Perfection - A Neglected Theme

by Sergio Valori

(A condensed study from the book of Hebrews)

pon receiving the call to minister the gospel at age 21, I began to devour the Bible, often reading well into the early hours of morning. In my early years, I did not understand many portions of scripture and shrunk from them in fear and awe. Certain recurring themes from God's word overwhelmed me. As I read them, I felt they contained something too high for me, something I could never attain. The theme of 'perfection' was one of them. Although some form of this word occurs nearly 50 times in the New Testament, it was habitual for me to avoid any prolonged meditation on this theme. I simply left it alone.

As I progressed in my walk with the Lord and increased in experience and understanding, my heart's constant longing became, "Lord, I want more. I want all that you have for me." I no longer focused on certain favorite passages of scripture and skimmed over others, as formerly. Neither did I accept popular interpretations and definitions without study and research. I seriously wanted to know what God had for His people and how I could satisfy my own incessant desire to "go on with God." Since that time, I have carefully examined the many varied themes of scripture and desired that God show me the message they contain. I believe this is consistent with Jesus' testimony of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, "...he will guide you into all truth...and will show you things to come." (John 16:13)

Perfection - What Does It Mean?

Both in the book of Hebrews and elsewhere, the theme of 'perfection' is mentioned enough times to cause any sincere student of the Word to want to investigate. What does it really mean and how can we apply its meaning to our lives and to the Church?

We turn to a reliable and readily available source, Strong's Exhaustive Concordance. There we find the Greek word 'telios' defined as follows: completion, consummation, finish, conclusion, reaching the goal. Applying it in a general way to our spiritual experience and God's purposes, we can progress to the following terms and phrases: completion of a work, fulfillment of a purpose, attainment of a goal.

The word perfect found in the New Testament is used to convey one or more of these powerful concepts. Both Jesus and the Apostle Paul used the word in reference to themselves and also believers.

As we approach the book of Hebrews, we shall find it is not a message for the unsaved, but for the saved, exhorting them not to turn back nor stand still, but to go on in God's purposes. It is very easy to rejoice in good beginnings and then simply settle without advancing to a real goal. In fact, we can drift along in the Christian life with unclear goals, mistaken goals or goals which fall short of the mark as defined by Scripture. Underlying and entwined with all the major themes of the book of Hebrews is indeed this theme of perfection, the attainment of God's ultimate purposes. Considering the infantile, blessings centered, program-oriented ministry of the Church today, it is our hope that this message will bring an awakening among God's people.

Looking Unto Jesus

Let us consider two key verses to which the rest of the letter is linked. These verses form the foundation scriptures around which the theme of perfection unfolds.

"But we see Jesus , who was made a little lower than the angels, crowned with glory and honor because of his having suffered death...[Amp.]" (2:9)

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher (perfecter) of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (12:2)

It is highly significant and important to our running the race that we look unto and see Jesus, for the term speaks to us of the Son of God in his humanity, actually the Son of man. (Throughout the gospels, he is referred to more times as the Son of man than as the Son of God.) This is by design, to show us His identification with us and to enable us to identify with Him. "Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same..." (He.2:14)

Let us observe that the context of Hebrews 2:9 has to do with the high calling of redeemed man. "For unto the angels hath he not put in subjection the world to come...But one in a certain place testified saying, What is man?...Thou madest him a little lower than the angels, thou crownedst him with glory and honor, and didst set him over the works of thy hands." (He.2:5-7) This is a clear reference to those who will attain to rulership with Christ in His coming kingdom. Thus, our seeing Jesus has to do with our high calling, i.e., God's ultimate objective of bringing redeemed man all the way to share Christ's throne.

A close examination of the first chapter of Hebrews will reveal that it also lies within the overall context of man's calling to reign with Christ in His coming kingdom. In this chapter we see the attainments of Jesus as a man so that we, as redeemed men can walk the same pathway and attain to the same goals. Though Jesus was made lower than the angels by his humanity, the first chapter focuses on His gaining supremacy over the angels both with regard to His essential makeup and His attainments. The following are the attainments of Jesus as a man set forth in this chapter:

* He was appointed heir of all things (earth & heavens and all contained therein) (Verse 2)

* He was granted a place at the right hand of God. (Verse 3)

* He obtained a more excellent name (authority). (Verse 4)

* He attained a Father-Son relationship. (Verse 5)

* He obtained a sceptre (might & power) of righteousness. (Verse 8)

* He obtained the fullness of anointing. (Verse 9)

Therefore, the 'message of the Son' given us in chapter 1 in capsule form is precisely this: That He who was the brightness of God's glory, the express image of God's person and the creator of the worlds, emptied himself and took on the lowly nature of humankind. He then walked the pathway of suffering and obedience and made it all the way back to the very throne of God, the highest possible achievement. This exact same message is set forth in Hebrews 2:9,10 and in Hebrews 12:2,3. Thus, after the revelation of our high calling in He. 2:5-8 and our awareness that man has fallen short of it ( 'now we see not yet all things put under him' [2:8]), we are exhorted to see Jesus, who made it all the way to God's goal as a man.

The above study gives us an insight and understanding of Hebrews 2:10, which refers to the 'captain of our salvation being made perfect through sufferings.' It is not that Jesus ever intrinsically lacked anything, was deficient, or ever had a blemish. But it is that Jesus successfully finished His course and fulfilled all of the Father's purpose. He left nothing undone. Like David, his type in the Old Testament, He fulfilled 'all the will of God' and totally served God's purpose. (Acts 13:22)

Another significant passage which reveals Jesus' faithfulness in 'going on to perfection' is found in Luke 13:32. "And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox (Herod) Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I shall be perfected."

O, how thankful we can be that Jesus carried his obedience even unto death! Without it, we would have ever remained in our sins, alienated from God and with no hope of eternal life. Thank God that Jesus saw that 'third day', the day of ultimate fulfillment of purpose, the day of perfection, the day in which He would cry out "It is finished!" He left behind a glorious and powerful ministry of healing the sick and casting out devils for something higher, the cross. The cross was higher, not only because of what it brought to man, but because it was the ultimate for Jesus.

There's a price to pay for going on to perfection. That which lay before Jesus was not at all appealing to the flesh. There was nothing glamorous or enjoyable for him in this third day. Suffering and death were at the core of it. I think we can readily agree that his ministry in the first 2 days was certainly less demanding and far less costly to the flesh. Yet, when faced with the suffering and death of the cross, He yielded to the will of His Father and said, "Nevertheless, not my will, but thine be done." By so doing, Jesus fulfilled all the Father had sent Him to do.

The Stern Warning of Hebrews 3 and 4

Let us therefore fear, lest a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it." (He.4;1)

Chapters 3 and 4 of Hebrews form one context with the theme of 'entering into rest'. Although we may gain numerous insights from this passage, the main burden of the Spirit is that of a people entering into the fullness of God's purpose. The first reference (3:7-19) is to the generation which came out of Egypt under Moses and who fell short of God's intended objective for them, Canaan land. They failed to enter in because of unbelief, and in this failure they forfeited attaining to kingdom status. The scenario of these people can be summarized as follows: They were saved out of Egypt by applying the blood; they were taken into the wilderness for discipline and training.

(De.8:5); but in their yielding to unbelief concerning their ultimate objective, they ended up perishing in the wilderness.

With the above background, the Spirit speaks to us believers (the Church) and gives warning about falling short of 'entering in' (He.3:12-15; 4:1-11). Repeatedly, the admonition given is: "Today, if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts..." The word spoken to the Israelites was the word of Joshua and Caleb, who, after their return from spying out the land urged the people to 'go up at once and possess it'. Thus, we could say, the word was spoken to believers and did not have to do with their initial salvation. (Their initial salvation had taken place by applying the blood to their houses and being delivered from Egypt.) On the other hand, this word had to do with entering in to their inheritance and fulfilling a further purpose.

Therefore, throughout the book of Hebrews, the admonitions given are to a saved people, admonishing them not to turn back but to press on in God's purposes.

This goal of 'entering in' presented to the Church involves exactly the same thing as it did for Israel, only in a spiritual sense. Even as Israel was charged to go beyond their deliverance from Egypt and wilderness journey, the Church through its history has been exhorted to move beyond the ABC's of the gospel unto spiritual maturity and kingdom enterprises. God is working with the Church in exactly the same way as He dealt with Israel. His objectives and purposes remain the same, the only change being from the natural to the spiritual.

In a late hour such as this, one can feel a sense of urgency in the Spirit, for the time of the Lord's return and the Kingdom is drawing near. Our heavenly Bridegroom will not accept a carnal, immature and worldly church to become co-regent with Him, but a holy Bride, mature and without blemish.

Now what did Canaan really signify? Was it merely a place of blessing, a flow of milk and honey? Is it really a type of 'heaven' for us believers? I don't think so.

Israel's entering into Canaan would first involve crossing Jordan (a type of death to self), then a conquest of the Canaanites (spiritual warfare) and finally reaching 'kingdom status', a condition giving them dominion over the entire civilized world. (The fulfillment of all this, naturally speaking, covered the historical period from Moses to Solomon, a time span of over 500 years.) The way of the Christian and the Church is likewise a journey unto a grand objective. Many believers today are given the impression that all is settled at the time of salvation and that the main objective is 'heaven'. Soul-winning has been made the chief ministry of the Church and we use many means to obtain an increase of numbers. But both Jesus and the Apostle Paul presented a different emphasis.

Jesus attempted to offer the rich young ruler something beyond the gift of eternal life when he said, "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast and give to the poor..." (Mt. 19:21) His teaching also contained this challenging statement: "The disciple is not above his master, but everyone that is perfect (when he is perfected) shall be as his Master." (Luke 6:40) [Perfection here meaning the completion of Christ's work in the believer. See also Philippians 1:6 and James 1:4.]

Quoting from one of Paul's prison epistles, Colossians 1:27,28, we find the emphasis in his ministry had changed in his later years. Whereas he had once traveled far and wide to make converts and establish churches, now toward the end of his life, he offers a different perspective, "...Christ in you, the hope of glory, whom we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, THAT WE MAY PRESENT EVERY MAN PERFECT (complete) IN CHRIST JESUS.."

Jesus Made Perfect: Hebrews 5

"Though He were a Son, yet learned He obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation...of whom we have many things to say and hard to be uttered..." (He.5:8,9,11)

Jesus is like a many-faceted diamond. One can look from many given directions and remain continually awed by His glory and endless perfections. We may focus on Him as Savior, Baptizer, Healer, Blesser, Deliverer, High Priest and in many other ways. Each focus brings us a particular revelation of truth and a challenge in experience.

The focus on Jesus presented us in the book of Hebrews is not that of Savior or Healer or Deliverer, but on 'the Son made perfect through sufferings'. In Jesus, we see a man who passed every test, performed every obedience, endured all suffering and traversed every step to the goal. In a careful study, we can see this focus on perfection (completion of the work, reaching the goal, fulfilling the ultimate purpose) in each of the following passages in Hebrews: (1:3,13; 2:9,10; 4:15; 5:8,9; 7:28; 10:12; 12:2,3)

The latter part of Hebrews 5 indicates that this theme of the perfection of sons constitutes the meat of the word, which the Lord is desirous of imparting to His people. The writer to the Hebrews had many things to say on this theme, but had to draw back and withhold that which was coming by the Spirit because he sensed that his hearers had become 'dull of hearing'. (5:11-14) Again today, how pitiful it is to find a similar condition in the Church. The majority of believers, seemingly in a chronic state of immaturity, cannot endure the meat of the word but continue to demand the milk.

Let Us Go On Unto Perfection: Hebrews 6:1

"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, and of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment..." (He.6:1,2)

It can be readily seen that today's mentality of 'being saved, blessed and going to heaven' falls far short of that spoken by the Scriptures. We err when we place the major emphasis on 'getting saved' rather than 'going on to perfection'. We short-change the people when we fail to present the believers' proper goals of spiritual maturity, holiness and qualifying for kingdom status.

The above verses challenge us to go beyond salvation, beyond water baptism, beyond Spirit baptism, beyond the ministry of the laying on of hands (healings, deliverances, impartations of every sort), and the basic Christian doctrines of the resurrection and eternal judgement. This exhortation (actually, a commandment) is linked with Hebrews 3 and 4, the strong warning about falling short of the promise. O, beloved, why have we built denominations majoring on the above elementary truths and experiences? Why do not we as leaders teach that there is much more than these foundational experiences? I am convinced that 'going on to perfection' - the completion of God's full purpose - is the strong cry of the Holy Spirit in this day.

Why the Need For Another Order? (Hebrews 7)

"If therefore, perfection were by the Levitical priesthood...what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec?" (He.7:11)

"For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did..." (He.7:19)

The Old Testament law revealed the presence of sin in man's nature but could not alter his condition. A participant in the law's guidelines could experience forgiveness but not a permanent change in his nature. Under law, man was caught in a repetitive cycle of sinning and being forgiven. (He.10:1) The life was repeatedly plagued by sin and the conscience by guilt. It was an endless process, giving man no hope of ever being in right standing with God or of participating in His ultimate purposes.

But, praise be to God, His Son Jesus brought in a new and glorious order! He brought an end to the frustrating order of law, fulfilling it on our behalf and enabling us to stand before God in righteousness (forgiveness and a new nature). Now, because of this restored relationship, life holds for man clear and glorious meaning, and hope of fulfilling God's intended purpose. Thus, according to He.7:19, the chief failure of the law was in its ability to bring man to perfection, or the fulfillment of His eternal purposes.

Likewise, the chief shortcoming of the Levitical priesthood was in its inability to complete a work of transformation in man. The Levitical priests could offer neither an effective or progressive intercession on man's behalf. Again we rejoice as we look at our High Priest after the order of Melchisedec. Christ's intercession is based not only on the power of the resurrection, but the resultant power of an endless life. "He ever liveth to make intercession for us." And let us think largely, for His intercession is not just to get us through the day, solve our problems and meet our needs. The main objective of His intercession is to complete the work of transformation in us, carry us to the goal and enable us to fulfill our ultimate destiny!

The Completion of God's Corporate Man
(Hebrews 11 & 12)

"...God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect." [NIV] (Hebrews 11:40)

"Wherefore, seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the sin that doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher (perfecter [NIV]) of our faith: who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1,2)

"Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect (fullgrown) man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:13)

The above passages allude to something even greater than our personal development or the formation of the church in this age. The references here have to do with the formation and completion of God's 'corporate man', the instrument He will use in the establishment of His universal kingdom! It is for this reason we are to 'look to Jesus' and it is for this reason we are 'running the race'.

This concept of a many-membered entity appears first in Genesis 1:28 in God's charge to Adam and Eve. "...and God said unto them, Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion...." Thus, the call to govern the works of God's hands was not to an individual but to a family. Had Adam and Eve not sinned, they could have multiplied to become a 'governmental family', sharing in the administration and oversight of God's works on planet earth. (See also Psalm 8:4-6)

With the call of Abraham and the emergence of Israel as a nation, God was again pursuing the development of a corporate man. Although Israel failed to fulfill God's ultimate intention for them, all those of faith throughout their history - and others before them, such as Enoch and Noah - will be included in the 'man' God will use in His Kingdom. All the names listed in Hebrews 11 are included because of their having qualified by the perfection of faith. (Note in Hebrews 12:23 'the spirits of just men made perfect'.)

Now according to Hebrews 11:40, God's corporate instrument was not completed by those of faith listed in that chapter. "...only together with us would they be made perfect (complete)." Therefore, throughout this church age, we could say that God has been working by His Spirit - not simply to gain 'souls for heaven' - but to qualify a people for inclusion in His corporate man. These are the people described in Ephesians 4:13 as having become 'fullgrown'- developed in Christ unto full spiritual stature - (an aspect of meaning of the word 'perfect').

Notice, that in Hebrews 12:2 we are not to look to Jesus as Savior, Healer or Deliverer, but as the 'author and finisher (perfecter) of faith'. We are to see our elder brother, who endured discipline and suffering and made it through to the goal, 'the right hand of the throne of God'. It is evident that over half this chapter exhorts us to accept chastening, endure suffering and patiently (perseveringly) run the race so that we can reach the goal. And beloved, the goal is not initial salvation, the goal is qualification and inclusion in God's corporate man!

Salvation is a settled thing once we accept Christ as Savior. It is the gift of God, made possible by the blood of Christ. No works, no labor, no striving are ever to be connected with God's gift of eternal life. But, running the race is another matter. It begins after we are saved and carries with it the clear goals of spiritual maturity, holiness and qualification for the Kingdom.

How different is the picture given us in scripture from the popular gospel theme of 'getting saved and going to heaven'. The true picture is 'getting saved, experiencing progressive sanctification unto holiness, acquiring Godly character, developing spiritual maturity and qualifying for inclusion in God's corporate man'! I know that this can overwhelm all of us, but we must live in hope and hold fast to the many exhortations in this letter to the Hebrews, especially Hebrews 12:2 "LOOKING UNTO JESUS".

Conclusion: What can we do in a practical way to respond to this message?

1. Receive the word into your heart: He.3:7 "Today if ye will hear His voice, harden not your hearts..." God's word is an incorruptible seed. If received into the soil of our hearts, it will bring forth eternal fruit. The virgin Mary was overwhelmed by the angel's message, but she accepted and believed it, saying, "...be it unto me according to thy word."

2. Keep looking unto Jesus: He.2:9 '...But we see Jesus, who was crowned because of his suffering of death....' We need to see that Jesus emptied himself of the glory He had with the Father and as a man regained it. Also, looking to Jesus implies a reliance on Him to do the work. It can never be accomplished by self-effort.

3. Leave the elementary, foundational things. He.6:1 'Therefore, leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection....' Although foundations are of extreme importance, we must not dwell there. There is something to leave behind. Moses left the treasures of Egypt. Jesus left a miraculous ministry to go to the cross. Paul said, "...when I became a man, I put away childish things." (1Corinthians 13:11)

4. Keep reaching for God's highest and best. "...reaching forth unto those things which are before (ahead)." Ph.3:13. The Old Testament faithful desired a better country. Elisha pursued a double portion. Jesus focused on the glory He had with the Father.

5. Be willing to pay a price. "...If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell..." (Mt.19:21)

Paul suffered the loss of all things previously gained. Discoverers of kingdom treasure sell all they have to buy it. Jesus gave His life. You may lose friends, position or popularity.