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MOR-Bible, which is in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace from God our Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and us. Father, we thank you for the great joy of working your Word again. We thank you for opening your Word and giving us an understanding to the end that we can live it in our lives and receive your blessings. May we serve you in righteousness, peace, and joy through your gift of holy spirit that is in each of us. Your Word in our minds and our actions are the keys to the more abundant life. Father, we thank you for confirming us to the end that we may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ's return. Your Word makes known your Will, Father; be it unto us according to your Word. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the August 2023 teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched God's Word for the Greek word euarestos and its root word eu. We learned from the usages of the Greek eu that we are to be good and faithful servants of God our Father. When we keep God's Word, we enter into the joy of the Lord! We learned the Greek word euarestos used for our English word "acceptable" means "well pleasing."

In this month's teaching, we will trace, track, and search in God's Word the Greek word teleios translated into our English word "perfect" in Romans 12:2. Its root word is telos.

And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [to God's revealed Word], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect [teleios], will of God.

Note: The sources for all Greek-English words are Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, The Critical Lexicon and Concordance to the English and Greek New Testament (Bullinger), Young's Analytical Concordance to the Bible, The Word Study Concordance by George V. Wigram and Ralph D. Winter, and Webster's Desk Dictionary of the English Language.

The Greek word teleios as translated into our English word "perfect" is defined as "having reached its end, complete, perfect; full, wanting nothing, with special reference to the end for which it was intended." The Greek root word for teleios is telos and is defined as "an end, a toll." We will trace, track, and search in God's Word the Greek root word telos to better understand the Greek word teleios.

There are (42) usages of telos. We will review the first usage, usages in the Church Epistles (Romans, Corinthians, Philippians, and Thessalonians), and then the last usage. The first usage of telos is documented in Matthew 10:22. I exhort you to read all 42 usages to open your understanding of the Greek word telos.

And ye [Jesus's twelve disciples] shall be hated of all men for my name's sake: but [in contrast] he that endureth to the end [telos] shall be saved.

This verse is addressed to Israel. It refers to when Jesus came for the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Matthew 15:24 tells us:

But he [Jesus] answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel.

This verse is not addressed to the body of Christ to which you and I belong. Remember, there was no body of Christ before Jesus Christ's torture, death, resurrection, and ascension! The body of Christ started in Acts 2:4.

The next usage of telos we will review is in Romans 6:19 and 21. We will read verses 11 and 22-23 for context.

Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.

What fruit had ye then in those things [refers to verse 19 - uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity] whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end [telos] of those things [refers to verse 19 - uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity] is death.

But [in contrast] now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end [telos] everlasting life.

For the wages of sin is death; but [in contrast] the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

We are alive to God through Jesus Christ our Lord (reference verse 11 above). Let's follow the logical sequence from these verses. We are made free from uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity and sin (reference verse 19 above). We have become servants to God our Father. By the freedom of our will, we've sacrificed our life to God our Father as a servant (the Greek word doulos). Thus, we have fruit unto holiness (consecration, sanctification), and the telos or end is everlasting life!

Romans 10: 4 has the next usage of telos. We will read verse 3 for context.

For they [Israel] being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God.

For Christ is the end [telos] of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth.

Christ is the end of what? The law as laid out in the Old Testament! That's what God's Word says and that's what it means!

Let's look at 1 Corinthians 15: 24 next. We will read verses 22-26 for context.

For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ's at his coming.

Then cometh the end [telos], when he [Christ] shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he [Christ] shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.

For he [Christ] must reign, till [until] he [God] hath put all enemies under his [Christ] feet.

The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

What is the last enemy that shall be destroyed? Death! That's what God's Word says and that's what it means!

Turn to 2 Corinthians 11:15; we will read verse 14 for a better understanding.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore, it is no great thing if his [Satan] ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end [telos] shall be according to their works.

Here we are told it is by Satan's ministers' works that we should know them! In the same manner, it is by our works as sons and daughters of God that they shall know us!

Philippians 3:19 has the next usage of telos. We will read verses 17-20 for context.

Brethren, be followers [imitators] together of me [Paul] and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:

Whose end [telos] is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)

For our conversation [citizenship] is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ.

By their walk, which reflects their works, we will know they are the enemies of the cross of Christ. And what shall be their end? Reference verse 19 above. In contrast, our walk is a walk of love (see Ephesians 5:2), a walk as children of light (see Ephesians 5:8), and a walk circumspectly (see Ephesians 5:15).

1 Thessalonians 2:16 has the next usage of telos:

Forbidding us [Paul, Silas, and Timothy] to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them [see verse 1 Thessalonians 2:14 -the Judeans] to the uttermost [telos]. [See October 2019 teaching]

The last usage of telos is documented in Revelation 22:13:

I [God] am Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end [telos], the first and the last.

Revelation is not addressed to the church of the body but to Israel. Before Revelation comes to pass, the church of the body will be gathered together with Christ (see 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)! The children of Israel who endured to the end will be saved (see Matthew 10:22). In Revelation 22:13, God confirms for us that He is Alpha and Omega, the beginning, and the end [telos], the first and the last!

Now that we understand the meaning of telos, the root word for teleios, we will trace, track and search in God's Word the Greek word teleios. It is translated into our English word "perfect" and defined as "having reached its end, complete, perfect; full, wanting nothing, with special reference to the end for which it was intended." There are nineteen (19) usages, and we exhort and encourage you to read all nineteen (19) usages to increase your understanding of the usages of the Greek word teleios. We will review the first usage, the usages as documented in the Church Epistles (Romans, Corinthians, Ephesians, Philippians, and Colossians), and then the last usage.

The first usage is documented in Matthew 5:48 and occurs twice in the verse:

Be ye therefore perfect [teleios], even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect [teleios].

Romans 12:2 has the next usage we will look at:

And be not conformed [by the five senses information] to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind [to God's revealed Word], that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect [teleios], will of God.

1 Corinthians 2:6 has the next usage of teleios; we will read verses 1-5 for context.

And I [Paul], brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.

For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.

And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power [he operated the nine manifestations of the spirit].

That your faith [believing] should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Howbeit we [Paul and Sosthenes] speak wisdom among them that are perfect [teleios]: yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes [devil spirts] of this world, that come to nought.

Paul's speech and preaching was not with the enticing words of man's wisdom, but in contrast, a demonstration of the gift of holy spirit and its power by operating the nine manifestations of the spirit (see 1 Corinthians 12:4-11). He exhorted the Corinthian believers that their believing should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God! I exhort you my brothers and sisters that your believing should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God!

Turn to 1 Corinthians 13:10 for the next usage of teleios:

But when that which is perfect [teleios] is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.

Ephesians 4:13 has the next usage; we will read verses 11-12 for context.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors, and teachers;

For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

Till [until] we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect [teleios] man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ.

We, the born-again believers, will have the five gift ministries of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teachers (see Ephesians 4: 8 and 11). The gift ministries are for building up of the body of Christ in love, for the perfecting of the saints until we all come in the unity, oneness of the faith (which is the Greek word pistis for believing and the exact knowledge of the Son of God), unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature, maturity, and age of the fulness, and to fill to capacity of Christ, the anointed one, the messiah! This will only happen at the return of Christ!

Philippians 3:15 has the next usage of teleios; we will read verses 13-14 for a better understanding.

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

I press toward the mark for the prize of the high [upper] calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Let us therefore, as many as be perfect [teleios], be thus minded: and if in anything ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.

Colossians 4:12: has the next usage of teleios:

Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect [teleios] and complete in all the will of God.

This verse represents our prayer for you right now that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will or intensive desire of God our Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen!

The last usage is documented in 1 John 4:18:

There is no fear in love [agape]; but perfect [teleios] love [agape] casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love [agape].

In this verse, the word "fear" is the Greek word phobos and is defined as "panic flight, fear, the causing of fear, terror." The word "love" is the Greek word agape, which is defined as the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestations (See February and March 2018 teaching on agape). There is no fear in the love of God in the renewed mind in manifestations; perfect (teleios) love casts out fear.

The perfect and complete love of God in the renewed mind in manifestations is the greatest because love activates your believing, energizes hope, and casts out fear! As it is written in 1 Corinthians 13:13:

And now abideth faith [believing], hope, charity [love - agape], these three; but the greatest of these is charity [love - agape].

Let's look at the first usage of teleios in Matthew 5:48 and the last usage in 1 John 4:18 to fully understand this word in the Bible.

Be ye therefore perfect [teleios], even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect [teleios].

There is no fear in love [agape]; but perfect [teleios] love [agape] casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love [agape].

Isn't God's Word incredible? In the Grace Administration, we have the perfect gift of holy spirit created within each of us. And that gift of holy spirit is the love of God. Romans 5:5 tells us:

And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost [holy spirit] which is given unto us.

1 John 3:2-3 reminds us:

Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We are to be followers of God, as dear children (see Ephesians 5:1). The ultimate and complete love of God in the renewed mind in manifestations is the greatest because the perfect or teleios love casts out fear!

In this month's teaching, we traced, tracked, and searched in God's Word the Greek word teleios translated into our English word "perfect." We also reviewed the root word telos which is defined as "an end, a toll" first to see from where the Greek word teleios originated. This review reminds us that we must forget those things that are in the past and press toward the mark for the prize of the upper calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect (teleios), be thus minded (see Philippians 3:15)! There is one thing that I understand, and that is that the Word of God is the Will of God. When God's Word is rightly divided, it will fill the need of everyone in the body of Christ!

Father, we are so grateful and thankful for your Word which is your Will. Father, we pray that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect Will of yours. We put our believing in your power, Father. May we speak the wisdom of your Word, Father. May we forget those things which are behind and press toward the mark for the prize of the upper calling of you, Father, in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in anything, we be otherwise minded, Father. We know that you shall reveal even this unto us. Father, we pray that we can be perfect and complete in all your Will. We pray that we can be well pleasing and acceptable to you as your sons and daughters. In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen.

In the Lord,

Ministry of Reconciliation
Son of God through Jesus Christ
Ambassador for Christ

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