Perfect, as used in the bible is actually translated to **"blameless."** Not "perfect" as we think and use the word today. When we say perfect we mean perfection, but that's not the word nor definition that is used. The translation and definition refers to being blameless. Now one might say "Well they are the same thing anyway so..." However, they are not. One must understand what being "perfect" or "blameless" means by God. Of course if we take the speaker's understanding of perfect then yes, we all will indeed fail and not "pass." Matthew 5:48 says this... Matthew 5:48 48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. The word **"therefore"** shows us that there is something we need to read before the verse so that we can understand what the writer or speaker is saying. If you just take one verse and come up with a theology then you will not understand the writer/speaker. To know what ****being perfect/blameless as we see in Matthew 5:48, we need to read Matthew 5:1-47 to understand.**** Perfect/blameless does not mean not sinning even **once** anymore, though that be the ideal goal. Its about being blameless. If you do sin, as John says, you have an advocate with the father. That will, if you repent and turn away from sin, cover you and cleanse you from all sin. **Christ came to save us from our sin, not the penalty of sin. In effect he will save you from the penalty of sin because by no longer serving sin because Christ has set you free will effectively save you from the penalty.** But do not be fooled into becoming a lukewarm believer who will be spewed out of Christ's mouth for a continual cycle of sin remorse repent repeat. There will no longer be an advocate, a sacrifice, for your continuance in sin. Hebrews 10:26 26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Are we saved by a dead faith? or an obedient faith? James 2:14 " what does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?" v17 " So faith by itself, if it has no works id dead". v19 " You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble" v20" faith apart from works is barren" v22 " You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works". v24 " you see that a man is justified by works and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". v26 " For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead". Rev 2:9 " be faithful UNTO DEATH, and I will give you the crown of life". Rev 2:9 " To him who conquers i will grant to eat of the tree of life".John 3:24 " He who does what is true comes to the light..." 1 John " walk in the light as he is in the light..." Lastly, look at Romans 3:27 " what becomes of our boasting? It is exclude. On what law? On the law of works? No, but on the LAW OF FAITH' v28 " for we hold that a man is justified by faith APART FROM WORKS OF THE LAW". Romans 4 is talking about works of the law, under the OT. We are saved by an obedient faith, the law of faith, under that law, boasting is excluded. Take baptism, is it part of the law of faith? Col 2:12 " raised with him by faith" Gal 26-27 also. Baptism is a part of the law of faith, so boasting is excluded.
Perfect, as used in the bible is actually translated to **"blameless."** Not "perfect" as we think and use the word today. When we say perfect we mean perfection, but that's not the word nor definition that is used. The translation and definition refers to being blameless. Now one might say "Well they are the same thing anyway so..." However, they are not.
One must understand what being "perfect" or "blameless" means by God. Of course if we take the speaker's understanding of perfect then yes, we all will indeed fail and not "pass." Matthew 5:48 says this...
Matthew 5:48
48Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
The word **"therefore"** shows us that there is something we need to read before the verse so that we can understand what the writer or speaker is saying. If you just take one verse and come up with a theology then you will not understand the writer/speaker.
To know what ****being perfect/blameless as we see in Matthew 5:48, we need to read Matthew 5:1-47 to understand.****
Perfect/blameless does not mean not sinning even **once** anymore, though that be the ideal goal. Its about being blameless. If you do sin, as John says, you have an advocate with the father. That will, if you repent and turn away from sin, cover you and cleanse you from all sin. **Christ came to save us from our sin, not the penalty of sin. In effect he will save you from the penalty of sin because by no longer serving sin because Christ has set you free will effectively save you from the penalty.** But do not be fooled into becoming a lukewarm believer who will be spewed out of Christ's mouth for a continual cycle of sin remorse repent repeat. There will no longer be an advocate, a sacrifice, for your continuance in sin.
Hebrews 10:26
26For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins, 27But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
Are we saved by a dead faith? or an obedient faith? James 2:14 " what does it profit, my brethren, if a man says he has faith but has not works? Can his faith save him?" v17 " So faith by itself, if it has no works id dead". v19 " You believe that God is one, you do well. Even the demons believe and tremble" v20" faith apart from works is barren" v22 " You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by works". v24 " you see that a man is justified by works and NOT BY FAITH ALONE". v26 " For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so faith apart from works is dead". Rev 2:9 " be faithful UNTO DEATH, and I will give you the crown of life". Rev 2:9 " To him who conquers i will grant to eat of the tree of life".John 3:24 " He who does what is true comes to the light..." 1 John " walk in the light as he is in the light..." Lastly, look at Romans 3:27 " what becomes of our boasting? It is exclude. On what law? On the law of works? No, but on the LAW OF FAITH' v28 " for we hold that a man is justified by faith APART FROM WORKS OF THE LAW". Romans 4 is talking about works of the law, under the OT. We are saved by an obedient faith, the law of faith, under that law, boasting is excluded. Take baptism, is it part of the law of faith? Col 2:12 " raised with him by faith" Gal 26-27 also. Baptism is a part of the law of faith, so boasting is excluded.