Even the apostles were imperfect

From the day when humanity disobeyed the divine mandate—when man first encountered sin through Adam—all people after him were drawn into its consequences. What was once a perfect creation made in the likeness of God became a fallen humanity marked by weakness and imperfection. Sin altered not only our actions but also our nature. This means that, although we were created to reflect God’s image, we now live with limitations, struggles, and moral failures that affect every aspect of our lives.

From Adam, the first man, to the very last human being, all have sinned. There has never been a perfect human being walking the earth after the fall. This truth includes even the great men and women of the Bible—those we admire, respect, and often place on a pedestal. Scripture never presents them as flawless heroes. Instead, it reveals that they, too, committed errors, struggled with doubt, and made serious mistakes. Paradoxically, this reality should encourage us, because it reminds us that our imperfections can never exceed the power of Christ’s redemptive plan for humanity.

God’s eternal love and inexhaustible mercy have reached us not because we are good, strong, or deserving, but because He chose to love us. That decision, rooted in His character rather than our merit, explains everything. Salvation is not the reward of human excellence; it is the gift of divine grace. Understanding this truth frees us from the crushing burden of trying to earn God’s favor and invites us to rest in what Christ has already accomplished.

Do you think there was ever a perfect man in the Bible? Scripture itself answers this question clearly and without hesitation:

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 3:23

Every human being has disobeyed God’s law. Every person has sinned. Every person has failed. The Bible does not remain silent about this reality, nor does it attempt to hide the weaknesses of its central figures. On the contrary, Scripture openly records their failures to emphasize God’s grace rather than human virtue.

We read about the apostle Peter, who denied Jesus three times at the most critical moment, despite his earlier confidence and bold declarations. Later, Peter struggled again, acting hypocritically by separating himself from Gentile believers out of fear of criticism, prompting a public rebuke from Paul (Galatians 2:11–14). Thomas, another apostle, refused to believe in the resurrection until he could see and touch the wounds of Christ for himself (John 20:29). These were not minor flaws; they were deep failures of faith and character.

The apostle Paul himself frequently reminded believers of human weakness. Although God used him powerfully, Paul never portrayed himself as spiritually invincible. He spoke openly about his struggles, his former life as a persecutor of the church, and his complete dependence on God’s grace. The Bible also records the error of Jonah, who preferred that the merciful God destroy Nineveh rather than forgive and restore its people. Jonah’s story exposes how even God’s servants can misunderstand His compassion and resist His will.

Why does Scripture reveal these failures so plainly? Because every human being is a sinner, but God is true. The honesty of the biblical narrative underscores a central message: God works through imperfect people to accomplish His perfect purposes. If the Bible concealed human weakness, it would present a distorted view of reality and leave us with false expectations. Instead, it teaches us that God’s power is displayed most clearly through fragile and dependent vessels.

So what now? Is there no solution to our sinful condition? Is humanity doomed to live under guilt and failure forever? Absolutely not. The same apostle Paul who declares universal sinfulness also proclaims the glorious remedy:

And all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Romans 3:24

Here we find the heart of the gospel. Although we are imperfect beings—deeply flawed and unable to save ourselves—God chose to love us with a great and unchanging love. He sent His Son to die on the cross so that we could be justified by faith in Christ Jesus, our beloved Lord. Justification means that God declares sinners righteous, not because of their works, but because of Christ’s finished work on their behalf.

This truth transforms the way we see ourselves and others. When we understand justification by grace, we stop comparing ourselves to other people and start looking to Christ. The Christian life is no longer a competition of moral performance but a journey of trust and transformation. We are accepted before we are perfected, loved before we are changed, and forgiven before we are fully restored.

When we meditate on this truth, we begin to see that the story of humanity is not centered on human perfection, but on divine mercy. Throughout Scripture, God reveals Himself not through flawless individuals, but through broken people whom He chooses, calls, and transforms for His glory. Abraham struggled with fear, Moses doubted his ability to speak, David fell into serious sin, Elijah battled despair, and the apostles repeatedly misunderstood Jesus. Yet God remained faithful to each of them.

This perspective is essential for our spiritual health. Many believers live discouraged because they expect perfection from themselves or from others. When they inevitably fail, they feel disqualified, ashamed, or distant from God. But the gospel teaches us that failure does not disqualify us from God’s grace; it drives us back to it. God does not abandon His people because of their weakness. Instead, He meets them in their weakness and strengthens them.

In the same way, our lives today testify to this grace. We continue to face temptations, internal conflicts, doubts, and fears. Even after coming to faith in Christ, we experience struggles that remind us of our need for Him. Yet our hope does not rest on our consistency or spiritual strength. It rests on Christ’s perfect sacrifice and ongoing intercession. He is the One who began a good work in us and who will faithfully complete it.

The Christian life, therefore, is not a call to display human perfection but to trust the One who perfects our faith. Every failure becomes an invitation to repentance and renewal. Every weakness becomes an opportunity for God’s power to be revealed. As the apostle Paul declared, God’s grace is sufficient, and His power is made perfect in weakness.

Rather than living under the constant weight of guilt and condemnation, believers are called to live in freedom and gratitude. Christ did not come to save perfect people; He came to save sinners in need of restoration. This truth remains as powerful today as it was in the days of the apostles. The church was built not by flawless saints, but by redeemed sinners transformed by grace.

Understanding that even the apostles were imperfect helps us cultivate humility, patience, and compassion. It teaches us to extend grace to others as we have received grace from God. It also reminds us that spiritual maturity is not the absence of failure, but the presence of repentance, faith, and perseverance.

Our story does not end in sin, failure, or imperfection. It ends in redemption. Through Christ, a new and living way has been opened—a way of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope. Though we fall short, God’s grace remains sufficient. Though we are imperfect, His love is complete. And because of Jesus, our imperfections no longer define us; His righteousness does.