Isn’t perfection the goal of Christians? Full and complete maturity, fully pleasing Our Heavenly Father? What is perfection? Strong’s Concordance defines perfection as:
1) brought to its end, finished
2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
3) perfect
4) that which is perfect
a) consummate human integrity and virtue
b) of men
1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
We are told that we cannot attain perfection in the world but I would suggest that we can indeed. Paul wrote in Colossians Chapter 3:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
If you want to attain perfection, you must focus on Love for it is the key to attaining perfection. The old man cannot attain perfection and therefore is instructed that perfection is not achievable. However, the Sons of GOD can and will be perfected but only by the revelation of walking in Love. Paul urges us to “put on Love” and if that were not possible, the Most Holy Spirit would not have compelled him to include this truth in this Epistle. We are to clothe ourselves in Love above all else. As we do this we can then be in unity with Our Heavenly Father, with Our Lord Jesus Christ, with the Most Holy Spirit, and with our brothers and sisters.
We are told to act. Putting on Love requires a decision on our part. Once we decide to act then we must take action. Paul tells us to put off the old man and his deeds. Many Christians expect Our Heavenly Father to sprinkle some fairy dust on them at some point and then they will instantly be different. The Apostle Paul shared specifics about maturing in Christ. We are responsible for our actions and our fruit. Are you known by others as a giver or a taker. Look in the mirror. Look in the checkbook. Look at your interaction with others. Be brutally honest with yourself. Are you pursuing the Bond of Perfection or are you perpetuating the old man? Do you long to serve mankind or do you want to be placed on a pedestal?
The rich young ruler asked Jesus “what good thing shall I do that I may have eternal life?” Jesus responded, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me.”
If Jesus said to act… therefore act!