Christian Perfection
Christian Perfection
“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Matt 5: 44
There is no such thing as human perfection, but, there is Christian perfection. It is important also to know that while Christian perfection is a height we must pursue to attain as it was an express instruction from our Lord, it does not equate human perfection, lest we weary our progress unto attaining Christian perfection. Our natural perfection will be achieved when our mortality is substituted for immortality, and until then, our human imperfection may not ENTIRELY give way to perfection within this mortal space. However, when it comes to holiness, right living with fellow men, leading a godly life, purity within and without, keeping the faith at all times, and upholding the standards of a true Christian life, we can attain perfection therein, for our spirit man was indeed renewed for this very purpose.
If Christian perfection was an impossible life to live within this mortal space, Christ would not had suffered us with such expectation, what then, if truly we as believers desire to please our Lord, we have an obligation to abide and live the command of our Lord, one of which includes, Christian perfection. Christ on this occasion was teaching, some of which were his disciples, that to believe we have attained (Christian) perfection after our regeneration experience will not just be false, but a deliberate disregard for truth and constraint unto attainment itself.
Christian Perfection is growing into complete maturity of godliness in thought, character, desires, motives, and in living. No such a newborn in Christ will attain this in a single day, but through a consistent and dedicated devotion to Christ with continuous yielding to the smallest injunction, until we are fashioned like He is. It is a life that reflects Christ in every small detail. If we struggle to reflect His person in some areas of our lives, perhaps, in the content of our discuss- at play, or the substance of our thoughts and motives, we are yet to be there. We are glad we have examples as Daniel, one who lived without a record of fault; Enoch, who walked with God in such perfection of heart until the LORD took him; Job whom the LORD himself called perfect; and under Grace, a host of believers upon whom the name Christian was birthed through their living. No doubt, they must have lived blamelessly in reflecting Christ that men were dumbstruck to remember the Nazarene who had also lived in like fashion, and the result? The name Christian came into being!
We are not to remain as believers living below the standard God expects, we are to attain unto perfection, it is in this living that the fullness of Christ dwells, it is herein brotherly love is most enjoyed, it is in this living that we can share one another’s burden without the smallest distrust, it is here we can bear no bitterness for a fellow brother and it is in this living we intercede tearfully when a brother is falling and weary along the journey, for herein dwells a perfect Christian life God expects from us. Again I encourage, as the Master instructed, Be ye perfect, even as our Lord is perfect!
May God give us the grace to live and pattern our lives in like fashion. Amen!
