Topical Bible: God Made Us Perfect

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The concept of God creating humanity in a state of perfection is rooted in the biblical narrative of creation. According to the Book of Genesis, God created man and woman in His own image, which implies a state of original perfection and harmony with God's will.

Creation in God's Image

Genesis 1:26-27 states, "Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness, to rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air, over the livestock, and over all the earth itself and every creature that crawls upon it.' So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them." This passage highlights the unique status of humanity in creation, being made in the image and likeness of God, which can be understood as a reflection of God's attributes such as rationality, morality, and relationality.

Original Perfection

The state of perfection in which humanity was created is further emphasized in 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." The declaration that creation was "very good" indicates a state of completeness and perfection, free from sin and corruption.

The Fall and Loss of Perfection

Despite being created perfect, humanity's fall from grace is recorded in Genesis 3, where Adam and Eve's disobedience led to the introduction of sin and death into the world. This event marks the loss of the original state of perfection. Romans 5:12 explains, "Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, so also death was passed on to all men, because all sinned."

Restoration Through Christ

The New Testament presents the restoration of humanity's original perfection through Jesus Christ. Romans 5:18-19 states, "So then, just as one trespass brought condemnation for all men, so also one act of righteousness brought justification and life for all men. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." This passage underscores the belief that through Christ's redemptive work, believers are restored to a state of righteousness before God.

Sanctification and Perfection

The process of sanctification is seen as the means by which believers are gradually conformed to the image of Christ, moving towards the perfection intended by God. Philippians 1:6 assures believers, "being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will continue to perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus." This ongoing work of sanctification is a testament to God's commitment to restoring humanity to its original state of perfection.

Eternal Perfection

The ultimate fulfillment of God's intention for humanity is found in the promise of eternal life, where believers will be fully restored to perfection. Revelation 21:4 offers a glimpse of this future reality: "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." This vision of the new creation reflects the complete restoration of the perfection that was lost in the fall.

In summary, the biblical narrative affirms that God created humanity in a state of perfection, which was marred by sin but is being restored through the redemptive work of Christ, culminating in the promise of eternal perfection in the new creation.

Topical Bible Verses

Genesis 1:31
And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.
Topicalbible.org

Genesis 1:27
So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.
Topicalbible.org

1 John 5:19
And we know that we are of God, and the whole world lies in wickedness.
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1 John 3:4
Whoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
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James 2:10
For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.
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Revelation 21:27
And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defiles, neither whatever works abomination, or makes a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Topicalbible.org

Greek

4102. pistis -- faith, faithfulness
... "Faith is knowing what is ; therefore, we hold faith to be the knowledge of God's
will toward ... "Right faith is a thing wrought in us by the ... We have made faith a ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4102.htm - 18k

4265. problepo -- to foresee
... 11:40: "Because God had (4265 , '') something better for us (NT believers), so that
apart from us they (OT believers) would not be made perfect (ie glorified ...
//strongsnumbers.com/greek2/4265.htm - 7k

Library

Of the Perfect Stripping of the Soul which is United to God's Will ...
... because they are agreeable, profitable, honourable to us, and proper to ... throwing
me to the ground thou hast made my own ... me to do thy will, for thou art my God. ...
/.../francis/treatise on the love of god/chapter xvi of the perfect.htm

Christian Perfection
... we that we are in him.""1 John 2:5. "If we love one another, God dwelleth in us,
and his love is perfected in us.... Herein is our love made perfect, that we ...
/.../byers/sanctification/chapter viii christian perfection.htm

Sanctified by God the Father.
... that He makes provision in His gospel for them to be made and kept holy. And it
is precisely the standard of God's holiness which is set before us by the ...
/.../clark/the theology of holiness/chapter xi sanctified by god.htm

Christ --Perfect through Sufferings
... hast redeemed us unto God by thy blood." We must not say what God could do ... as we
shall be when we are brought to heaven; for if he had made us perfect yet then ...
/.../spurgeon/spurgeons sermons volume 8 1863/christperfect through sufferings.htm

Tillotson -- the Reasonableness of a Resurrection
... to the glorious body of the Son of God." When our ... us; no danger of death to amaze
and terrify us. ... a glorified soul and the "spirits of just men made perfect.". ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/tillotson the reasonableness of.htm

Letter xvii. --Attraction to the Interior Life.
... path of pure faith which God has made you enter ... to the voice of the Spirit of God,"
or, better ... Worker who labours in us without ceasing to make us perfect? ...
/.../abandonment to divine providence/letter xvii attraction to the interior.htm

xiv. Upon the Love of God.
... is not a creature, but the Almighty God; that He ... The Being who made us, and upon
whom we entirely depend ... of those affections which He hath endued us with, and ...
//christianbookshelf.org/butler/human nature/sermon xiii xiv upon the.htm

Consecration to God --Illustrated by Abraham's Circumcision
... in the open and clear revelation of his consecration to God. In the chapter before
us we see his sanctification ... of the Holy Ghost sanctified, and made meet to ...
/.../spurgeons sermons volume 14 1868/consecration to godillustrated by abrahams.htm

Weighed in the Balances
... "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the ... If God made us, as we know He did,
He had a right to make that law; and if we don't use it aright it would have ...
//christianbookshelf.org/moody/weighed and wanting/weighed in the balances.htm

Lessons from the Angelus
... We cannot dream perfect character; we do not get it in our sleep; it comes ... all out
yet; the sap to make them bloom comes from the God who made us, from the ...
/...//christianbookshelf.org/drummond/a life for a life/lessons from the angelus.htm