striving for perfection
What does the Bible say about striving for perfection? These are the passages readers found most helpful — tap any citation to read it in context.
13 passages · most helpful first
48Therefore, be perfect, even as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
5But as for you, taking up every concern, minister virtue in your faith; and in virtue, knowledge; 6and in knowledge, moderation; and in moderation, patience; and in patience, piety; 7and in piety, love of brotherhood; and in love of brotherhood, charity. 8For if these things are with you, and if they abound, they will cause you to be neither empty, nor without fruit, within the plan of our Lord Jesus Christ.
23Whatever you do, do it from the heart, as for the Lord, and not for men. 24For you know that you will receive from the Lord the repayment of an inheritance. Serve Christ the Lord.
1My little sons, this I write to you, so that you may not sin. But if anyone has sinned, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just One. 2And he is the propitiation for our sins. And not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world. 3And we can be sure that we have known him by this: if we observe his commandments. 4Whoever claims that he knows him, and yet does not keep his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the charity of God is perfected. And by this we know that we are in him. 6Whoever declares himself to remain in him, ought to walk just as he himself walked.
1Therefore, interrupting an explanation of the basics of Christ, let us consider what is more advanced, not presenting again the fundamentals of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God,
8Concerning the rest, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is chaste, whatever is just, whatever is holy, whatever is worthy to be loved, whatever is of good repute, if there is any virtue, if there is any praiseworthy discipline: meditate on these.
11For I know the thoughts that I think over you, says the Lord: thoughts of peace and not of affliction, so that I may give you patience and an end.
24Since we have heard that some, going out from among us, have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, to whom we gave no commandment,
1In truth, after he began to be ninety-nine years of age, the Lord appeared to him. And he said to him: “I am the Almighty God. Walk in my sight and become complete.
14He gave himself for our sake, so that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse for himself an acceptable people, pursuers of good works.
16For God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that all who believe in him may not perish, but may have eternal life.
7And then the Lord God formed man from the clay of the earth, and he breathed into his face the breath of life, and man became a living soul.
28Take care of yourselves and of the entire flock, over which the Holy Spirit has stationed you as Bishops to rule the Church of God, which he has purchased by his own blood.