Perfection

I often opine that Jesus never asks us to accomplish anything that cannot be done with the help of the Holy Spirit. So his admonition in Matthew 5:48 must be a goal that can be reached. While it is true that none of us will ever be perfect in this life, the high and beautiful standards Jesus set forth in the Sermon on the Mount remain the goals toward which every follower of Christ is invited to aim. By God’s grace and through the quiet, steady work of the Holy Spirit, we can grow in those qualities day by day. Jesus Himself said, “But you are to be perfect, even as your Father in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48, NLT). This is not a harsh demand meant to crush us; it is a loving invitation to become more like the Father who already loves us completely.

Many thoughtful believers quietly wonder, “How good must I be to stay saved? I know I am a sinner. Nothing I do will ever be perfect. What can I do to be saved and to keep on walking with God?” Of course, this represents wrong thinking. The answer is that our own efforts were never the foundation of our salvation. Instead, we receive the perfect righteousness that God Himself has provided through the atoning, substitutionary death of Jesus Christ. Scripture tells us, “For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:21, NLT). Only the Lord is perfect, and in His kindness He works to perfect those who trust in Him.

Here are three biblical truths that can help us hold this truth with both humility and hope.

First, we are sinners, and there is no need to deny it. Sin is an offense against a holy God, and He cannot simply overlook it. The Old Testament already called God’s people to reflect His character: “You must be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy” (Leviticus 19:2, NLT). Sin had to be dealt with according to His just standards. That is why the Father sent the Son to die for us. Jesus bore the full penalty of our sins, and through His one sacrifice He forever settled every claim of divine justice against those who believe. As the writer of Hebrews explains, “For by that one offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy” (Hebrews 10:14, NLT). By trusting Jesus as our Savior that single step of faith places us firmly under the covering of His finished work.

Second, from the very moment we believe, God begins a lifelong work of perfecting us. We receive a perfect standing before Him, yet our daily lives still show how far we have to grow. The apostle Paul helps us understand this tension. He writes, “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” (Philippians 3:12, NLT). Paul is speaking of absolute maturity—the full likeness of Christ. In the very next breath he adds, “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 spiritually mature agree on these things… But we must hold on to the progress we have already made” (Philippians 3:13-16, NLT).

Here “perfect” or “mature” points to stages of growth. Even as a seasoned apostle, Paul knew he had not arrived at sinless perfection. He did not make excuses for failure, yet he also rested in the fact that every past guilt had already been covered by the cross. The penalty is removed; the daily process of becoming holy continues. God has graciously provided a way for cleansing and restored fellowship whenever we stumble: “If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth. But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness” (1 John 1:8-9, NLT).

Third, our ultimate perfection—what the Bible calls glorification—will arrive the moment we see Jesus face to face. John writes with tender assurance, “See how very much our Father loves us, for he calls us his children, and that is what we are! … Dear friends, we are already God’s children, but he has not yet shown us what we will be like when Christ appears. But we do know that we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is. And all who have this eager expectation will keep themselves pure, just as he is pure” (1 John 3:1-3, NLT). Until that day we never experience complete freedom from the presence of sin. Yet when Christ returns, or when we go to be with Him, we will be presented pure and complete—filled with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control, wisdom, humility, and joyful obedience.

The psalmist already celebrated the perfection of God’s ways: “God’s way is perfect. All the LORD’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection” (Psalm 18:30, NLT). What God begins in the new birth, He faithfully continues until the work is finished. So Paul could say with confidence, “And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns” (Philippians 1:6, NLT). The same God who chose us also calls us, justifies us, and will one day glorify us (Romans 8:28-30, NLT). He never abandons any of His children.

So we keep aiming at Christlike character—not out of anxious striving, but out of grateful love. We receive His perfect righteousness as a gift, we walk daily in the Spirit’s gentle power, and we look forward with hope to the day when the work will be complete. In the meantime, the Father who is perfect is patiently, lovingly shaping us into the likeness of His Son.

Blessings on you and yours,
Jim Black

P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org

Appendix: Scriptures Referenced

Leviticus 19:2, Psalm 18:30, Matthew 5:48, Romans 8:28-30, 2 Corinthians 5:21, Philippians 1:6, Philippians 3:12-16, Hebrews 10:14, 1 John 1:8-9, 1 John 3:1-3

“But anyone who does not love does not know God, for God is love.” (1 John 4:8 NLT) As John succinctly puts it “God is love” and so if we are to be perfectly in the will of God we need to have perfect love. “Perfect Love” was the code phrase used by John Wesley to descibe what we today refer to as “holiness”. God supplies every spiritual need from His infinite resources, equipping us to pursue a life of holiness. From the moment of salvation to the day of glorification, the Christian journey is marked by a growing desire to reflect the character of Christ. This pursuit of holiness lies at the heart of the Wesleyan tradition, as articulated by John Wesley and celebrated in the hymns of his brother Charles Wesley. For them, holiness was not an optional spiritual ideal but the very purpose of redemption—a life transformed by grace and empowered by the Spirit.

Through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit, we are enabled to live in obedience to God. Holiness is both a gift and a calling. It is initiated by divine grace and nurtured through faithful surrender. As we walk in the Spirit, we experience what the Apostle Paul describes as being “saved through the life of his Son” (Romans 5:10, NLT). This living relationship with Christ sustains and transforms us, freeing us from sin’s dominion and guiding us toward righteousness.

Hebrews 7:25 (NLT) affirms this: “Therefore he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf”. Jesus Christ, our eternal High Priest, continually intercedes for His people. His ongoing ministry ensures not only our justification but also our sanctification. Because He lives forever, His power to sustain believers in holy living never fails. This truth inspired John Wesley’s conviction that salvation extends beyond forgiveness to include inward transformation.

The writer of Hebrews further encourages believers to seek God’s help in their pursuit of holiness. Hebrews 4:16 (NLT) says, “So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most”. Holiness is not achieved through human effort alone but through continual reliance on God’s grace. It is this grace that both pardons and purifies, enabling us to grow in love and obedience.

Central to the doctrine of holiness is the concept of sanctification. John Wesley taught that believers are progressively transformed by grace and may experience what he called “entire sanctification” or “Christian perfection”—a heart perfected in love for God and neighbor. This does not imply sinless perfection in judgment or knowledge but rather a life fully surrendered to God and motivated by holy love. As John Wesley famously summarized, the goal of the Christian life is to be made perfect in love.

While Christ intercedes for us in heaven, the Holy Spirit works within us on earth to produce holiness. He convicts us of sin, leads us to repentance, and renews our hearts. As we yield to His influence, our lives increasingly reflect the righteousness of Christ. This inner transformation demonstrates that salvation is not merely a change in status but also a change in character.

Scripture assures us that our pursuit of holiness is secure because of Christ’s ongoing ministry. Romans 8:34 (NLT) proclaims, “Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us”. So, our confidence rests not in our own strength but in the living Christ who advocates for us and empowers us to live faithfully.

Our motivation for holy living is rooted in reconciliation with God. Romans 5:10 (NLT) reminds us, “For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son”. Since God saved us when we were His enemies, we can trust Him to continue His work within us, shaping us into the image of His Son.

Our vision of holiness also looks forward with hope. Although Scripture speaks of a coming day of judgment, we are assured of deliverance through Christ. As 1Thessalonians 5:9 affirms, “For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us” (NLT). This promise inspires our gratitude and reverence, motivating us to pursue lives pleasing to God.

In our union with Christ, we share in His resurrection life. His work for us on the cross leads to His work within us through the Spirit, delivering us from the power of sin. This new life brings peace, righteousness, and purpose. The very life that sustains Christ in glory is at work within us today, guiding our decisions and shaping our character.

Charles Wesley captured this vision in his hymn “Love Divine, All Loves Excelling,” praying, “Finish, then, Thy new creation; pure and spotless let us be.” His words echo our conviction that God’s grace not only forgives but also transforms.

Because He lives, we are eternally saved and continually sanctified. We are empowered by His grace and sustained by His intercession. We press forward in the pursuit of holiness. We seek to love God with all our hearts and our neighbors as ourselves, confident that the God who saves us will also perfect us in holy love.

Blessings on you and yours, Jim Black

P.S. if you’d like to read previous ruminations of mine they can be found at https://blog.salvationarmyconcordca.org