The Perfection Of God

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”             (Matthew 5:48).  God is Creator of the universe, all that He does is right, and all He says is truth.  God himself is the grand law, sole giver, and only pattern of the perfection, which he recommends to children of men.  This word perfect commonly means finished, complete, pure, and holy.  Applied to men, it refers to completeness of parts, or perfection, when no part is defective or wanting.  The highest perfection and glory that mankind can obtain is to resemble our heavenly Father, as much as we possible can, in acts of goodness and mercy.  Perfect here is not to be taken in that sense of an absolute perfection.  Absolute perfection is not a thing in this life attainable.  All men are sinners and fall short of what God would have us to be.  But it is the duty of man to strive to follow our heavenly Father as our example.  Here it is the goal set before us, the absolute standard of our Heavenly Father.  What are the areas where God is our perfect example?

God’s Perfect World – “God saw everything that he had made, and, behold, it was very good" (Genesis 1:31).   The world that came from the hand of God was perfect and perfectly fitted for the needs of all mankind.   Of course, because of sin, the creation is now groaning in pain, but it was perfect as it came from God in the beginning.

God’s Works are Perfect – “He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He” (Deuteronomy 32:4).  Not only God’s work in creation was perfect, but also his works of redemption and reconciliation of man and all his works throughout history.

God’s Perfect Word – “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul” (Psalm 19:7). God has given us His inspired Word, providing perfect guidance for every need of man, "that the man of God may be perfect" (2 Timothy 3: 17).

God’s Will is Perfect – “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God”  (Romans 12:2 ).  God’s will is invariably right.  Thus God is our standard of perfection, and we must never set a lower standard for ourselves.

God’s Ways are Perfect – “As for God, His way is perfect; The word of the LORD is proven; He is a shield to all who trust in Him” (Psalms 18:30). God’s way may not be our ways, but always, they are the best way.

It will require a constant struggle while in the flesh to come near so high an ideal, but it must be our continual aim. This does not teach that we cannot sin, nor that we, here on earth, attain absolute perfection, but we have placed before us, as a model, the perfect ideal, and we will constantly ascend higher by striving to attain it.