The Myth of Being Perfect | Spiritual Formation with Brian Delamont (Ep. 198)

Are we really called to “be perfect”? Brian Delamont unpacks the meaning of “teleios” and how God’s own completeness becomes our refuge and righteousness.



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  • Matthew 5:48
  • Greek: teleios
  • Colossians 1:28-29
  • “It’s the work of God Himself in Jesus on the cross and in His resurrection power, which enables us to be complete and filled with His Holy Spirit.”
  • 2 Samuel 22:31
  • “God uses His perfection as a shield for those of us who come and take refuge in Him.”
  • Deuteronomy 32:4
  • Hebrew: t?mîm
  • “A perfect spotless lamb in the Old Testament points toward the perfect Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world in the New Testament.”
  • “Perfection is not something God has to work at; it’s something He is. It’s His nature.”
  • “We come to take refuge in Him because we’re not perfect, and so it’s His righteousness, His completeness, His perfection that is applied to you and me by the complete work of Christ, and we are empowered to live in this completeness by the Holy Spirit.”
  • Matthew 19:16-22
  • Lead by Paul David Tripp
  • “The perfection that Jesus is asking [for] isn’t perfect behavior. That’s not what God ever demands from us because He knows we can’t deliver on it. The perfection Jesus is hoping to see is the perfection of complete commitment, to be fully devoted, to be all in.”
  • 2 Corinthians 12:8-10
  • Psalm 19
  • “The perfect God who made the universe and more, the One who reveals Himself in the Law and the Prophets, is the One who is so complete that He can be trusted all of the time. That’s perfection.”
  • Hebrews 10:14
  • Romans 12:2

November Reflection: When you think about God and yourself in relationship with Him, do you see Him accepting or rejecting you? Is it based on who you are or what you can do for Him?

What’s changing our lives:

  • Keane: His kids enjoying swinging
  • Heather: The launch of Go Beyond
  • Brian: New pages in his refillable journal

Weekly Spotlight: Art and Music Positions

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Podcast Website: https://teachbeyond.org/podcast
Learn about TeachBeyond: https://teachbeyond.org/

15 Dec 25

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