What Does it Mean to be Perfect?
This week, I am musing on perfection, not as the world defines it, but as God does. I think the world sees perfection as appearing or dressing in a certain way, achieving ambitious goals at work, plans going as I want them to, etc. But I think that perfection in the eyes of God means something very different. That got me thinking about the meaning of Mathew 5:48: “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
No one is perfect; we are all sinners and make mistakes. Perfection is inaccessible to us. Yet, I think we often strive to be perfect by living up to standards or ideals that we set for ourselves, or that the world sets for us.
This perfectionist mindset only enslaves us and keeps us from focusing on God or our neighbors. Perfectionism is “me-centered,” stems from pride, and is often motivated by our desire for other people’s admiration or approval.
Trying to be perfect always leaves us unsatisfied. Accepting our shortcomings and finding rest in God is what satisfies and frees us. Of course, we must try our best to do good and cooperate with God’s plans. God knows that we have sinned and will sin in the future. Yet, when we have faith in him and believe in his forgiveness, he delights in us.
In Matthew 5:48, the word for “perfect” means, in the Greek, completed or finished (telios). So, “perfect” in this sense doesn’t mean we are to be sinless. That’s impossible! Instead, it is about cooperating with God's grace to regain his likeness, which we had before Adam and Eve's fall.
Christ redeemed us by becoming one of us, living a perfect life, and following the Father’s will, making him perfectly righteous. Because Christ is righteous, too are made righteous because our humanity has been redeemed. Faith is the key element. Through our faith in Jesus, we are divinized through him, making us righteous:
“But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, though testified to by the law and the prophets, the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe,” (Romans 3:21-22).
Being perfect is also about being authentically and perfectly ourselves. We can stop aiming toward perfection in the worldly sense and instead rest in Christ. This will liberate us to be who God made us to be, follow the inspirations of the Holy Spirit, and submit to God’s will.
“For there is no distinction; all have sinned and are deprived of the glory of God. They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 3: 23-24).