Perfection
Does the Word of God convey what certain Christians incorrectly teach,
And that is, that before Jesus Christ returns, perfection we must reach?
In other words, that while we're here on earth, perfection we must obtain
In order for us to be saved and our heavenly home thereby claim.
No, God’s Word doesn’t say such a thing — for such is pharisaism —
Just they and the medieval church were into perfectionism.
Hence flagellation, ascetic behaviour, and monasteries too,
Where even now, many still shun the world and such perfection pursue.
No, we cannot reach perfection this side of our Saviour's soon return,
And nor can any person — in any way — their way to Heaven earn.
For while every Christian should do their best to emulate their Saviour,
Perfection is out of reach, despite will-power and Christ-like behaviour.
In the sight of Christ our Saviour, there are no levels of righteousness,
For our best is but filthy rags — therefore, we will never be sinless.
However, the latter will change when to earth our Saviour soon returns,
For then we will become perfect — this, one from the Holy Scriptures learns.
More than one type of perfection is found in the Bible, let me add,
For example: There is one perfection in which we can all be clad.
This particular perfection relates to Christ’s robe of righteousness,
Which covers the repentant who are then treated as if they're sinless.
Yes, they are treated as if perfect, for the Father then sees His Son,
And not the sinner’s dirty old rags, but Christ’s robe, and what He has done.
You see, it’s Christ’s robe of righteousness — yes, it's our Saviour’s perfection
That covers us, while the Spirit then empowers our new direction.
Another perfection that is found is one that we should not mistake
For absolute perfection, lest another wrong path we thereby take.
You see, “Be ye perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect”
Doesn’t refer to sinlessness, but rather, a different aspect.
This verse I’ve just quoted here, refers to spiritual maturity,
That is, having one’s heart and mind committed to God permanently.
One who is no longer a “babe,” still stuck on the rudimentary,
But ripe in spiritual understanding, and surrendered fully.
Yes, hardly a perfect Christian, as we think in terms of perfection,
But one who's holistic spiritually, with a sound connection.
That is, one who acts in love just like the Father, whom they emulate,
With weaknesses to overcome, yet pressing on, while Christ they await.
Thinking we can achieve perfection is spiritual suicide,
For such leads to spiritual pride — ensures that self is glorified.
In other words, Christ’s sacrifice is effectively thrown to one side,
As salvation by our works and salvation by God's grace thus collide.
I guess if one’s view of sin is shallow enough, maybe they can see
Perfection being possible, but such is incorrect biblically.
For we are sinners by nature, and all have sinned too, the Scriptures state,
Thus, no one's ever been perfect, nor will be — as for such we must wait.
Yes, we are all born sinners, and therefore, truly perfect we can't be
Until Jesus at His second coming acts supernaturally.
It is then that He will restore us to Adams pre-Fall condition,
And hence why nobody since Adam's fall has ever reached perfection.
By Lance Landall
“Indeed, there is not a
righteous man on earth who continually does good and
who never sins” (Eccl
7:20, NASB).
“But we are all as an
unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags…[only the robe of
righteousness that Christ has provided will fit man to appear in the presence of
God]” (Isa 64:6, KJV).
“As it is written: ‘There is no one who is
righteous, not even one’ ” (Rom 3:10, NIV).
“Yea, thou heardest not; yea,
thou knewest not; yea, from that time that thine ear was not opened: for I knew
that thou wouldest deal very treacherously, and wast called a transgressor from
the womb” (Isa 48:8, KJV).
“And this is love, that
we walk according to His commandments...” (2 John 6, NASB).
“For not the
hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will
be justified [treated as righteous]” (Rom 2:13, NKJV).
“He [Christ] saved
us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy...”
(Titus 3:5, NIV).
Best
you also read my poem "Lawless Saints?"