Uses of “Perfection”

The word “perfect” was used in the Sermon of the Mount. Jesus said that if we want righteousness by the law, then we must be perfect even as God is perfect. This sermon should destroy all self-righteousness. Jesus was not giving us a measure to attain to, but showing that we cannot be saved by the law. This sermon is to lead us to Christ, who fulfils the law in our character and walk by the Spirit, not by self-effort.

This does not mean the Sermon of the Mount is now defunct. It shows us the life of Christ that the Holy Spirit lives in and through us in the New Covenant. We do not submit ourselves to it as to a law. We submit ourselves to Jesus Christ, not to law (Rom 7:4).

The same goes for “unless you deny yourself and take up your cross and follow Me, you cannot be My disciple”. This is perfection by the law. Jesus was showing the extent of the law, that it is not just an outward righteousness. This is fulfilled in new birth, by Christ living in us in the New Covenant. “I live, yet not I.” (Gal 2:20).

On one hand Jesus talks about the requirements of the law and on the other He talks of the gift of God. One is to lead us to the other. This is how He ministered.
The word “perfect” was also used by James: “Allow patience to have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.” (James 1:4). James spoke of trials. We may only hearken to God in trials, as God brings us back to reliance on Him. Our perfection here again is in Christ. Trials show what is in our heart. This is not a process, but can occur at any time in our Christian life, whenever needed.
Peter speaks of adding certain things to our faith: virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, kindness and love (2 Pet 1:5-10). These things are in Jesus who lives in us. His love is already shed abroad in our heart (Rom 5:5). These resources are given us in Christ. Peter said that the purpose is to further our fruitfulness as we make our calling and election sure: increase our confidence in it.

Peter is saying that we should put on and walk in what we have in Jesus Christ, by faith. If we are tossed to and fro we doubt and become unfruitful. Peter has the same goal as Paul in his admonitions to maturity (Eph 4:14): do not be tossed. Hebrews has the same goal, that having a strong anchor for our souls, we should increase in fruitfulness (Heb 6:7-20, the subject is not losing salvation, but fruitfulness in it.).