Most Christians are familiar with the following scriptures: “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (Matthew 5:48) And, “But without faith it is impossible to please him…” (Hebrews 11:6) But what is faith? And is it possible to have perfect faith and by it, to stand perfect and blameless before God?

Believers today have differing ideas about what faith is. Some think it is an acknowledgement of Christ being the Son of God; and of everything that is written in the scriptures being true. Others think it is a blind trust in God, while some say that it is confidence in God or a strong conviction of that which they cannot see. And for others still, faith is simply about holding out hope for favorable outcomes.

It is clear to see that there is confusion among Christians regarding what faith is and how they are to express it. Because of a lack of a true definition for faith, many believers have decided to define faith their own way, hoping it will be “good enough” for God. They hope that God will see their sincerity and by that measure give them entrance into heaven.

But did you know that God does not want man to serve Him any which way they want to? That for God, faith is about man believing, obeying, reflecting and yielding to that which is initiated by Him only? And that He provided spiritual works for our faith to be exercised with and expressed by? Did you know that God doesn’t expect those who want to serve Him to figure it out on their own?

I recall on a particular occasion sharing about why perfect faith is necessary, when the young woman I was talking to said that perfect faith is not possible, because we are imperfect human beings. She was half right; we are imperfect human beings. That is why God did not set faith in the flesh, but He set faith in Jesus Christ. Christ is perfect and therefore faith tied to the terms and commandments that represent Him is also perfect. Perfection is not in us, it is in Christ.

It is God who sets the terms for faith, and when these terms are followed, faith hits the mark of Christ’s perfection. In the Old Testament God commanded the Israelites to be perfect before Him.

Deuteronomy 18:13-15
¹³ Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.

¹⁴ For these nations, which thou shalt possess, hearkened unto observers of times, and unto diviners: but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.

¹⁵ The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken;

The only way the Israelites could be perfect with God, was when their faith was perfect by His standard. For this they had to be separated from the defilement of unsanctified faith practices and learn to obey the restrictions and terms of God’s covenant commandments.

Obedience in that first covenant, had to do with hearing the instruction of God through His elect steward, and serving Him through the Levitical priesthood and the Law of Moses that was revealed by God (not just man’s own efforts of sincerity). Moses was the steward of God’s house and the Israelites were to express faith in no other way than what God called them to through his stewardship.

Jesus came to fulfill God’s promise of redemption, fulfilling all things of that first covenant in Himself to establish a new and better covenant, not only with one nation, but with all those of faith.

Today, God still expects those who serve Him to be perfect in faith. God has set covenant commandments for faith to find perfection in Christ through a new spiritual priesthood with spiritual tools of service. Jesus as the new steward shared God’s revelation in His instruction and prepared His apostles to continue instructing believers in that standard.

Romans 10:14
How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?

John 8:31-32
³¹ Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed;

³² And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.

John 14:15
If ye love me, keep my commandments.

In order for faith to be perfect, it has to reflect Jesus Christ, and in order for faith to reflect Christ it has to be joined to the works that God has sanctified for man’s contact and fellowship with Him.

How is the activity of faith revealed? The function of faith is revealed by God’s living stewards called apostles. We see this pattern in the first covenant where Moses was the steward of the terms for faith and we also see this pattern in the new testament where the apostles instructed the believers in the function of their faith and how to fellowship with God and the brethren.

Acts 2:42
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

Throughout the Bible we can see how Israel transgressed God’s covenant and suffered His wrath each time they left the oversight of godly stewardship and no longer maintained His sanctified priesthood. For Christians it is no different, which is why the apostles already warned the early church of the grievous wolves entering in (false ministers introducing differing doctrines and practices for faith).

When faith is removed from the sanctified knowledge of God, it becomes complicated, but when faith is tethered to the true knowledge of Jesus Christ, it becomes simple. God never intended for faith to be a journey towards understanding. He never intended for faith to be something vague and abstract we do not fully comprehend.

But this inevitably becomes the case when believers are not instructed in the terms and function of His covenant and so try to define faith on their own. Believers must allow God to define faith, for He is the author of it; and by His due order in Jesus’ new covenant, that instruction comes through His called and equipped living apostles.

By this instruction, believers are given the whole stones of His holy knowledge by which faith is defined by God, and its expression governed to Jesus’ spiritual priesthood to truly please our Father. When the knowledge is set in order by God, perfect faith is simple faith. Perfect faith is covenant faith. When faith is perfect, the fullness of Christ is no longer something we journey towards, but a daily reality as the Spirit of God breathes life into our faith and into our souls.

When faith is made simple through His divine knowledge, our service hits the mark of Christ every time, pleasing our Father in heaven.