyOne said:

the correct greek word does not mean perfect... it means complete or mature... which again is a significant difference....

Click to expand...

I'm glad you offered this, Stormy.

Each stage of maturity is perfect - a thing is perfect just as it is in present time. A budding rose is perfect just as it is even though it will continue to maturate. This is why I see the writers of the Bible connecting the concept of perfection to relationship - an unfolding with those things around you.

Restin said:

Avonia, I hear you saying an infant at birth, is 'perfect' and continues in this perfection while advancing to maturity.

Yes, the king of Tyrus was 'perfect' in HIS WAYS when created, till...

Ezekiel 28:15 Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day
that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee. KJV

Click to expand...

I believe you have missed the point....

Does anyone find a correlation between "perfect" and "totally and completely without any sin?"

BFA

Byfaithalone1 said:

Does anyone find a correlation between "perfect" and "totally and completely without any sin?"

BFA

Click to expand...

I don't.. but then again I think that both terms describe something that cannot exist unless humans are permanently changed by the Creator...

StormyOne said:

I don't.. but then again I think that both terms describe something that cannot exist unless humans are permanently changed by the Creator...

Click to expand...

I don't either. Thanks for responding.

BFA