Christian Perfection

I have always been intrigued by Wesley's notion of Christian perfection. When we think of something as being perfect, we think of something that is without fault or faultless. It is a term that, in our humanness, we would struggle to apply to a person, let alone an object.

I remember many years ago hearing an officer describe perfection in this way: He held up a pen and asked if it was perfect. Most responses suggested not, because of all the obvious external flaws. He then asked what was the pen designed to do, to which we responded, "to write". After demonstrating that the pen fulfilled the purpose for which it was made, he declared it to be a perfect pen. This illustration provides a helpful insight into how this idea of Christian perfection can be applied to a redeemed people. We have been created to be in relationship with Jesus Christ and to fulfil His redemptive purposes. When we submit our lives to Christ, pursue Christlikeness and be obedient to His will, then surely this understanding of "perfection" applies, despite our obvious flaws.

In their book, "Authentic Holiness for Ordinary Christians", Geoff & Kalie Webb suggest that "Holy living comes from the love of God poured in believers' hearts. This is not the static perfection associated with the word flawless. Rather believers are called to be blameless." Christian perfection in this context is not about being flawless, but blameless. In 1 Thessalonians 5:23 we read that God will keep us "blameless" not "flawless" on this side of heaven. The Webb's further state, "Being blameless in word and action is not a performance target to be achieved, but is the fruit of sanctification, and involves integrity in grace-enabled behaviour."

Christlikeness

"We must never forget that we look to Jesus not only as our Saviour from sin but as our example in holy living. When we step out on to the highway of holiness it is not in the company of some stranger whom we have never met before. We are with the one who has already shown himself to be our Saviour and who cannot fail 'to lavish upon us all that he has to give' (Romans 8:32). We are ever in his company and his example is always before our eyes. Holiness is Christlikeness and Christlikeness is holiness. What is Christlike is holy and what is unChristlike is unholy - by whomsoever or for whatsoever reason."
(Frederick Coutts, The Splendour of Holiness, p 60)

When we strip holiness down to its very essence, it is nothing more and nothing less than being 'Christlike". We used to sing the chorus, To Be Like Jesus, which ought to reflect the heart of every believer who's "attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus..." (Philippians 2:5). In Christ, we have the example and power to be like the One who has saved us and sanctified us for His purpose. He has gone before us and goes ahead of us, giving "us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness" (2 Peter 1:3).

There is a very obvious conclusion for me from these thoughts; if I want to be like Christ, I need to be in close proximity to Christ - learning from His example, receiving His power, listening to His voice and imitating His character.