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On to Perfection
January 7, 2023

The start of a new year gives many hopes for a better year ahead. Some years turn out to be better years than others while a few bring challenging situations. What tends not to change is the heart of man. That which was good thousands of years ago can be found today, and that which was evil and wicked thousands of years ago can also be found today. The people of the modern era look back in history and find fault and disagreement with how people lived then never considering that in the future the people living then may look back at our time and find fault and disagreement with how we live.

A quirk of people is that they tend to look at others differently than themselves, and most tend to find fault with others while giving themselves a free pass on similar issues. Today it seems like followers of one political party will find fault with the other political party and be astonished when followers of the other political parties find fault with them. Unless we are being led by the Holy Spirit, chances are how we live our life is not much different than how others live their lives. When some do live their lives differently than the masses, it can be as obvious as a huge billboard, or as the case with one Biblical figure, a big boat.

Back in the time of Noah, God saw that people were wicked and evil. Today we see words like wicked and evil as meaning nearly the same thing, and in the Bible, these words were translated from the same Hebrew word. During the time of Noah, man focused thoughts on evil and what resulted was wickedness. Noah was different than that and probably stuck out in a crowd. He would have been a black bird in a flock of white birds. It was so bad that God really questioned why mankind was created, so God decided to destroy all living things on earth with the exception of Noah, and the people and animals closest to Noah, because Noah found grace in the eyes of God.

Genesis 6:5-8
And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And it repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. And the Lord said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast, and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord.

Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord because of how he lived his life, the quality of his character. The entire world was consumed with wickedness and other people only focused on evil. Noah did not and found grace in the eyes of God, and that grace would save Noah, Noah’s family and the animals brought to the ark by Noah. We can’t ignore how Noah lived his life and why he found grace in the eyes of God, because that theme is repeated again and again in the Bible.

When the Israelites wanted a king, God gave them a king, and the first king given to them was Saul, who did not do what God expected of him. Noah found grace in the eyes of God, because Noah did what God expected of him surrounded by a society where no other family did. Saul was the first king of Israel, and instead of not doing what so many kings did of other nations near Israel, Saul took it upon himself to exercise regal authority, never considering that it was given by God and could be taken by God. We could say based on the actions of Saul, it repented God that Saul was king, and God removed Saul from being king because somehow Saul went from obeying God to moving on the path to wickedness and evil. God replaced Saul with David, who would be a person after God’s own heart, doing what God would expect.

1 Samuel 13:8-14
And he tarried seven days, according to the set time that Samuel had appointed: but Samuel came not to Gilgal; and the people were scattered from him. And Saul said, Bring hither a burnt offering to me, and peace offerings. And he offered the burnt offering. And it came to pass, that as soon as he had made an end of offering the burnt offering, behold, Samuel came; and Saul went out to meet him, that he might salute him. And Samuel said, What hast thou done? And Saul said, Because I saw that the people were scattered from me, and that thou camest not within the days appointed, and that the Philistines gathered themselves together at Michmash; Therefore said I, The Philistines will come down now upon me to Gilgal, and I have not made supplication unto the Lord: I forced myself therefore, and offered a burnt offering. And Samuel said to Saul, Thou hast done foolishly: thou hast not kept the commandment of the Lord thy God, which he commanded thee: for now would the Lord have established thy kingdom upon Israel forever. But now thy kingdom shall not continue: the Lord hath sought him a man after his own heart, and the Lord hath commanded him to be captain over his people, because thou hast not kept that which the Lord commanded thee.

Paul summarized this while preaching as recorded in Acts.

Acts 13:21-23
And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. Of this man's seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus:

In comparing Saul to David, we are to be like David, not Saul. In comparing Noah to the other people on earth, we are to be like Noah. Jesus also described who we are to be like using other words, and describing the people we are to be like as the blessed. In modern usage, the word blessed is used in ways not mentioned in the Bible, with some living their lives to be a blessing to others, never considering how this is looked at within scripture, only considering a secular perspective in their use of the term. One common phrase you might hear is for people to be a blessing to others, and yet I do not believe that the people I hear that phrase from mean it in the way Jesus described the word blessed in Matthew.

Matthew 5:3-12
Blessed are the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

All of us have the capacity to some degree to be kind and generous to other people and Jesus shows blessings are extended to people for the reasons He stated. James extended this teaching of Jesus a bit in his letter, telling the reader to be quick to hear and slow to react knowing that the emotion of anger we have does not produce the righteousness that God is looking for in us. He then adds we need to be doers of what is written in the Bible not deceiving ourselves.

Saul probably thought of himself as a good person because he was chosen by God to be king. The people living around Noah probably saw themselves as good people, and yet God saw them as evil and wicked. James warns us not to have a false impression of who we are, but to continuously be looking into the perfect law of liberty and doing what is expected of us. The law of God is the perfect law of liberty, and our perfection begins with knowing we live in a world where so many people are imperfect and that it is our responsibility and calling to continuously look into that perfect law of liberty and do what is expected of us, if we are to be blessed. The road to being blessed and the road to perfection is the same road, and the road we must take in our quest for eternal life.

James 1:19-25
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass: For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was. But whoso looketh into the perfect 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.

We all need to be on that road to perfection, that road to being blessed, yet the reality is we have not yet arrived at the final destination and must continue on that road. Saul thought he was a good person and was removed as king by God. David was a man after God’s own heart and was an imperfect person whose actions brought grief to others and his own family. Ecclesiastes reminds us that even a just person who does good will sin, and that from time to time even those closest to us might curse us as we have from time to time cursed others.

Ecclesiastes 7:19-22
Wisdom strengtheneth the wise more than ten mighty men which are in the city. For there is not a just man upon earth, that doeth good, and sinneth not. Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy servant curse thee: For oftentimes also thine own heart knoweth that thou thyself likewise hast cursed others.

James adds to the thought on cursing others using the concept of not offending in word as the test of perfection explaining that those who have greater control over what they say are likely to also have greater control in other areas of the rest of their life. James shows how we bless God and curse others with the same tongue and how this should not be.

James 3:1-10
My brethren, be not many masters, knowing that we shall receive the greater condemnation. For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses' mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

Even though perfection seems impossible, Jesus taught we are to be perfect as God the Father in heaven is perfect.

Matthew 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

The paradox is that all people sin and yet we are to be perfect as God is perfect. Some have used the concept of perfection to berate brethren while the context shows a different perspective. The context of what Jesus taught regarding being perfect was in relationship to loving our enemies and not only just those who are like us. Jesus taught that we are to be therefore perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect, and the word therefore links the statement to the context of what was presented, of loving our enemies, blessing those that curse us, doing good to those who hate us, praying for them who despitefully use us and persecute us. When Jesus was teaching about perfection it was in context to these ideals.

Matthew 5:43-48
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

To the extent we love our enemies, bless them that curse us, do good to them that hate us, and pray for them which despitefully use us and persecute us, we are perfect as Jesus taught.

When we read the writings of Paul who authored a good deal of the New Testament, we need to remember that even Paul did not consider himself to be perfect. Most of us might think of an apostle of being beyond reproach, and Paul claimed to be without perfection. Within his own life, even though Paul was a prolific contributor to what we call the New Testament, Paul saw the need for continued spiritual growth towards perfection considering that he needed to press forward to the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ. Paul then shared that those who are perfect do not see themselves as having already arrived, but also press forward to the prize of the high calling of Jesus Christ.

Philippians 3:12-16
Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you. Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing.

Paul reminded the reader that as we grow spiritually we should be able to see how our life has changed, and that change we can see is just a stop in our journey to perfection. Jesus used an example to teach about perfection to those who think they have already attained perfection. Some people only see themselves as doing good without sin, and Jesus encountered such a person during His earthly ministry. One young man came to Jesus claiming that he had faithfully kept all of the commandments and could not comprehend what he lacked. Jesus told this person, that if he wanted to be perfect, to go sell what he had, give to the poor, and follow Jesus. This young man went away dejected because he was wealthy.

Matthew 19:16-22
And, behold, one came and said unto him, Good Master, what good thing shall I do, that I may have eternal life? And he said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God: but if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He saith unto him, Which? Jesus said, Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.

Some will read that passage from Matthew nineteen to extort money from people claiming a need to do so for salvation, and miss the greater context that for each of us, there is something more we can do in our own spiritual life to progress on the spiritual road to perfection. We should be very concerned with our lives when we see ourselves as having spiritually arrived. Jesus rebuked the church at Laodicea because they saw themselves as being rich and increased with goods, having need of nothing.

Revelation 3:17-18
Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

The church at Laodicea saw themselves as being spiritually rich, spiritually increased with goods, and having need of nothing, when in fact they had need of so much. The church at Laodicea saw themselves as having spiritually arrived. They weren’t much different than that young man whom Jesus told to go sell all of his possessions and give to the poor.

Perfection comes to us as our faith is proved. We prove our faith by doing what is expected day in and day out in good times and bad. When we encounter bad times we know we have an excellent opportunity to prove our faith knowing without doubt we can totally rely on God.

James 1:2-8
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.

As we develop Godly love for other people, God’s love is perfected in us. Without love, there is no perfection.

1 John 4:12-16
No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us. Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.

As we keep the commandments of God, the love of God is perfected in us. Without keeping the commandments there is no perfection.

1 John 2:3-6
And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

The test of perfection is found in love and perfection gives us the ability to defend the faith in good and bad times. Those who live with fear or who hate other people are not made perfect in love.

1 John 4:17-21
Herein is our love made perfect, 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 love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us. If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? And this commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.

To continue on the road to spiritual perfection, we must spiritually grow beyond basic spiritual concepts. Perfection as it used in the Bible does not mean to be without blemish or error. It does not mean to be mistake free. It means to be whole, complete. It means to be of a full age having grown mentally and morally. The Greek word is Strong’s Greek word 5046, teleios, or variations of that word. We are being told to become spiritually mature. To become spiritually mature, we have to move beyond basic spiritual principles.

Hebrews 6:1-3
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, Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. And this will we do, if God permit.

An easy way to think of spiritual maturity is to look at toys for babies. A baby who has never seen a rattle will be intrigued with it for a while until it no longer is intriguing. Chances are if you are listening to this sermon, you no longer play with baby rattles for your own personal pleasure. You have grown beyond that intrigue from when you were a baby. Being spiritually mature is like growing beyond that baby rattle. I don’t need a baby rattle and chances are you don’t need a baby rattle, but to this day you can still find baby rattles, because babies benefit from them. You and I haven’t taken any action to ban baby rattles, discount the value of baby rattles, or demean baby rattles. If we have a family member or friend who is having a baby, we might still go buy a baby rattle for them. We might even show the baby how to use a baby rattle, but we are not going to focus on that baby rattle in our life. Imagine how different this world would be if adults were focused on baby rattles as much as adults are focused on smart phones.

Spiritual maturity means we have grown beyond elementary spiritual principles, and like a baby rattle, it means we do not abandon those elementary spiritual principles, discount the value of those elementary spiritual principles, or demean those elementary spiritual principles. We are not going to go off and invent new truth because the Bible has the truth we need. We are not going to abandon what we have been taught through the Bible because some secular idea sounds really cool. We will be focused on growing in our spiritual understanding and perfection. Paul’s ministry was focused in part on perfecting the saints. Yes, Paul did preach the gospel to people who knew nothing about Jesus or even the scriptures available to the early church at that time. Paul explained that through wisdom, which comes with maturity that he wanted to present every person who heard his preaching perfect, or spiritually mature to Jesus Christ. As we spiritually mature, the mystery that has been hidden from this world becomes easier for us to understand. The goal of Paul’s preaching, the mission of his ministry was to present every person spiritually mature to Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:24-29
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church: Whereof I am made a minister, according to the dispensation of God which is given to me for you, to fulfil the word of God; Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is 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 in Christ Jesus: Whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily.

Paul also wrote about what we can do to move towards spiritual maturity. Notice what he wrote in Colossians three.

Colossians 3:12-17
Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering; Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

To grow spiritually and become spiritually perfect, we have to become familiar with what is written in the Bible, and then do what is written in the Bible. If all we do is read the Bible and then argue and debate what we have just read discounting passages when inconvenient for us, we will not grow spiritually.

2 Timothy 3:14-17
But continue thou in the things which thou hast learned and hast been assured of, knowing of whom thou hast learned them; And that from a child thou hast known the holy scriptures, which are able to make thee 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 perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.

When we are spiritually mature, we do not abandon the teachings of the Bible for what is accepted in this world. How we think and act will seem mysterious, a strange thing, to those who are not called. Throughout our spiritual life we will continue to unwrap the mystery as we spiritually grow. A person who has been in the faith for decades should understand more deeply than a person who is new in the faith, and should also know that their own spiritual maturity does not compare to the perfection that is God and Jesus Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:6-16
Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world, that come to nought: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God. Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual. But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man. For who hath known the mind of the Lord, that he may instruct him? But we have the mind of Christ.

When Satan seeks our destruction and denial before God, God uses our struggles for our perfection denying Satan like Roadrunner denies Wyle E. Coyote. We resist Satan through faith and through faith we spiritually mature.

1 Peter 5:8-11
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world. 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, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Paul told the Romans to prove what is the perfect will of God by not being conformed to this world but through the transformation that comes through the renewing of our mind. Proving something means it might take multiple attempts, and during those attempts we cannot give up. Children are quick to up. Give them a room full of toys to pick up, and they might be overwhelmed. An adult faced with the same task might only take a few minutes or part of an hour.

Romans 12:1-2
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. 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, will of God.

Spiritual maturity does not mean we abandon what is taught in the Bible or add secular ideas to Biblical teachings. Spiritual maturity means we will be grounded in faith knowing we must have faith to defeat Satan. It also means we will be diligent in our faith, growing in virtue, growing in knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love.

2 Peter 1:2-11
Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he was purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Where are we individually on that spectrum of spiritual maturity? Do we have faith without virtue? Are we stuck in knowledge? Do we moderate our actions? Are we patient? Do we strive to be like God and Jesus Christ? Do we treat others with kindness? Do we act in love? Where are we individually on that spectrum of spiritual maturity? In his final words to the Corinthians, Paul told them to be perfect, of good comfort, to have unity and to live in peace.

2 Corinthians 13:11
Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.

Hebrews reminds us that it is through Jesus Christ that God brings about our spiritual perfection to do the will of God.

Hebrews 13:20-21
Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect 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.

Noah found favor in the eyes of God and David was a man after God’s own heart. They did what God expected, and God expects us to be perfect, to be spiritually mature. The ministry of Paul reached gentiles who had very little understanding of the scriptures available to the early church and Paul even preached in the synagogues along the way. To Paul it made no difference to whom he preached. His mission was the same, to present every person as spiritually mature to Jesus Christ. As we spiritually mature we will never abandon the faith that was once delivered or the knowledge we have. We will also become virtuous. We will also moderate our actions. We will also become patient. We will also strive to be like God and Jesus Christ. We will treat others with kindness. We will act in love. We will be spiritually mature.

All verses are from the King James Version.
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