Perfection=Teleios
"9 This is the account of Noah and his family.
Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God." Genesis 6:9
"15 All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you." Philippians 3:15
All 3 underlined words use this same root of Teleios.
"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God," Romans 3:23
The completion to perfection is the journey every Christian is called to be on. Perfect like Father God. It is a process.
The Process
12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Hebrews 5:12-14
We have to choose to grow. If we don't grow we are dying. Salvation is only the first step in the journey.
What does it mean to be a mature Christian?
Responsible, reliable, dependable consistent, authentic, faithful...
Are we ever really complete? Probably not, because God has attributes we will never achieve but our goal is to work toward it -- get closer to God daily until we stand face to face with Him. Keep getting closer and closer to God.
A few attributes of God:
Love
"12 In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God’s word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! 13 Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil." Colossians 1:21-22
God loves His enemies. We should to.
"16 And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them." 1 John 4:16
So if someone doesn't love God doesn't live in them.
Mercy
35 But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36 Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful." Luke 6:35-36
We need to show mercy. We reap what we sow. If we want mercy then we will show mercy.
Light
4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome[a] it." john 1:4-5
We need to reflect Jesus's light.
12 When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
Be a Servant.
Agape love! teach them to work and serve. they can't feed themselves. If you don't do your job others will suffer. Seek to Serve. Jesus's last night -- He washed the disciples' feet. His last act was to serve. It was His last chance to show them how to live this life.
If you can't be a servant you can't mature in Christ.
45 For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Mark 10:45
35 Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, “Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.” Mark 9:35
"5 In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:
6 Who, being in very nature[a] God,
did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage;
7 rather, he made himself nothing
by taking the very nature[b] of a servant,
being made in human likeness.
8 And being found in appearance as a man,
he humbled himself
by becoming obedient to death--
even death on a cross!" philippians 2:5-8
Keep walking toward the Father and like the Father.
How do we mature?
1. Get into the Word -- know you are trying to follow.
2. Be filled with the Spirit -- feed the fire.
3. Follow the example of Christ.
4 Be a child of God.