Imperfection, and God's purposes

The unacceptable falling short of the God-given ideal must be resisted and overcome.

Imperfection is contrary to God's purpose

In creation

Genesis 1:31

And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning — the sixth day.

For individuals

Ephesians 1:4

For He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless in His presence. In love

For the church

Ephesians 5:25–27

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her to sanctify her, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to Himself as a glorious church, without stain or wrinkle or any such blemish, but holy and blameless.

Imperfection is unacceptable in God's presence

Sacrificial animals must be unblemished

Deuteronomy 15:21; Malachi 1:8 See also Exodus 12:5; Leviticus 22:20–25; Numbers 28:31; Deuteronomy 17:1

But if an animal has a defect, is lame or blind, or has any serious flaw, you must not sacrifice it to the LORD your God.

When you offer blind animals for sacrifice, is it not wrong? And when you present the lame and sick ones, is it not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you or show you favor?” asks the LORD of Hosts.

The priests must be physically perfect

Leviticus 21:17–23

“Say to Aaron, ‘For the generations to come, none of your descendants who has a physical defect may approach to offer the food of his God. No man who has any defect may approach — no man who is blind, lame, disfigured, or deformed; no man who has a broken foot or hand, or who is a hunchback or dwarf, or who has an eye defect, a festering rash, scabs, or a crushed testicle. No descendant of Aaron the priest who has a defect shall approach to present the food offerings to the LORD. Since he has a defect, he is not to come near to offer the food of his God. He may eat the most holy food of his God as well as the holy food, but because he has a defect, he must not go near the veil or approach the altar, so as not to desecrate My sanctuaries. For I am the LORD who sanctifies them.’”

Moral imperfection separates from God

Isaiah 59:2 See also Psalm 66:18; Isaiah 50:1, Isaiah 64:7; 1 Corinthians 6:9–10; Ephesians 5:5; Hebrews 10:26–27; Revelation 21:27, Revelation 22:15

But your iniquities have built barriers between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you, so that He does not hear.

God's people should strive against imperfection

Matthew 5:48 See also Genesis 17:1; Deuteronomy 18:13; Psalm 34:14; Romans 12:9; 2 Corinthians 13:11; Colossians 1:28, Colossians 3:5; 1 Thessalonians 5:22; 2 Timothy 2:19; Hebrews 6:1, Hebrews 12:14; 2 Peter 3:14

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.[’’]

Imperfection will be dealt with at Jesus Christ's return

Creation will be remade

Isaiah 65:17 See also Isaiah 66:22; Matthew 19:28; Romans 8:19–21; 2 Peter 3:13; Revelation 21:1–5

For behold, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind.

God's people will be perfected

1 John 3:2 See also Philippians 3:20–21

Beloved, we are now children of God, and what we will be has not yet been revealed. We know that when Christ appears, we will be like Him, for we will see Him as He is.

Evil will be removed

Revelation 21:4 See also Isaiah 25:8, Isaiah 65:19; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Revelation 20:10, Revelation 21:8

‘He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,’ and there will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”