John:
3. Jn.4:34: Jesus food is to do God's work, finish his work (John helps us see what is means for Jesus to be “perfected” by what He suffered; He did not become more “righteous” because He was never anything but that; but He did become what the Father intended in terms of His earthly life).
3. Jn.5:36: the works Christ was given to finish also bore witness to His deity
3. Jn.17:4: I have finished work you gave me to do.
3. Jn.17:23: Jesus prays that we might be perfected in unity
3. Jn.19:28: Jesus knew all was done so Scripture might be fulfilled
3. 1 Jn.2:5: the obedient Christian has God's love perfected in him
33. I Jn.4:12,17: those who love one another are perfected in love
13. I Jn.4:18: perfect love casts out fear; he who fears has not been perfected in love
Note: idea of process is necessary here as love & unity don't simply come to be a part of the Christian at salvation but are seen as part of growth. Likewise, in the prayer of Christ, unity is seen as an objective or end, though the mystical unity with God is a fact at salvation. Understanding this helps us see that 1 John is a letter about fellowship, not justification, which is what he says in the beginning, 1:1-4.
Synoptic Gospels and Acts:
11. Mt.5:48: be perfect as God is perfect. Has idea of completion if the context is studied: God is complete in that he gives rain to righteous & unr, we are to love all the righteous as well as the unr; we are to do more than the Gentiles morally.
1. Mk.19:21: the young man kept all the law but to be perfect had to go, sell, give. Surely the man had not been sinless but kept law, making sacrifice for forgiveness, etc. He needed a change of heart, to be born again, which would be manifested in the use of his money.
5. Lk 1:45: Mary believed, thus will be a fulfillment (completion, what is currently unseen and impossible will become real).
3. Lk.2:43: days fulfilled, Jesus parents return from Jerusalem (again, the “fulfilled” term is not as correct as “complete;” when the feast days were finished they returned from Jerusalem; the feast was being fulfilled until it was completed).
3. Lk.13:32: Jesus wanted Herod to know that he would be in town 2 more days before he was "finished".
3. Ac.20:24: Paul: my life is nothing if only I can finish course w/joy
Note: again idea of completion is prominent as is the idea of an end.
This all reminds us that we are at some stage of “maturation.” We have come to the cross of Christ and taken up our cross to follow Him. We are a drink offering poured out for His glory. Our need is to fight the good fight, finish the race, and keep the faith until the day we enter into the presence of Christ (2 Tim. 4:6-8).
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