Christian Perfection:

Christian Perfection:

Almost all believers lack light on this topic. Either they cannot see it, or they grope about in a fog.

The fact that the Scriptures say with all clarity that we must be, and must remain, perfect while we are in this world cannot reasonably be contradicted!

Then the only big question is this: What do the Scriptures mean by being perfect? Of what does this perfection consist?

We find the first answer in Hebrews 9:9, namely, the expression, “perfect in regard to the conscience,” that is, in regard to my own conscience and not in regard to other people’s consciences. This means according to the light I have received from God up to now, or according to the light that I possess at any given moment. When I live accordingly and do not transgress this light, I am perfect in a biblical sense. This has nothing to do with being so-called “sin-free.”

Being perfect in regard to the conscience is the same as walking in the light (1 John 1:7), which is the same as walking in the Spirit, the same as living an overcoming life, being crucified with Christ, and having put off the old man. In reality this means that you do not fall when you are tempted, you do not commit conscious sin and you do not commit works of the flesh. Gal. 5:19. This, in turn, means that you do not lack any of the fruits of the Spirit, or any of the virtues of Christ.

It means, for example, that you never become angry, are never bitter, never bear a grudge against anyone, never lie, never commit an act of unrighteousness in money matters; that you are never impatient, never discontented or unthankful, and are always humble and meek, etc., etc.

Everyone is called to this glorious perfection. Unfortunately, not so many people have already attained it! Therefore: deadly earnest! Full speed ahead! Run! Pursue! So you can shortly attain it. There is good hope of attaining this life! Be of good courage and good hope! Endure! Do not give up at any cost! That is the worst and stupidest thing you could do, my dear friend!!!

Let us consider Philippians 3:12 and compare it to verse 15. In a few translations it says “perfect” in both verses, which amounts to a complete contradiction and is therefore meaningless. In other translations it says “perfected” in verse 12, and “perfect” in verse 15.1 This makes for full harmony and is perfectly meaningful and absolutely correct. Thus it is written in verse 12 that Paul did not think he was already perfected; that is, that he had not already achieved everything that it was possible for him to achieve of transformation and conformation into the image of Christ, or in other words, of growth and maturity. Eph. 4:13.

In Philippians 3:15 it is written, “Therefore, let us as many as are perfect [see footnote #1] . . . .” In other words, Paul and many others were already perfect (namely, in regard to the light they possessed), yet they were not perfected!

We must therefore make a radical separation between these two concepts; otherwise we will harm ourselves and others! Unfortunately, those who are imperfect commit works of the flesh. You can hear and see and touch these works everywhere.

On the other hand, a person who is perfect does not commit works of the flesh, but he cannot possibly avoid doing deeds of the body (Rom. 8:13); that is, works that his conscious mind has not agreed to, something that he does not have light about, but about which a greater light later reveals to him that it was not from God. Because he was not aware of it, he did not develop a bad conscience. On the contrary, he is perfect as far as his conscience is concerned.

However, the greater light showed him clearly that he was not perfected.

It is therefore of the utmost importance to be perfect first, and then to pursue perfection.

We cannot receive all light, for God dwells in unapproachable light (1 Tim. 6:16), but we know of no limit to how far we can progress in being like Him here in this world! We can go from light to light endlessly all the days of our life, from glory to glory, from divine love to even deeper divine love, from wisdom to a greater fullness of wisdom, etc. Everyone does not advance equally according to what is written: one star differs from another star in glory. 1 Cor. 15:41.

If only this were clear and plain to everyone!