“For by one offering he has perfected forever them that are sanctified”—Hebrews 10:14
From the above scripture, the word of God tells us that the Lord Jesus Christ has perfected us forever by the offering of his life on the cross.
The word of God above says, he has “perfected” (past tense). It does not say, ‘he is perfecting’ or ‘going to perfect’. It says he has already perfected us. So it is a done deal. Who does the word of God says has been perfected?
The sanctified—the believer that has been purified or justified by the blood of Jesus Christ through faith…
How long is this perfection? The word of God says; “He has perfected forever”, hence, the perfection the Lord has given to the saved (believer) is forever, not temporary.
The word ‘perfected’ as used in our opening text, was translated from the Greek word “teleioo’, meaning ‘to complete’. That is, accomplishment or consummation.
Hence, by the offering or sacrifice of our Lord Jesus Christ on the cross, he has consummated or completed every believer in character and power. Character, such as: Love, Joy, Peace, Longsuffering, gentleness, faith, meekness, self-control (The fruit of the Spirit).
Power, such as: Healing Power, Miracle working Power and Revelational Power (Gifts of the Spirit). The believer is already perfected in the character and power of the Spirit of God. That is, in divine character and power.
So the believer can confidently, on the authority of God’s word, proclaim or confess that he or she is perfect. Because against the orthodox (and unscriptural) notion that nobody is (can be) perfect, the word of God says we are perfect. And we are perfect forever.
Now being already perfected, the Lord will have us walk in the consciousness of this perfection or completeness in Christ Jesus – Colossians 2:10. We are to walk worthy of this great work of grace that our Lord accomplished for us by the offering of his body and life on the cross. So his offering and accomplishment for us won’t be in vain.
Hence, he says we should be perfect even as our father in heaven is perfect. He did not say ‘try or struggle to be perfect’. Instead he says, be you therefore perfect, even as your father who is in heaven is perfect (Matthew 5:48).
So How Do We Walk in Perfection?
Below is a list of what scripturally constitute walking in perfection as Christians:
- Walking By Faith: From the same scriptural chapter, where we took our opening text, the word of God says “Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water”—Hebrews 10:22. So walking by faith or a lifestyle of faith, is a scriptural way to walk practically in perfection. A man of faith is a perfect man.
- Walking in Love: “And above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection”—Colossians 3:14. This scripture tells us that love is the bond of perfection. So to be walking in love towards God and men, through a sacrificial and selfless lifestyle, is to be walking in God’s standard of perfection. A man of Love—divine love (agape)—is a perfect man.
- Walking in Righteousness (Godliness): Against the general unscriptural notion that no man can be perfect, the word of God says there was a man perfect before God. And that man’s name is Job. God reckoned him perfect and upright, because he feared God, and eschewed evil (Jon 1:1). In other words, he walked in righteousness or godliness. So a man that walks in righteousness or godliness (Holiness) is a perfect and upright man before God. Hence, walking in righteousness or godliness is walking in perfection.
- Walking in Self-Control: “For in many things we all offend. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body”—James 3:2. This scripture here tells us that if any man offend not in word, he is a perfect man, and also able to bridle or control the whole body. From here, we conclude that a perfect man is the man with tongue and Self-Control. Hence, walking in self-Control is walking in perfection.
- Walking in The Revelational Knowledge of God’s Word: “And that from a child you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 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 perfected, thoroughly furnished unto all good work”—2 Timothy 3:15-17. From the above scripture, we see that knowledge—Revelational knowledge of God’s word— makes a man or woman of God (The believer) perfect. And as we walk in the revelational knowledge of God’s word—in the scriptures—we are walking in perfection.
- Walking in Repentance: All through scripture, we see people that walked in perfection before God, such as Abraham, Job, David and Peter. These men in their walk with God, they did stumble at one time and the other. But the striking difference between them and other people was that they were repentant. When Job was rebuked by God, he repented. When David was rebuked by the prophet Nathan—by the word of the Lord—he was repentant (2 Samuel 12:1-13). When Peter realized he had denied the Lord Jesus, the word of God says, he wept bitterly (Matthew 26:75). He wept bitterly in repentance. Hence, a repentant or penitent man, is a man walking in perfection before God.
So the Lord will have us walk in perfection before him all the days of our lives. And the list above—amongst other—is the basic ways to walk in perfection before God; while we remain here on earth, until we gain immortal perfection…
Which is the changing of our natural bodies to spiritual bodies at the second coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ (1 Corinthians 15: 40-54); 1Thessalonians 4:15-17).
From now on, you will be walking in perfection all the days of your life in Jesus name!
Remain Blessed!
Emeke Odili
