Gal 2:20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Be ye therefore perfect, [growing into complete maturity of godliness in mind and character,having reached the proper height of virtue and integrity], even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Mat 5:48). Our Father in Heaven calls us to be perfect even as He Himself is. He has provided this perfection in His Son. Jesus died on the cross not only to atone for our sins. He died that we might die with Him. He died as our Substitute. He also died as our Representative. The death of Jesus is representative and inclusive (Rom 6:1-11). We have to identify ourselves in His death and resurrection. Anyone who longs to walk as his Savior walked on this earth must learn this truth of Identification with Christ.
When Jesus was crucified two thousand years ago, we were also crucified with Him. This is the first step of identifying with Christ. We died with Him. “Do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death?” (Rom 6:3). We were also buried with Him. “We were buried with Him through baptism into death” (Rom 6:4). The resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ is also inclusive of us. “If we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection” (Rom 6:5). Jesus died for our forgiveness. He (Christ) resurrected for our victory. Christ’s life has been implanted in us so we can live a new life (Rom 6:4). Christian life is Christ living in and through us. In Paul’s words, “No longer I, but Christ” (Gal 2:20). We died and were resurrected with Christ. What next? “God made us alive together with Christ and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:5,6).
“Present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your organs as instruments of righteousness to God” (Rom 6:13).
Real triumphant Christian life begins here. Without any reservation, we must give ourselves to Him to do anything and everything that pleases Him. This transfer of ownership gives us the true sense of belonging to Another. Not only this, you have to believe that you are made perfect in Christ. The Word of God says, “In Christ dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him” (Col 2:9,10).
The secret of victory is thus to be found in the two key words “In Christ.” Died together with Christ, buried together with Christ, raised up together with Christ, seated together with Christ and made perfect in Christ. This is THE Gospel!
Perfect: Be ye therefore perfect = Be ye therefore merciful: Merciful
Bible verses about being made perfect, is therefore also merciful; with Greek meanings.
“Perfect” in Greek can be 7 things: teleios, oiktirmon, teleioo, katartizo, epiteleo, artios, pleroo:
Luke 6:36 Be ye therefore merciful (oiktirmon), as your Father also is merciful (oiktirmon).Matthew 19:21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect (teleios),go [and] sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.Luke 6:40 The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect (katartizo) shall be as his master.John 17:23 I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect (teleioo) in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me.
Romans 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is] that good, and acceptable, and perfect (teleios), will of God.
1Corinthians 2:6 Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect (teleios): yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought:
1Corinthians 13:10 But when that which is perfect (teleios) is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.
2Corinthians 12:9 he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect (teleioo) in weakness.
2Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect (katartizo), be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.
Galatians 3:3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect (epiteleo) by the flesh?
Ephesians 4:13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (teleios) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Philippians 3:12 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect (teleioo) but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (teleios), be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
Colossians 1:28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect (teleios) in Christ Jesus
Colossians 4:12 Epaphras, who is [one] of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect (teleios) and complete in all the will of God.
1Thessalonians 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect (katartizo) that which is lacking in your faith?
2Timothy 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect (artios), throughly furnished unto all good works.
Hebrews 2:10 For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect ( teleioo) through sufferings.
Hebrews 5:9 And being made perfect (teleioo), he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him;
Hebrews 7:19 For the law made nothing perfect (teleioo), but the bringing in of a better hope [did]; by the which we draw nigh unto God.
Hebrews 9:9 Which [was] a figure for the time then present, in which were offered both gifts and sacrifices, that could not make him that did the service perfect (teleioo), as pertaining to the conscience;
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect (teleios) tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building;
Hebrews 10:1 For the law having a shadow of good things to come, [and] not the very image of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect (teleioo).
Hebrews 11:40 God having provided some better thing for us, that they without us should not be made perfect (teleioo).
Hebrews 12:23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect (teleioo),
Hebrews 13:21 Make you perfect (katartizo) in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom [be] glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 1:4 But let patience have [her] perfect (teleios) work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect (teleios) gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
James 1:25 But whoso looketh into the perfect (teleios) 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.
James 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect (teleioo)?
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect (teleios) man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.
1Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect (katartizo), stablish, strengthen, settle [you].
1John 4:17,18 Herein is our love made perfect (teleioo), that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect (teleios) love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect (teleioo) in love.
Revelation 3:2 Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found thy works perfect (pleroo) before God.
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Bible verses about perfection: let us go on unto perfection.
There are four kinds of “perfection” to consider and compare.
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Bible verses about being perfected by the God of all grace.
For there are two sorts of “perfected” to consider and compare.
Matthew 21:16 And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected (katartizo) praise?
Luke 13:32 And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third [day] I shall be perfected (teleioo).
Hebrews 10:14 For by one offering he hath perfected (teleioo) for ever them that are sanctified.
1John 2:5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected (teleioo): hereby know we that we are in him.
1John 4:12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected (teleioo) in us.
( Jacob Ministeries 2009. WordPress. 22 June. 2012 <http://jacobministries.org/wordpress/>. )
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