Can we be perfect in this present sinful world? What does it mean to be perfect, holy, like Christ?
Does perfection of character mean to live without sinning?
At a recent visit to the doctor’s office with my mom, her doctor made a statement that prompted the discussion for this blog. He is a kind, wonderful doctor who we have known now for over a decade. As professed Christians we were speaking about God’s goodness.
The statement that caught my attention was this. He stated that we must all strive to be perfect in Christ, but of course we will never be perfect because if we become perfect then we would not need Christ. – So I interpreted this statement to mean that the striving for perfection is what we should do. When we strive or try it shows that Christ is still needed in our lives. If we entertain the thought of obtaining perfection of character or sinlessness, then we are saying that Christ is not needed. Is this true? What does the word of God say about this topic?
Matthew 5:48 KJV says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
The dictionary’s definition of Perfection is, Being entirely without fault or defect. Flawless. This is what many think that the bible infers when they read of perfection. However, that is not what the bible teaches when it speaks of perfection. Bible perfection deals with character and character is the sum of a life which includes truthfulness, integrity, morality, honesty, faithfulness and such like. This is why a person who could be the vilest criminal, who hears the gospel and is transformed by it, God can deem him perfect based on his transformation of character and being covered by Christ’s righteousness.
Examples of those who achieved such character perfection would be Enoch, Elijah, Moses, the apostles Paul and John. In the life of these men, the transformation is clearly seen and understood.
He who said, “Let there be light” is the same person that said, “Be ye therefore perfect.” Should we doubt the power of God’s word who said, “So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” Isaiah 55: 11 KJV
Jude 24 KJV, “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,”
Psalms 33:9 KJV, “For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.”
Revelation 3:5 KJV, the words of Jesus, “He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels.”
Christ expects us to be perfect, but we can only become so through Him. Only Christ can make us perfect, but we have to be obedient to his commandments (John 15:10) and by faith believe that we can be like Him because He said it.
It is trusting in the word of God to do what it says as it has always done. Mark 9:23 KJV, “Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” We must have faith in His word so that it can accomplish what the word says, in us. Mark 10:27, “And Jesus looking upon them saith, With men it is impossible, but not with God: for with God all things are possible.”
So yes, my friend, we can be perfect through Christ.
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.” 1 John 2:6 KJV.
“Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you cannot overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.” Christ’s Object Lessons, 331.2
Many say that Christ lived a perfect, sinless life because he was God. Christ was born into this world, lived as we live from infancy to adulthood. Hebrews 2: 14-18 KJV, outlined for us Jesus Christ being in sinful, fallen flesh overcoming sin and living a sinless life on earth. He gives us power through His word to do the same. (Please review previous January 2023 blog entitled, Human Nature of Christ). Christ is our example, 1 Peter 2:21 KJV and our pattern, 1 Timothy 1:16 KJV.
“Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: 3And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of anti-christ, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.” 1 John 4: 2,3 KJV. See also 2 John 7.
To be without sin is a mystery; but the mystery is Christ dwelling in us. Colossians 1:26,27 KJV, “Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints: 27To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:”
To be perfect means to have Christ’s perfect character of righteousness. Christ will not ask us to do that which He does not give us power to do through His word. The same power is available to us as was available to Him when He walked this world as a man and depended fully upon His Heavenly Father.
We are called to have perfect characters. Characters without spot, without any stain of sin. We are called to perfect holiness in the fear of the Lord, “ 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 7:1 KJV and Romans 6:11, 12 KJV, “Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ, our Lord. 12Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
As mentioned before, all things are possible to him that believeth. Do you believe the word of God? I certainly do. We are loved unconditionally and God has made His power available to us to be overcomers of sin if we would but trust Him and surrender our wills to be guided and strengthened in Him.
I will end with two beautiful quotes from The Desire of Ages (DA).
“…If the eye is kept fixed on Christ, the work of the Spirit ceases not until the soul is conformed to His image.” DA 302.1
“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself. It is a supernatural work, bringing a supernatural element into human nature. The soul that is yielded to Christ becomes His own fortress, which He holds in a revolted world, and He intend that no authority shall be known in it but His own. A soul thus kept in possession by the heavenly agencies is impregnable to the assaults of Satan. But unless we do yield ourselves to the control of Christ, we shall be dominated by the wicked one.” DA 324.1
cryaloud.news 