"HEREIN is our love made perfect; that we may have boldness in the day of judgment. Because as he is so are we in this world." Thus wrote the beloved disciple. Yet how strong the opposition of the human heart to this same blessed doctrine of a perfection in the love of God. The usual objection is, we are such poor, imperfect creatures that it is impossible to be perfect here. True, if by perfection we mean such a state as that of Adam in the garden of Eden. That will never be ours, until we see him as he is, and are changed into the same glorious image. But if the perfection of the Christian is what the above text says, "love made perfect," produced by the indwelling of the spirit of Jesus Christ by faith, producing love to Christ, and obedience to his teachings, why may we not be thus perfect? Err we may, but sin we must not; if we do we are of the devil. For any Christian, under the plea of the weakness of human nature to commit a known violation of God's law is to bring himself into condemnation and a snare of the devil. He is of the devil and not of God; and his only way is to confess, penitently, confidingly and obediently his sins, and God will be faithful and just to forgive (him his) sins and to cleanse (him) from all unrighteousness." The mystery of godliness is, "Christ in you the hope of glory." If Christ be not in us, we are so far from having a good hope of glory, that we are reprobates. If Christ is in us we are like him in this world, and have perfect love, and boldness in the day of judgment. We shall rejoice in the prospect of the coming of Christ to make us perfect in the resurrection of the just.
The word of God declares, "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness:" and it is only unbelief which says he will not do it. Believe then, and be saved.