Welcome to Spurgeon Morning and Evening May 15 PM, your daily devotional for today. As you pause from your busy day, take a moment to absorb these powerful truths that speak right to your spirit.
Life can feel like a constant wrestling match with our own flaws and failings. This message speaks directly to that inner struggle, offering genuine hope for spiritual freedom and the promise of a complete, joyous life in Christ.
To truly grasp this liberating truth and let it settle deep within you, we invite you to explore the Biblical Context and a Key Word Study that follows. Let’s deepen your faith together.
Scripture for Today
Hebrews 12:23: Made perfect.
Message
Biblical Context
The Book of Hebrews is a powerful letter, often thought to be written to Jewish Christians who were tempted to go back to their old ways and traditions under the law. While the author is not explicitly named, many early Christians thought it was Paul, though others suggested Barnabas, Apollos, or even Priscilla. No matter who wrote it, the message is clear: Jesus is better. He is greater than angels, greater than Moses, and His sacrifice is far better than any animal offering. The letter encourages its readers to keep their eyes on Jesus, the “founder and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). When Hebrews 12:23 speaks of believers being “made perfect” among the spirits of the righteous who have gone before, it’s talking about the ultimate completion and goal of faith found in Christ, a spiritual maturity and readiness for heaven that comes through His work.
Key Word Study
The Greek word for “perfect” in Hebrews 12:23 is τετελειωμένοι (tetelēisménoi). This is a perfect passive participle of the verb teleioō. It doesn’t mean perfect in the sense of moral flawlessness in every moment, but rather “brought to completion,” “finished,” or “made complete.” It speaks of something that has reached its intended goal or has been fully equipped and qualified. In this context, it tells us that those who have died in faith are now in a state of completion, having fully realized the purpose of their faith and having been made entirely fit for God’s presence, not through their own efforts, but through the finishing work of Christ.
The Double Perfection You Need
You need two kinds of perfection as a Christian. The first is the perfection of justification, which you get completely in the person of Jesus. This is when God declares you righteous because of what Jesus did on the cross. The second kind is the perfection of sanctification, which the Holy Spirit works in you. This is the process of being made more and more like Jesus every day.
Still Fighting Inner Battles
Right now, even for those of us who have truly turned to God, corruption is still there. It’s inside our hearts. Experience teaches us this quickly. You’ve got lusts and evil thoughts still trying to get your attention.
A Future Without Blemish
But I’m happy to know that a day is coming when God will finish the work He started in me. He will bring my soul before Him, not just perfect in Christ through justification, but also perfect through the Spirit, through sanctification. This means I’ll be without any spot or blemish, or anything like that. Can it really be true that this poor, sinful heart of mine will become holy, just like God is holy?
Freedom from the Body of Sin and Death
Can it be that this spirit, which often cries out like the Apostle Paul, “O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this sin and death?” (Romans 7:24) will get rid of sin and death? Will I really have no evil things to bother my ears, and no unholy thoughts to mess with my peace? Oh, what a happy hour that will be! I really want it to come soon!
Crossing the Jordan to Completion
When I cross the Jordan — a picture of dying and entering heaven — the work of sanctification will be finished. But not until that very moment will I even claim perfection in myself. Then my spirit will have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit’s fire. I really want to die to receive that last and final cleansing that will bring me into heaven.
Cleaner Than an Angel
No angel will be purer than I will be. I’ll be able to say, in a double way, “I am clean.” I’ll be clean through Jesus’ blood, and I’ll be clean through the Holy Spirit’s work. Oh, we should truly praise the power of the Holy Ghost for making us fit to stand before our Father in heaven!
Don’t Get Content with Imperfection Now
Yet, don’t let the hope of future perfection make you okay with your imperfections now. If it does that, your hope isn’t real. A good hope is something that cleanses you, even right now. The work of grace must be living in you now, or it won’t be completed then.
Be Filled with the Spirit
Let’s pray to “be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18), so we can produce more and more of the fruits of righteousness.
Prayer Points
- God, finish every work You've started in me; I refuse to settle for anything less than Your perfect design for my life!
- Holy Spirit, I crave Your purifying fire; cleanse me completely from every lust and evil thought that still hides within me.
- Father, empower me to fight against complacency; ignite a burning hunger for holiness that drives out every present imperfection.
- Break every chain of sin and death in my life now, so I can experience a taste of that future, unburdened peace.
- I demand to be filled with Your Spirit daily, so I can bring forth an overflow of righteousness in every area of my life.
Daily Declaration
I am made perfect in Christ, fully justified by His sacrifice. I am being sanctified by the Holy Spirit, made clean through Jesus' blood and the Spirit's mighty work. I am filled with the Spirit, bringing forth fruits of righteousness, and I will stand holy and complete before my Father in heaven.
