What does the Bible mean when it calls people, 'perfect'?
As long as a Christian never quits trying to be perfect, then God counts that Christian as perfect.
Philippians 3:9-15 – "I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ. For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith. I want to know Christ and experience the mighty power that raised him from the dead. I want to suffer with him, sharing in his death, so that one way or another I will experience the resurrection from the dead! I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it,
but
I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us. Let all who are perfect agree on these things. If you disagree on some point, I believe God will make it plain to you."
Old Testament Perfection
Genesis 6:9 – This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, the only blameless person living on earth at the time, and he walked in close fellowship with God.
Deuteronomy 18:13 – You shall be perfect with the LORD your God.
Job 1:8 – Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is perfect—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Psalms 101:2 – I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
Deuteronomy 18:13 – You shall be perfect with the LORD your God.
Job 1:8 – Then the Lord asked Satan, “Have you noticed my servant Job? He is the finest man in all the earth. He is perfect—a man of complete integrity. He fears God and stays away from evil.”
Psalms 101:2 – I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when will you come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.
New Testament Perfection
Matthew 5:48 – But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Matthew 19:21 – Jesus said unto him, “If you will be perfect, go [and] sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.”
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
Luke 6:40 – The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
John 14:30 – Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and has nothing in me.
1 Corinthians 15:34 – Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.
2 Cor. 6:16-7:1 – Ye are the temple of the living God: as God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them . . . . Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Romans 8:6 – For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
Ephesians 4:11-12 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 5:27 – That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Colossians 1:28 – Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:14 – And above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:9-10 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – May the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
II Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
Hebrews 12:14 – Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
James 1:4 – But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 3:2 – For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 1:15-16 – But now you must be holy in all manner of conversation, just as God who chose you is holy. Because it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 2:21-22– For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his footsteps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
2 Peter 3:11 – [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
1 John 2:5-6 – But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1 John 3:6 – Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
Jude 1:24 – Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Galatians 5:16 – [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.
Matthew 19:21 – Jesus said unto him, “If you will be perfect, go [and] sell that you have, and give to the poor, and you shall have treasure in heaven: and come [and] follow me.”
Matthew 26:41 – Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed [is] willing, but the flesh [is] weak.
Luke 6:40 – The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.
John 14:30 – Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and has nothing in me.
1 Corinthians 15:34 – Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak [this] to your shame.
2 Cor. 6:16-7:1 – Ye are the temple of the living God: as God has said, I will dwell in them and walk in them . . . . Wherefore come ye out from among them, and be ye separate, says the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing, and I will receive you, and will be a Father unto you and ye shall be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
2 Corinthians 10:5 – Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
Romans 8:6 – For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
Ephesians 4:11-12 – And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:
Ephesians 4:27 – Neither give place to the devil.
Ephesians 5:27 – That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.
Colossians 1:28 – Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.
Colossians 3:14 – And above all these things [put on] love, which is the bond of perfectness.
Colossians 3:9-10 – Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new [man], which is renewed in knowledge after the image of him that created him:
1 Thessalonians 5:23 – May the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.
II Timothy 3:16-17 – All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished to all good works.
Hebrews 12:14 – Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord.
James 1:4 – But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
James 3:2 – For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same [is] a perfect man, [and] able also to bridle the whole body.
1 Peter 1:15-16 – But now you must be holy in all manner of conversation, just as God who chose you is holy. Because it is written, “Be ye holy; for I am holy.”
1 Peter 2:21-22– For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his footsteps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
2 Peter 3:11 – [Seeing] then [that] all these things shall be dissolved, what manner [of persons] ought ye to be in [all] holy conversation and godliness,
1 John 2:5-6 – But whoso keeps his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him. Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.
1 John 3:6 – Whosoever abides in him sins not: whosoever sins has not seen him, neither known him.
Jude 1:24 – Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present [you] faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Galatians 5:16 – [This] I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Philippians 2:5 – Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus
Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are] pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things.