Becoming Teleios

In Matthew 5:48 Jesus says this.

Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Matthew 5:48 NASB

The word perfect here is teleios in Greek.

Teleios is an adjective, the definition is having reached its end, finished, mature, complete, perfect, primarily of physical development, full-grown, mature

The question is how do we become perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect? If Jesus is saying, we are to be this teleios person and He is saying this even before He died and before the Holy Spirit was sent then we need to examine this statement and not disregard it. Hebrews 5:14 gives us more information on this. It says,

But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil.

Hebrews 5:14 NASB

That word ‘mature’ is the same Greek word teleios as in Matthew 5:48. The writer of Hebrews is giving us some attributes to what the life of the teleios person looks like here on earth.

In Philippians 3 Paul says this. 

More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, (This word ‘perfect’ is NOT teleios the adjective but is the verb teleioō) but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as are perfect, (Here the word ‘perfect’ is teleios the adjective) have this attitude; and if in anything you have a different attitude, God will reveal that also to you; however, let us keep living by that same standard to which we have attained. Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.

Philippians 3:8-17 NASB

The Greek word for righteousness is dikaiosunē and in a broad sense means conformity to the Divine will in purpose, thought, and action; in a narrower sense it means justice.

The definition of the Greek word Teleioō is bring to an end, finish, accomplish, fulfill.

If you read what Paul is saying in Philippians 3, he is saying that he has not yet finished his race, he has not obtained the resurrection from the dead, but even so he keeps running to finish the job God has given him to do. As you continue to read, Paul says everyone who is teleios is to have this same attitude. He is talking to people who are teleios. These teleios people should be thinking like Paul and counting all things as loss for the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus. They have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil. The way this happens, the way we become teleios people, is through grace. Titus 2:11-12 tells us that grace teaches/instructs us in how to become a teleios person. 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

Titus 2:11-12 NASB

Deny is to say no or refuse to acknowledge.

Scripture does not say we will not make a mistake in our learning. Scripture says grace instructs us how to live in this world and to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. So, if we are choosing to love Jesus then we will obey what grace teaches us every day. As we do this, we become teleios.

Hebrews 10:26-27 says this:

For if we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, but a terrifying expectation of judgment and the fury of a fire which will consume the adversaries.

Hebrews 10:26-27 NASB

So, as we walk through life and as we are learning by listening to the Holy Spirit, reading His word, and being obedient then we are becoming teleios.

If we choose to not obey the Word, then God says in Hebrews:

Anyone who has set aside the Law of Moses dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses. How much severer punishment do you think he will deserve who has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace? For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge His people.” It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God. But remember the former days, when, after being enlightened, you endured a great conflict of sufferings, partly by being made a public spectacle through reproaches and tribulations, and partly by becoming sharers with those who were so treated. For you showed sympathy to the prisoners and accepted joyfully the seizure of your property, knowing that you have for yourselves a better possession and a lasting one. Therefore, do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised.
For yet in a very little while,
He who is coming will come, and will not delay.
But My righteous one shall live by faith;
And if he shrinks back, My soul has no pleasure in him.
But we are not of those who shrink back to destruction, but of those who have faith to the preserving of the soul.

Hebrews 10:28-39 NASB

In Jeremiah and Ezekiel there are multiple sections of scripture that say we will be given a new heart, a new spirit. These are the New Covenant promises.  We are literally to become a new creation. This new creation gets trained in righteousness and learns what the heart and mind of the Father are and as this happens, we are literally becoming a new creation created in Jesus. We are literally taking on the thinking of the Father and the desires of the Father. We are literally doing what the Father tells us to do and saying what the Father tells us to say, just like His first-born Son, Jesus.

When we need help and feel we do not know how to stop practicing sin 1 Corinthians 10:13 says this:  

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.

1 Corinthians 10:13 NASB

If God will give you a way of escape every time when you’re being tempted, then there is never any reason to sin. We just need to learn to ask Him for help in those times of testing. James tells us to ask for wisdom when we don't know what to do. 

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.

James 1:2-5 NASB

So, when Jesus tells us we must be perfect we should never say we cannot, we should say, ‘How Father?’. Please teach me.  

 To see more on living this life check out Repentance, Obedience, and Grace , Being One Heart One Mind