Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
Be perfect in the humble human sphere as the Father is perfect in His exalted divine sphere, with purity of heart and purpose, completeness of righteous character, the moral image of God restored, and Christlikeness formed within. In its place it concludes the teaching on love for enemies, requiring impartial goodness to the evil and the good, the just and the unjust, as the Father gives sun and rain to all. The command is also a promise, for God never commands without furnishing grace, and provision is made through Christ and the Holy Spirit so that fallen human beings cooperating with divinity may be recovered fully from sin and share the divine nature. It is received by beholding Christ by faith, studying and obeying His word, yielding the whole heart emptied of self to be molded as clay, while earnestly striving, praying, and overcoming every fault and indulged appetite. This is perfect obedience to God's holy law as the transcript of His character, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, to be gained now during probation with continual onward progress that begins on earth and continues through eternity.
Meaning of Perfection
Be perfect in the human sphere as the Father is perfect in the divine sphere, as God is perfect in His exalted sphere of action so human beings may be perfect in their humble sphere. The standard is God's perfection, yet it is to be lived out within human limits, and Christ who was born human yet allied to divinity both commands it and supplies wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, sufficient grace and a share in the divine nature so that those joined to Him are strengthened to reach the highest elevation of character and faithfully use entrusted gifts. God's holy law is a transcript of His character and expresses that ideal for His children. This perfection is shown in thorough and prompt work, in faithfulness, integrity and kindness in small matters, in faithful performance of little duties and kind deeds, each of which is precious to God.
Perfection is purity of purpose and action and purity of heart, essential to increased knowledge and to clear, far-seeing moral faculties. It is completeness and harmony of righteous qualities in a harmonious whole, holiness and a perfect character reflecting the Father, where imperfection of character is sin. It is the moral image of God restored in man, lost through selfishness and self-love which blinds to what God requires, and restored when the whole being is placed under God's control. It is Christlikeness of character, the standard God designs all followers to reach through ongoing consecration that elevates mind and speech and makes heavenly minded and prepared for translation, resting on the perfection of Christ in whom is human righteousness.
It is a high ideal set before all who believe and before sons and daughters of God, with whom they should be content with nothing less, opening a path of constant advancement requiring continual striving and constant onward and upward progress. That ideal of Christlikeness includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated, all that is elevating, refining the taste, sanctifying the judgment, purifying and ennobling the thoughts, never making a person coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. It is supreme love to God that seeks the highest good of humanity, unselfish concern centered in God rather than self-love, for seeking the good of others is the only way to true happiness. It is a full, well-rounded character exercising every talent, reached through entire surrender to God's will.
Perfection is entire conformity of the human will to the will of God, having the will in harmony with God and in complete conformity to Him. It brings even the thoughts into captivity to Christ, sanctifying, inspiring and governing the whole life and character by the Spirit of Truth, sanctifying the whole person through God's Word received into the heart rather than by merely agreeing with a theory. It keeps heart and soul and mind and strength in conformity to God, hungering and thirsting for righteousness with the heart emptied of self and cherished sin so the Holy Spirit can enter fully and Christ can purify the soul and live within. This is not achieved by self-effort or human strength, for God works in and through the believer and the excellency and glory belong to Him, while human cooperation is required, including temperance in eating, drinking and all habits of life, whole-souled earnestness in self-denial, and overcoming wrong habits and defective character through faith in His promises.
Sermon Setting and Audience
The command belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, which lays out the principles of the kingdom of divine grace and explains the holy law. That sermon corrects false ideas and self-righteous teachings, and reveals God not as a stern judge but as a compassionate, merciful, loving Father. Its teaching provides a sure foundation for faith and practice simple enough for all to understand, and calls followers to copy the divine pattern as closely as possible. Though they do not share His own consciousness of power, by abiding in Him and drawing strength from Him they can reveal His spirit and power. Its blessings and instructions are rich in meaning, to be believed and practiced, cherished and heeded. Their value is realized only by living them out in practical experience, with their symbols and truths incorporated into life until they become experiential knowledge. Living by that teaching develops Christlikeness, forms God's principles in the heart, transforms character and makes a people holy so their lives show His praise. It is a soul-saving message calling for humility and reception of the teaching, by which those who receive it are converted and rebuke for past wrongs is removed.
It was spoken not to publicans and sinners, and not to Pharisees and scribes who came as critics and spies to catch and pervert words for condemnation. It was given to those who knew, loved and trusted Jesus, whom He kept close around Him, who came as disciples eager to learn and looked on Him with love as pupils on a loved Teacher. Those disciples were not yet perfect in character, but made mistakes and showed prejudice and selfishness and other wrong traits. Called from common occupations, they had much to unlearn and much that was new to learn, and needed His lessons repeated again and again with illustrations from familiar things. Their perfection means following God as dear children, walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself as offering and sacrifice, walking after conversion from darkness as children of light, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth, and proving what is acceptable to the Lord. That same requirement spoken to the disciples applies to the planning and holding of camp meetings, demanding that the first camp meeting be made as far as possible a right sample of what every future camp meeting ought to be.
In its setting the verse concludes the teaching on love for enemies and draws the conclusion from God's unfailing mercy and love. Because the heavenly Father is kind to the unthankful and evil and has stooped to lift people up, they may become like Him in character and stand without fault before men and angels. It sums the law as love to God supremely and to neighbor as self, which together sum the commandments and the duty of humanity. This is the application of the great lesson of love given to the lawyer who asked what to do to inherit eternal life, meaning love to the Lord God with all heart, soul, strength and mind, and love to neighbor as self, lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of looking on them and passing by on the other side. It gives in one sentence the source and nature of the righteousness possessed by all who enter heaven. That righteousness is not reached by human effort, which fails and can never enter the kingdom of heaven, but comes from God and shares His character, with its fruits described throughout the Sermon on the Mount. The law is a transcript of God's character, and the heavenly Father is a perfect manifestation of the principles that are the foundation of His government. In the order of the sermon it follows instruction about what to do and what to avoid in order to be blessed. This perfection is holiness of heart and purity of life, necessary for carrying out Christ's principles. It sets the highest standard for life during probation, calling God's people to become perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect and not to settle for a lesser level of service, living in obedience to His moral standard and becoming capable through Christ of that supreme love to God and love to neighbor. The command is addressed to the churches and to many in positions of trust and to all in responsible positions, for position does not make character. Those in trust must show His tenderness and love through kindness, encouragement, compassion and works of mercy toward those in need, for selfishness and self-love keep a person from representing Christ and bearing God's image.
The fifth chapter lays out in figures the plans to be studied and acted upon, full of precious instruction to be read and written upon the tablets of the soul. Its blessings and instructions become experiential knowledge only by being lived out. Living those teachings exemplified in daily life makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching them from the pulpit. Those who follow the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount continually seek perfection of Christian character, and this growth equips them to be lights in the world and channels through which God makes heavenly truth known to those in spiritual darkness. Living them transforms character to holiness, calling believers to be the light of the world whose good works glorify the Father in heaven and the salt of the earth that must not lose its savor. Such perfection is revealing the likeness of the divine Lord in the science of spiritual life and glorifying God in body and spirit, which are His. It is possible through cooperation with Christ and union with Him deeper, stronger and truer than any other union, with the heart filled with His grace and His will controlling in a love that suffers with those who suffer, rejoices with those who rejoice, feels tenderness for every soul in weakness, sorrow or distress, and reaches forth a helping hand as partakers of the divine nature. Christ's life on earth is the illustrious example of what can be accomplished and a perfect reflection of the divine law, full of life and hope and light, and by beholding Him human beings are changed into the same likeness from character to character. This requires the molding influence of the Spirit of God and a faith that works by love and purifies the soul from all objectionable hereditary and cultivated tendencies into sweetness of humility combined with firmness and solidity of character.
Impartial Love Like Father
To be perfect is to love as the Father loves, with impartial goodness toward the evil and the good, the just and the unjust, to whom He gives sun and rain, and this keeping of the law reaches beyond outward acts to the intents and purposes of the mind. It is a character made fit for heaven through grace, not mere outward kindness, requiring conversion that overcomes impatience, irritability and unkindness even in the home. Such perfection is expressed through divinity indwelling and co-working in pure Christlike love, and it marks those who live it as distinct from the world and as workers together with God.
That love is shown by loving enemies, blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for those who mistreat, misuse and persecute. It refuses to resent evil actions, resists evil while refusing to abuse the evildoer, and refuses to answer provocation with rebuke or harsh words, but shows mercy and courtesy to all. This reflects God's benevolence and forbearance and fits believers for companionship with sinless beings.
Merely loving those who love in return and greeting only brethren falls short, for even publicans do so. The command requires a broad channel of overflowing love without narrow limits, without national prejudice, and without distinction of race, condition, poverty, wealth or position. It calls for conciliation and deference, letting soft melting kindness break up icy coldness and contempt toward those who displease and are thought faulty.
This perfection tears away selfishness, pride, prejudice of nationality, territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society, making no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. It sweeps away the Jewish distinction between who is neighbor and who is enemy, teaching that every person in need of sympathy, assistance and love is neighbor, with no caste and no aristocracy but only pure and undefiled religion. It lifts men out of the narrow circle of self-love to love all, to look on every needy soul as neighbor and on the world as the field of work, to serve suffering humanity with sympathy toward the erring and a helping hand to the needy who do not seem deserving. Those who live this impartial, unselfish, peacemaking love are called children of God, appreciated as such by the church, with names registered in the Lamb's Book of Life as sons and daughters of God, though where this love is lacking the record in heaven is marred.
Living this love makes believers the light of the world whose good works glorify the Father and the salt of the earth that must not lose its savor, through whom mercy and goodness shine to lead others to believe in God's love. It breaks down strong hatred, brings genuine love into hearts, convicts evildoers of sinfulness and leads many to conversion to break away from Satan's tyranny and stand with Christ. This course costs something, yet it is especially the duty of ministers and those in prominent medical missionary work, and of all who continually seek perfection of character in order to be channels of heavenly truth to those in spiritual darkness.
The same love requires Christlike courtesy, forbearance, meekness and humility toward those who differ, respecting rights and consciences at all times and under all circumstances. It entertains no unkind thought, refuses to climb upon the judgment seat to censure or condemn brethren, refuses to crowd, ridicule, misrepresent or push those who do not see alike, and will not hurt souls purchased at infinite cost. Disputed views are to be examined kindly from Scripture in Christ's spirit, sowing seeds for good by word, spirit, deportment and manner of treatment, especially by those in responsible positions whose example others follow.
Command That Promises Possibility
The command to be perfect is also a promise, for redemption provides complete recovery from Satan's power. Christ separates the contrite soul from sin and destroys the devil's works. The Holy Spirit is given to every repentant, believing soul to keep from sinning, so temptation is no excuse for wrongdoing and a holy temper and Christlike life are attainable. Through faith in Christ and living the Life-giver's life, every person can reach the standard of righteous character held up in the Sermon on the Mount.
Provision has been made so the command can be obeyed, for God never commands without furnishing the grace to carry it out. In Christ are received wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, with power to overcome wrong habits and practices and to do what cannot be done alone. Those who receive Him are joined to Him by creation and redemption, invested with His strength, made partakers of the divine nature, and strengthened to reach the highest elevation of character and excellence. No lower standard is to be set up, and defective character and cherished wrong habits show grace has not been allowed to work in the heart.
Christ spoke as one born human yet allied to divinity, and in shared human nature He lived a perfect, sinless, wholly devoted life of service. In His humanity He went before and worked out perfection of character for others, and His perfection received by faith that works by love and purifies the soul makes the believer like Him, pure and undefiled. He is the ladder joining earth to heaven, reaching humanity by taking human nature and overcoming, so that by taking His nature and through faith in Him believers may overcome and attain the glory of God's character. This proves that through cooperation with divinity human beings may attain perfection, showing imperfection is sin but not an unavoidable inability.
Perfection is not claimed as already complete but is aimed at throughout the lifetime. Like Paul, the believer forgets what is behind, reaches forward, and presses toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, with truth revealed to those thus minded so they are not left to grope in doubt. It is continual striving for a character conformed to God's will and following Christ in everything, with constant onward and upward progress that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. This work of depending continually on God for strength begins on earth and continues through eternity, promoting happiness now and leading to glory and eternal reward.
God's ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach, yet all may reach it. Christ expects no impossibilities and requires nothing without giving grace and strength to perform it, having every perfection of grace at command to bestow with so high and holy a privilege. He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask than parents are to give good gifts to children. The standard is to strive to attain in one's own sphere the perfection Christ attained on earth in every phase of character, reflecting God in thought, word, deed, spirit and actions, and falling day by day far short of the divine requirements endangers salvation.
How Perfection Is Received
Perfection is obtained only by hiding in the cleft of the Rock, for God's perfection is revealed in the humanity of Christ. It is reached by studying and practicing God's Word, laying hold of Christ, and gaining daily personal knowledge of Him as sufficiency. By faith believers behold Christ's perfect character with prayerful desire to become like Him, and as they behold Him they are changed into His likeness. That beholding means looking to Jesus and eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which is His Word, which is Spirit and life, so that believers reveal Christ in character. It requires union with Him deeper, stronger and truer than any other union, with the heart filled with His grace and His will controlling in love that suffers with those who suffer, rejoices with those who rejoice, feels tenderness for every soul in weakness, sorrow or distress, and reaches forth a helping hand as partakers of the divine nature.
Christ's life on earth is the illustrious example of what can be accomplished and a perfect reflection of the divine law, full of life and hope and light, and by beholding Him human beings are changed from character to character. His life showed perfection through kindness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, never sour or unapproachable and never compromising with wrong to gain favor. Receiving His righteousness makes these qualities visible, for living in His presence and receiving His grace mellows and transforms the character. This likeness comes by dwelling in the sunshine of His presence, being mellowed by His grace, receiving promised grace, cooperating with God, and having Christ formed within as the hope of glory, so daily life becomes more like the Christ-life. By that beholding the character is transformed and His own righteousness is imputed, so all virtue and all light and all that is of any value is derived from Christ alone.
It requires honoring profession of faith by adorning life with beautiful traits and Christian graces, putting away harshness of speech and action, clinging imperfections and disparaging fellow workers, and instead helping them climb, exchanging deformity for practical godliness. Like Christ, in whose mouth was found no guile, those in whom He dwells as an abiding guest in the soul temple speak no careless, cheap idle words. They take hold of sacred trusts of responsibility as sacred and do the work that must be done in and through Christ Jesus, sanctified by His power and efficiency. Perfection is revealing the likeness of the divine Lord in the science of spiritual life and glorifying God in body and spirit, which are His.
This Christlikeness is reached through entire surrender to God's will. The heart must be emptied of self and cherished sin so the Holy Spirit can enter fully and Christ can purify the soul, with hunger and thirst for righteousness and complete conformity to God's will. It is done by surrendering the will to God's will and giving the character into Christ's hands as clay into a potter's hands, remaining susceptible to divine impressions and permitting the Spirit of truth to sanctify, inspire and govern the life. No earthly selfish motive or perverse will can be allowed a place, or the vessel is marred and the grace of God is frustrated. Human resistance through a perverse will and an earthly, selfish spirit prevents acceptance of that grace.
The work is not achieved by self-effort or human strength: God works in and through the believer, so that Christ lives in the person and God is glorified through human lives. God has made every provision for this likeness and Himself accomplishes it for those who do not resist, bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, so that all excellence appearing in character and conduct comes from God and not from finite human nature. Its excellency comes from God's work, not human effort. Perfection is connected with sanctification through the truth: it comes not from merely agreeing with a theory, but from receiving God's Word into the heart, so that it sanctifies the whole person. Those who yield themselves to God for sanctification through obedience to the truth receive Christ's transforming grace and pledged power to resist temptation.
Perfection is attained only through God's grace, while requiring human cooperation. Believers must cooperate by bringing wills and ways into conformity with God's, willingly submitting the will, praying earnestly, humbling themselves, and striving with determined obedience. Gaining perfection of character is each person's work, done by setting the mark high and being determined to reach it. When a person resolves to obey, God at once helps and makes that person a witness heaven approves, adding mental power and strength as He strengthened Daniel. Daniel's refusal to eat as the king commanded shows this cooperation, meaning refusing to join others in breaking right rules, saying no with decision out of fear of God and love for God that keeps His commandments.
Christ gives efficiency to every soul who strives for clear, far-seeing moral faculties, with whole-souled, enthusiastic earnestness in self-denial and following Christ for eternal interests. Those who call on Him in faith can receive strength to overcome wrong habits and practices. Converted believers should recognize inherited defects and cultivated wrong habits in their characters and make strenuous efforts to overcome them. God's grace works wrong ways out of the character and establishes right ways. Retaining bad habits as unchangeable parts of individuality shows that Christ's transforming grace has not corrected the heart, for to be a Christian is to be Christlike.
Overcoming requires correcting every fault, with repeated struggle against self and inherited tendencies, close self-examination, and correction of every harmful trait. Wrong habits must be overcome, and right habits, correct speech and correct habits must be cherished, working away from all commonness and cheapness and reaching up for perfection. It means unlearning wrong habits of speech, building opposite traits, practicing self-control over thoughts and words, and warring daily against inherited and cultivated tendencies. No one is excused who allows known defects to remain in character, and no one must stop to think I cannot do this, for in the Lord's strength defects and ignorance may be overcome. It calls for living in complete loyalty to God: keeping every sense alert, avoiding influences that expose the soul to temptation, disentangling from anything that can tarnish it, and making God's word the rule of life rather than inherited or cultivated habits, tastes, ambition or appetite, giving the whole mind, heart and soul to the Lord.
It includes supplying deficiency in character with efficiency and improvement, bringing the self as living machinery under training to exactitude, order and promptitude, keeping appointed time and using time to improve the mind instead of making excuses. It includes right use and care of the fearfully and wonderfully made body, constant watchfulness and prayer against temptation, and an unflinching witness before others. Temperance in eating, drinking and all habits of life is part of that cooperation. People are to bring appetites and animal propensities under the control of reason, rather than letting them rule. This perfection includes self-denial and temperance, which preserve physical and mental strength for God's service. It includes respecting the mind and body God has given and not abusing their faculties.
Obedience to God's Word enables people to rise higher, while Scripture sets out temperance's benefits and intemperance's dangers. Purity of heart in purpose and action is essential for every soul who desires increased knowledge. Perfection cannot be attained while indulging appetite or while body and mind remain diseased, for reason must govern the animal propensities.
Attaining the standard requires effort through the grace of Christ and consecrating the whole being — body, soul and spirit — to holy work. Those who bear His truth must be clean and perfect lest the truth passing through impure channels be marred by the corroding of their thoughts and actions. It means constantly reaching forward toward perfection of character and striving continually for conformity to the will of God, with daily earnest efforts to cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God. This calls for personal consecration and sanctification of the whole being to God, living with Christ's vigilance, copying His example, and speaking sincerely to help those in darkness and sin. The time is the great day of atonement when every case is being decided by the Judge of all, and those preparing for entrance into the heavenly courts cannot afford to be careless.
Law Obedience and Holiness
God's holy law is a transcript of His character and the standard He calls people to obey, expressing perfect righteousness and harmony with Him, and nothing less than perfect obedience to it is accepted. As God is perfect in His high and divine sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere, with Christlikeness as the ideal of Christian character. That ideal never degrades but refines taste, sanctifies judgment, and purifies and ennobles thought by bringing it into captivity to Christ, never making a person coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. It opens a path of continual advancement that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated, requiring continual striving and constant onward and upward progress toward perfection of character, with life and character examined against the perfect standard and with resistance to influences that draw the mind from God and wise use of every hour of probation. In one sentence the command gives the source and nature of the righteousness of all who enter heaven, which is not reached by human effort that fails and can never enter the kingdom, but comes from God and shares His character, with its fruits described throughout the Sermon on the Mount, while the heavenly Father is the perfect manifestation of the principles that are the foundation of His government. Christ's life perfectly expressed that law, and those who become like Him will obey God's commandments and, clothed in His righteousness, be fit for heaven and join the King's feast among the blood-washed people.
That obedience means living in obedience to God's moral standard and becoming capable through Christ of loving God supremely with heart and soul and mind and strength and one's neighbor as oneself, which together sum up God's commandments and man's duty. Disciples are to obey the law's precepts and represent God's character to the world, patterned on the character of the Father in heaven, rather than lowering the commands to fit weakness. This love is to be lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of looking on them and passing by on the other side, and it is commanded to churches, to many in positions of trust, and to all in responsible positions, since position does not make character. Reaching toward this perfection as the life-work in conformity to God's will requires self-denial in controlling passion when it strives for mastery, resisting censure and faultfinding, patiently bearing with difficult people and with a dull and trying child, faithfully carrying responsibilities and standing at the post of duty though others fail, lifting burdens wherever duty requires not for applause or policy but for the Master with unwavering fidelity, and doing good and working patiently and cheerfully for others even when inclination leads to self-pleasing and when the work is unappreciated. Those who share Christ's love have no limit to their influence and work for humanity, following Christ who did not grow weary in saving fallen men, joining the day-and-night work of angels for human uplifting according to the plan of salvation, in continuous persevering work and waiting in submission to God's will, ready for every call of duty until the Master bids laying the armor down.
Christ explained the law's full, far-reaching claims, restoring its true meaning from the distortions of human traditions, showing it is not a cold code of outward demands but holy and just and good and remains the standard of righteousness in its breadth and dignity. The law He gave on the mount reaches every part of life, condemns every evil action, and requires perfect obedience, and His commands are necessary to bring people into harmony with Him. The standard is the ten holy precepts proclaimed at Sinai, the first four defining duty to God and the last six duty to man, summed as loving God with all heart and soul and mind and loving neighbor as self, to be remembered and meditated upon. Fallen man, degraded by sin and weakened in power to distinguish right from wrong and to obey, cannot of himself meet this standard, and God in love would not break His covenant or alter His law to meet man's deficiencies, but gave His only-begotten Son that believers should not perish but have everlasting life. Christ laid aside His royal robes and lived the law of God in humanity, bringing power sufficient to overcome sin, so that by partaking of His divine nature human beings can also live that law and be elevated and ennobled, and those who truly follow and accept Him as Saviour desire to obey God and represent His character. That ideal is set before sinners and calls for loyalty to His law, and it can be reached only through Christ's grace, by practicing the truth and living by the perfect principles shown in His life, with His grace and power enabling believers to overcome every fault as God's adopted children conform their lives to His will. Perfect obedience would bring love and harmony and joy instead of oppression and injustice, and would reveal Christianity's power to the world.
Perfection must be gained now during probationary time in this world through earnest striving and prayer, by separating from sin and devoting time to repentance and service to God rather than letting pursuit of earthly wealth crowd out character formation. Character must be made fit for heaven before probation closes and Christ returns, by continuing to learn in the school of Christ with the heart open to heavenly knowledge, growing in grace and knowledge of the truth, learning the necessary lessons and gaining the victory in His name. This preparation fits a person to stand the final examination and grand review that must shortly take place, standing in the merits of the heavenly Redeemer with heavenly honors. There will be no further opportunity then to gain moral fitness or be purified from sin, and each person will remain as found, for there is no second term and no second privilege or opportunity after this life to redeem abused privileges and lost opportunities; it is now or never.
The call requires holiness like the Father's holiness, purity and holiness of character without spot or stain of sin, brought into conformity with God's will. This accords with God's call to Israel to be holy because He is holy, a charge given to the whole people and not only to their leaders, and it applies in dealings with others, especially those who oppose God's counsel, with each person contributing to the character of the whole community. It is answered not by promises alone but by fruits of repentance and a daily walk that shows conversion, for others cannot force a person to harbor wrong thoughts or do wrong actions, and each person's choices show whether fit for the society of heaven. Jesus met that standard while taking the form of sinful man and clothing His divinity with humanity, remaining holy even as God is holy and one with God in purity and holiness of character. Because He was a Sin-bearer needing no atonement for Himself, His sinless perfection qualified Him to be the Saviour of mankind and to make propitiation for the sins of the whole world.
Perfection in Daily Life
Perfection in one's own sphere as God is perfect in His means thorough prompt work, faithfulness and integrity in small matters, faithful performance of little duties and little deeds of kindness and cheerful words and truthfulness, for each duty done faithfully is precious to God and treasured as a gem when earthly work ends. God's own perfect work appears as clearly in the tiniest insect as in the king of beasts, and the believing child's soul is as precious as angels about the throne, so perfection is seen in the least no less than the greatest. Strong beautiful character is built by individual acts of duty, by integrity in little things and fidelity in least as well as greatest details, which gladden life and exert a never-perishing influence for good, and success in this life and in gaining the future life depends on faithful conscientious attention to little things.
Perfection includes order, method, cleanliness, energy and wise thoughtful management in all plans and arrangements, especially for religious service, doing everything in the most perfect manner according to pattern. It follows the principles of perfection and order specified to Israel encamped in the wilderness, teaching that God is pleased with order and right example and not with disorderly arrangements, careless work and untidy surroundings. It means planning carefully rather than leaving matters to the last moment and rushing, working with economy yet allowing no cheapness, and bringing all work to a perfect standard that represents God's character.
Perfection is required in presenting truth, with care, grace and intelligence so delivery does not detract from the word, and with Christ abiding within to gain all possible grace and discipline of mind. Faulty speech is no little thing, and must be overcome: defective pronunciation, unattractive tone, high unnatural key, voice too low to be heard, thick clumsy manner, hurried excited rushing with words crowded together so half is lost, and loud long talking that abuses the organs of speech and makes the speaker unacceptable. In its place is control of voice, talking earnestly but calmly and unexcitedly, slowly yet earnestly and solemnly with assurance, every word distinct so the hearer gains every sentence, the most favorable impression is made, pulpit effort is of far greater advantage and less taxing, and the message comes as a savor of life unto life. Followers are to preserve Christ's dignity and grace in everything done and said, guarding words and actions rather than excusing carelessness.
Perfection of character in words, deeds and spirit reflecting the Father is Christlikeness: ever kind and gentle, with perfect love dwelling within as fragrant influence, showing kindness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, never sour or unapproachable and never compromising with wrong to obtain favor. It is cultivated in this life as preparation for membership in the royal family and everlasting kingdom, with a continually higher standard, through progressive sanctification in which day by day life is changed and adorned. It requires crucifying self, casting down cherished idols, letting Jesus enter to cleanse from defilement, obtaining mastery over self at all times and under all circumstances, living wholly as Christ's in time and strength and influence, and representing Him by forbearance, patience and unselfishness. Speaking pleasant rather than harsh words brings God's peace into the heart, dwelling in the sunshine of His presence mellows and transforms, and learning from Christ increases desire to build His kingdom, enlighten others, cease living to self, and feel greater obligation to work for others as privileges and facilities increase. Profession must be honored by beautiful traits and graces, putting away harshness of speech and action, clinging imperfections and disparaging of fellow workers, helping them climb, exchanging deformity for practical godliness, ennobling life by steadfast purpose, and being true representatives in deed and truth, which God's just and reasonable requirements demand in order to see the kingdom.
Parents are to cooperate with God to help children form perfect characters through patient gentle wise discipline, training them for heaven rather than indulging or idolizing them, making it life-study to render them as nearly perfect as human effort with divine aid can make them. Perfection in the redeemed family is perfection in character-building, purifying even as Christ is pure, not backsliding but conformed to heaven's will, with households purified because the end is nearer than when first believed. All are measured in heaven's scales by home life, so a Christian in the home is a Christian everywhere and home religion exerts immeasurable influence; fathers and mothers must understand best methods, put away murmuring and complaining as disrespect, live as in God's dwelling place and as members of His family by creation and redemption, cherish respect and tenderness, never mar and scar others' life and spirit, and show miracle-working power so the world knows they have been with Jesus. Only those perfect in character can see God, and entrance to His kingdom requires following the Pattern, with more of Jesus and far less of self, doing right because right and pleasing to God, educated for heaven's society to stand pure and white before the throne where nothing defiling enters.
Those who work with God as co-partners to build, strengthen and advance His kingdom must strive not only for perfection of character but for perfection of every bodily organ and quality of mind, so every movement adorns doctrine and commends sanctifying truth. This applies especially to physicians, nurses, helpers and all in medical missionary work, who must continually aim upward under the discipline of the greatest Teacher, keep learning and improving rather than claiming the standard cannot be reached. In the Lord's strength defects and ignorance may be overcome, for He is the source of wisdom and grace to those striving for the standard; known defects must not remain, no one may stop with I cannot do this, wrong habits must be overcome and right habits, correct speech and correct habits cherished, working away from all commonness and cheapness and reaching up for perfection. There is no graduating place this side of heaven, the course ever tends upward, and thorough preparation and highest skill and work of the highest order are required of learners, nurses, evangelists, ministers, canvassers and gospel students to prepare for higher education above.
Every minister is commanded to reach perfection in work as solemn duty, taking hold earnestly, condemning sin in the flesh without apology, and reaching up in faith and hope for grace and right judgment so deficiencies can be overcome, with progress measured across years lest one end farther from the standard than shortly after first receiving truth. Position does not make character, yet the command comes to churches, to many in trust and to all in responsible positions, requiring guarding of spirit, words and actions and doing true faithful work with every step heavenward. Disciples are to represent Christ in character with grace and love in action, meekness and lowliness of heart, pursuing obedient perfection rather than making conduct depend on fear of exploitation or loss. The command applies the lesson of love to God with all heart, soul, strength and mind and to neighbor as self, lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of passing by on the other side.
Perfection like the Father means being barricaded by Christ's grace in self-control and purity amid satanic witchery and licentiousness, watching against the enemy, doing nothing to encourage temptation, refusing to remain in evil atmosphere, with strength to withstand so seducing spirits have no influence, otherwise the overcome have only themselves to blame. It closes the lessons on resisting seducing and evil spirits, calling every saint to discern weak points and guard them with rigor and severity with Jesus as pattern man. Those buried with Christ in baptism and raised in resurrection likeness have pledged newness of life, and God has pledged that power and grace of Father, Son and Holy Spirit will await their call and aid them when tempted to deny Christ, giving power and wisdom to stand victorious over all beguiling, lifting a standard when the enemy comes like a flood.
The call to be blameless harmless sons without rebuke amid a crooked perverse nation, doing all without murmuring and disputing and shining as lights holding forth the word of life, to walk before God and be perfect as Abraham and to walk with God as Enoch three hundred years, was given to Laodicea after faithful instruction and much excellent labor. It calls for standing perfect and complete in all God's will, with Christ in the heart the hope of glory, presented perfect through preaching, warning and teaching every man in all wisdom with labor striving according to His mighty working. This requires personally appropriating heard truth, carrying out given instruction and following up work begun; merely hearing without appropriating and obeying rejects warning and entreaty and surely brings the Laodicean result.
God's children are to be perfect in their humble sphere as God is perfect in His exalted sphere, showing heaven's spirit by love and kindness even to enemies, benevolence and mercy to all, unlike the world's narrow selfishness, which fits them for companionship with sinless beings. Christ expects kingdom subjects to understand requirements and strive to be perfect, for those who do not cannot enter the heavenly courts; walking where He leads is the safe path to that perfection. Every son and daughter of Adam must press forward to the standard in all work, habits and practices as solemn duty before believers and unbelievers, growing from childhood to mature strength, using every ability diligently without excusing laxness by low position, consecrating reason and talents to holy work and others' good. When virtues are perfected in obedience, personal influence is reproduced in others and leads still others to the highest standard, which is the highest missionary work.
Reaching toward conformity to God's will as life-work means loving God supremely with might, mind and strength and neighbor as self, which is impossible without self-denial: ruling the spirit when passion strives for mastery, resisting censure and faultfinding, patience with a dull trying child, standing at duty though others fail, lifting responsibilities wherever duty requires not for applause or policy but for the Master with unwavering fidelity, doing good when inclination leads to self-pleasing, and working patiently cheerfully even when unappreciated. Aiming at perfection of character in all works and walks, keeping heart, soul, mind and strength in conformity to God's will, obeying righteousness, keeping commandments, repudiating highhanded injustice toward God's servants and maintaining sanctified dignity with power to discern righteousness from unrighteousness and truth from error, costs something unanticipated, may empty the purse and seriously affect resources. Yet it keeps the soul fortified with clean principles, enlarges experience, places the believer on vantage ground with the faithful of all ages, brings fellowship with God and with those serving Him in body, soul and spirit, and brings heaven's grace in rich profusion to impart to others while the standard is lifted higher still, following Christ who wearied not in saving the fallen and joining angels' day-and-night work for human uplifting until the Master bids lay armor down.
Perfection is pursued while finite and liable to err, not claimed as already complete but as an aim on the narrow way for those loving God supremely and neighbor as self, following Christ in everything and conforming life to His teachings and to His divine words and works. It requires growth in grace, cooperation with God, faithful disciplined overcoming of defects and self, constant study in probation to copy the Pattern, and continual advance without stopping halfway, desiring and panting after holiness with Yes, Lord, holier, holier still, as God's voice leads higher and still higher. It permits no pride in supposed perfection and is not a mystical escape above sin's reality nor a treating of sin as harmless.
Characters finally accepted must be perfect in all parts like the heavenly pattern in every smallest detail, as the earthly tabernacle had to be to represent the heavenly. Such spiritual perfection comes through heavenly knowledge sought with perseverance and received through faith, resulting in holy Christlike life, with the written word measuring motives, words, actions and use of time so that neglect leaves one wanting with final fate. The state of the heart regulates life and character, so new converts must be impressed with the law's far-reaching principles and have its spirit in the heart or labor is lost; this requires cleansing the soul temple, bringing thoughts and actions under God's will, overcoming as Christ overcame in meekness and lowliness, and constant prayer and repentance as the salt of experience. The redemption price obliges each to understand requirements and become what God desires, aiming in one's own case to obliterate every physical, mental and moral defect, with educators under special obligation to model it.
Perfection includes humanity's mutual connection by God's design, with no one independent and each place in the whole mattering, shown in unity, love and fellowship, obedience rather than preferring one's own way, and conduct reflecting the Saviour. It is a complete experience in unselfish benevolence of word and action, with kind loving regard for fellow workers and suffering humanity, serving acceptably, settling difficulties to glorify God, learning meekness, lowliness and humility, partaking of lovingkindness, and never hurting Christ's souls. It stops watching and faultfinding, sets the face Zionward, lets heaven's attractions win the soul to purity, tender compassion and love for brethren and the erring, takes straying ones in with joy that forgets worry, pain and difficulty while angels rejoice, and lifts the church from lowness by correcting unkindness, retaliation, strife and separating words, so virtues perfected reproduce influence in others.
God's perfection is the standard of purity and holiness, calling for overcoming debasing vices and cultivating virtues that strengthen body and soul, with His help to all who seek and His word guiding to the standard. His supreme concern for holiness appears in warnings, chastening and permitted reverses upon individuals, families and churches to turn from sin, reveal danger, humble hearts in repentance and save. Those who repent, humbly confess, obey commandments and receive Christ's righteousness are received into favor, pardoned, clothed with His garments, honored with His presence, treated tenderly even when backslidden, and given strength and victory.
Knowing God's greatness, justice, mercy and love must be expressed in life and shared, with the knowledge of His glory shining in the heart, and with industriousness for God and not idleness even while awaiting His near coming. That requirement governed planning and holding of camp meetings, demanding the first be made as far as possible a right sample of what every future one ought to be. Those knowing truth are to be perfect by receiving strength, grace and keeping power from the Father so they do not walk contrary to sacred principles, turn from sanctifying truth, contaminate its purity with error, hold it in light esteem as of little consequence, or exalt self by human plans.
Be perfect in the humble human sphere as the Father is perfect in His exalted divine sphere, with purity of heart and purpose, completeness of righteous character, the moral image of God restored, and Christlikeness formed within. In its place it concludes the teaching on love for enemies, requiring impartial goodness to the evil and the good, the just and the unjust, as the Father gives sun and rain to all. The command is also a promise, for God never commands without furnishing grace, and provision is made through Christ and the Holy Spirit so that fallen human beings cooperating with divinity may be recovered fully from sin and share the divine nature. It is received by beholding Christ by faith, studying and obeying His word, yielding the whole heart emptied of self to be molded as clay, while earnestly striving, praying, and overcoming every fault and indulged appetite. This is perfect obedience to God's holy law as the transcript of His character, loving God supremely and neighbor as self, to be gained now during probation with continual onward progress that begins on earth and continues through eternity.
Meaning of Perfection
Be perfect in the human sphere as the Father is perfect in the divine sphere, as God is perfect in His exalted sphere of action so human beings may be perfect in their humble sphere. The standard is God's perfection, yet it is to be lived out within human limits, and Christ who was born human yet allied to divinity both commands it and supplies wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, redemption, sufficient grace and a share in the divine nature so that those joined to Him are strengthened to reach the highest elevation of character and faithfully use entrusted gifts. God's holy law is a transcript of His character and expresses that ideal for His children. This perfection is shown in thorough and prompt work, in faithfulness, integrity and kindness in small matters, in faithful performance of little duties and kind deeds, each of which is precious to God.
Perfection is purity of purpose and action and purity of heart, essential to increased knowledge and to clear, far-seeing moral faculties. It is completeness and harmony of righteous qualities in a harmonious whole, holiness and a perfect character reflecting the Father, where imperfection of character is sin. It is the moral image of God restored in man, lost through selfishness and self-love which blinds to what God requires, and restored when the whole being is placed under God's control. It is Christlikeness of character, the standard God designs all followers to reach through ongoing consecration that elevates mind and speech and makes heavenly minded and prepared for translation, resting on the perfection of Christ in whom is human righteousness.
It is a high ideal set before all who believe and before sons and daughters of God, with whom they should be content with nothing less, opening a path of constant advancement requiring continual striving and constant onward and upward progress. That ideal of Christlikeness includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated, all that is elevating, refining the taste, sanctifying the judgment, purifying and ennobling the thoughts, never making a person coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. It is supreme love to God that seeks the highest good of humanity, unselfish concern centered in God rather than self-love, for seeking the good of others is the only way to true happiness. It is a full, well-rounded character exercising every talent, reached through entire surrender to God's will.
Perfection is entire conformity of the human will to the will of God, having the will in harmony with God and in complete conformity to Him. It brings even the thoughts into captivity to Christ, sanctifying, inspiring and governing the whole life and character by the Spirit of Truth, sanctifying the whole person through God's Word received into the heart rather than by merely agreeing with a theory. It keeps heart and soul and mind and strength in conformity to God, hungering and thirsting for righteousness with the heart emptied of self and cherished sin so the Holy Spirit can enter fully and Christ can purify the soul and live within. This is not achieved by self-effort or human strength, for God works in and through the believer and the excellency and glory belong to Him, while human cooperation is required, including temperance in eating, drinking and all habits of life, whole-souled earnestness in self-denial, and overcoming wrong habits and defective character through faith in His promises.
Sermon Setting and Audience
The command belongs to the Sermon on the Mount, which lays out the principles of the kingdom of divine grace and explains the holy law. That sermon corrects false ideas and self-righteous teachings, and reveals God not as a stern judge but as a compassionate, merciful, loving Father. Its teaching provides a sure foundation for faith and practice simple enough for all to understand, and calls followers to copy the divine pattern as closely as possible. Though they do not share His own consciousness of power, by abiding in Him and drawing strength from Him they can reveal His spirit and power. Its blessings and instructions are rich in meaning, to be believed and practiced, cherished and heeded. Their value is realized only by living them out in practical experience, with their symbols and truths incorporated into life until they become experiential knowledge. Living by that teaching develops Christlikeness, forms God's principles in the heart, transforms character and makes a people holy so their lives show His praise. It is a soul-saving message calling for humility and reception of the teaching, by which those who receive it are converted and rebuke for past wrongs is removed.
It was spoken not to publicans and sinners, and not to Pharisees and scribes who came as critics and spies to catch and pervert words for condemnation. It was given to those who knew, loved and trusted Jesus, whom He kept close around Him, who came as disciples eager to learn and looked on Him with love as pupils on a loved Teacher. Those disciples were not yet perfect in character, but made mistakes and showed prejudice and selfishness and other wrong traits. Called from common occupations, they had much to unlearn and much that was new to learn, and needed His lessons repeated again and again with illustrations from familiar things. Their perfection means following God as dear children, walking in love as Christ loved and gave Himself as offering and sacrifice, walking after conversion from darkness as children of light, bearing the fruit of the Spirit in all goodness and righteousness and truth, and proving what is acceptable to the Lord. That same requirement spoken to the disciples applies to the planning and holding of camp meetings, demanding that the first camp meeting be made as far as possible a right sample of what every future camp meeting ought to be.
In its setting the verse concludes the teaching on love for enemies and draws the conclusion from God's unfailing mercy and love. Because the heavenly Father is kind to the unthankful and evil and has stooped to lift people up, they may become like Him in character and stand without fault before men and angels. It sums the law as love to God supremely and to neighbor as self, which together sum the commandments and the duty of humanity. This is the application of the great lesson of love given to the lawyer who asked what to do to inherit eternal life, meaning love to the Lord God with all heart, soul, strength and mind, and love to neighbor as self, lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of looking on them and passing by on the other side. It gives in one sentence the source and nature of the righteousness possessed by all who enter heaven. That righteousness is not reached by human effort, which fails and can never enter the kingdom of heaven, but comes from God and shares His character, with its fruits described throughout the Sermon on the Mount. The law is a transcript of God's character, and the heavenly Father is a perfect manifestation of the principles that are the foundation of His government. In the order of the sermon it follows instruction about what to do and what to avoid in order to be blessed. This perfection is holiness of heart and purity of life, necessary for carrying out Christ's principles. It sets the highest standard for life during probation, calling God's people to become perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect and not to settle for a lesser level of service, living in obedience to His moral standard and becoming capable through Christ of that supreme love to God and love to neighbor. The command is addressed to the churches and to many in positions of trust and to all in responsible positions, for position does not make character. Those in trust must show His tenderness and love through kindness, encouragement, compassion and works of mercy toward those in need, for selfishness and self-love keep a person from representing Christ and bearing God's image.
The fifth chapter lays out in figures the plans to be studied and acted upon, full of precious instruction to be read and written upon the tablets of the soul. Its blessings and instructions become experiential knowledge only by being lived out. Living those teachings exemplified in daily life makes a deeper and more lasting impression than preaching them from the pulpit. Those who follow the teachings of the Sermon on the Mount continually seek perfection of Christian character, and this growth equips them to be lights in the world and channels through which God makes heavenly truth known to those in spiritual darkness. Living them transforms character to holiness, calling believers to be the light of the world whose good works glorify the Father in heaven and the salt of the earth that must not lose its savor. Such perfection is revealing the likeness of the divine Lord in the science of spiritual life and glorifying God in body and spirit, which are His. It is possible through cooperation with Christ and union with Him deeper, stronger and truer than any other union, with the heart filled with His grace and His will controlling in a love that suffers with those who suffer, rejoices with those who rejoice, feels tenderness for every soul in weakness, sorrow or distress, and reaches forth a helping hand as partakers of the divine nature. Christ's life on earth is the illustrious example of what can be accomplished and a perfect reflection of the divine law, full of life and hope and light, and by beholding Him human beings are changed into the same likeness from character to character. This requires the molding influence of the Spirit of God and a faith that works by love and purifies the soul from all objectionable hereditary and cultivated tendencies into sweetness of humility combined with firmness and solidity of character.
Impartial Love Like Father
To be perfect is to love as the Father loves, with impartial goodness toward the evil and the good, the just and the unjust, to whom He gives sun and rain, and this keeping of the law reaches beyond outward acts to the intents and purposes of the mind. It is a character made fit for heaven through grace, not mere outward kindness, requiring conversion that overcomes impatience, irritability and unkindness even in the home. Such perfection is expressed through divinity indwelling and co-working in pure Christlike love, and it marks those who live it as distinct from the world and as workers together with God.
That love is shown by loving enemies, blessing those who curse, doing good to those who hate, and praying for those who mistreat, misuse and persecute. It refuses to resent evil actions, resists evil while refusing to abuse the evildoer, and refuses to answer provocation with rebuke or harsh words, but shows mercy and courtesy to all. This reflects God's benevolence and forbearance and fits believers for companionship with sinless beings.
Merely loving those who love in return and greeting only brethren falls short, for even publicans do so. The command requires a broad channel of overflowing love without narrow limits, without national prejudice, and without distinction of race, condition, poverty, wealth or position. It calls for conciliation and deference, letting soft melting kindness break up icy coldness and contempt toward those who displease and are thought faulty.
This perfection tears away selfishness, pride, prejudice of nationality, territorial lines and artificial distinctions of society, making no difference between neighbors and strangers, friends and enemies. It sweeps away the Jewish distinction between who is neighbor and who is enemy, teaching that every person in need of sympathy, assistance and love is neighbor, with no caste and no aristocracy but only pure and undefiled religion. It lifts men out of the narrow circle of self-love to love all, to look on every needy soul as neighbor and on the world as the field of work, to serve suffering humanity with sympathy toward the erring and a helping hand to the needy who do not seem deserving. Those who live this impartial, unselfish, peacemaking love are called children of God, appreciated as such by the church, with names registered in the Lamb's Book of Life as sons and daughters of God, though where this love is lacking the record in heaven is marred.
Living this love makes believers the light of the world whose good works glorify the Father and the salt of the earth that must not lose its savor, through whom mercy and goodness shine to lead others to believe in God's love. It breaks down strong hatred, brings genuine love into hearts, convicts evildoers of sinfulness and leads many to conversion to break away from Satan's tyranny and stand with Christ. This course costs something, yet it is especially the duty of ministers and those in prominent medical missionary work, and of all who continually seek perfection of character in order to be channels of heavenly truth to those in spiritual darkness.
The same love requires Christlike courtesy, forbearance, meekness and humility toward those who differ, respecting rights and consciences at all times and under all circumstances. It entertains no unkind thought, refuses to climb upon the judgment seat to censure or condemn brethren, refuses to crowd, ridicule, misrepresent or push those who do not see alike, and will not hurt souls purchased at infinite cost. Disputed views are to be examined kindly from Scripture in Christ's spirit, sowing seeds for good by word, spirit, deportment and manner of treatment, especially by those in responsible positions whose example others follow.
Command That Promises Possibility
The command to be perfect is also a promise, for redemption provides complete recovery from Satan's power. Christ separates the contrite soul from sin and destroys the devil's works. The Holy Spirit is given to every repentant, believing soul to keep from sinning, so temptation is no excuse for wrongdoing and a holy temper and Christlike life are attainable. Through faith in Christ and living the Life-giver's life, every person can reach the standard of righteous character held up in the Sermon on the Mount.
Provision has been made so the command can be obeyed, for God never commands without furnishing the grace to carry it out. In Christ are received wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, with power to overcome wrong habits and practices and to do what cannot be done alone. Those who receive Him are joined to Him by creation and redemption, invested with His strength, made partakers of the divine nature, and strengthened to reach the highest elevation of character and excellence. No lower standard is to be set up, and defective character and cherished wrong habits show grace has not been allowed to work in the heart.
Christ spoke as one born human yet allied to divinity, and in shared human nature He lived a perfect, sinless, wholly devoted life of service. In His humanity He went before and worked out perfection of character for others, and His perfection received by faith that works by love and purifies the soul makes the believer like Him, pure and undefiled. He is the ladder joining earth to heaven, reaching humanity by taking human nature and overcoming, so that by taking His nature and through faith in Him believers may overcome and attain the glory of God's character. This proves that through cooperation with divinity human beings may attain perfection, showing imperfection is sin but not an unavoidable inability.
Perfection is not claimed as already complete but is aimed at throughout the lifetime. Like Paul, the believer forgets what is behind, reaches forward, and presses toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, with truth revealed to those thus minded so they are not left to grope in doubt. It is continual striving for a character conformed to God's will and following Christ in everything, with constant onward and upward progress that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated. This work of depending continually on God for strength begins on earth and continues through eternity, promoting happiness now and leading to glory and eternal reward.
God's ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach, yet all may reach it. Christ expects no impossibilities and requires nothing without giving grace and strength to perform it, having every perfection of grace at command to bestow with so high and holy a privilege. He is more willing to give the Holy Spirit to those who ask than parents are to give good gifts to children. The standard is to strive to attain in one's own sphere the perfection Christ attained on earth in every phase of character, reflecting God in thought, word, deed, spirit and actions, and falling day by day far short of the divine requirements endangers salvation.
How Perfection Is Received
Perfection is obtained only by hiding in the cleft of the Rock, for God's perfection is revealed in the humanity of Christ. It is reached by studying and practicing God's Word, laying hold of Christ, and gaining daily personal knowledge of Him as sufficiency. By faith believers behold Christ's perfect character with prayerful desire to become like Him, and as they behold Him they are changed into His likeness. That beholding means looking to Jesus and eating His flesh and drinking His blood, which is His Word, which is Spirit and life, so that believers reveal Christ in character. It requires union with Him deeper, stronger and truer than any other union, with the heart filled with His grace and His will controlling in love that suffers with those who suffer, rejoices with those who rejoice, feels tenderness for every soul in weakness, sorrow or distress, and reaches forth a helping hand as partakers of the divine nature.
Christ's life on earth is the illustrious example of what can be accomplished and a perfect reflection of the divine law, full of life and hope and light, and by beholding Him human beings are changed from character to character. His life showed perfection through kindness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, never sour or unapproachable and never compromising with wrong to gain favor. Receiving His righteousness makes these qualities visible, for living in His presence and receiving His grace mellows and transforms the character. This likeness comes by dwelling in the sunshine of His presence, being mellowed by His grace, receiving promised grace, cooperating with God, and having Christ formed within as the hope of glory, so daily life becomes more like the Christ-life. By that beholding the character is transformed and His own righteousness is imputed, so all virtue and all light and all that is of any value is derived from Christ alone.
It requires honoring profession of faith by adorning life with beautiful traits and Christian graces, putting away harshness of speech and action, clinging imperfections and disparaging fellow workers, and instead helping them climb, exchanging deformity for practical godliness. Like Christ, in whose mouth was found no guile, those in whom He dwells as an abiding guest in the soul temple speak no careless, cheap idle words. They take hold of sacred trusts of responsibility as sacred and do the work that must be done in and through Christ Jesus, sanctified by His power and efficiency. Perfection is revealing the likeness of the divine Lord in the science of spiritual life and glorifying God in body and spirit, which are His.
This Christlikeness is reached through entire surrender to God's will. The heart must be emptied of self and cherished sin so the Holy Spirit can enter fully and Christ can purify the soul, with hunger and thirst for righteousness and complete conformity to God's will. It is done by surrendering the will to God's will and giving the character into Christ's hands as clay into a potter's hands, remaining susceptible to divine impressions and permitting the Spirit of truth to sanctify, inspire and govern the life. No earthly selfish motive or perverse will can be allowed a place, or the vessel is marred and the grace of God is frustrated. Human resistance through a perverse will and an earthly, selfish spirit prevents acceptance of that grace.
The work is not achieved by self-effort or human strength: God works in and through the believer, so that Christ lives in the person and God is glorified through human lives. God has made every provision for this likeness and Himself accomplishes it for those who do not resist, bringing every thought into captivity to Christ, so that all excellence appearing in character and conduct comes from God and not from finite human nature. Its excellency comes from God's work, not human effort. Perfection is connected with sanctification through the truth: it comes not from merely agreeing with a theory, but from receiving God's Word into the heart, so that it sanctifies the whole person. Those who yield themselves to God for sanctification through obedience to the truth receive Christ's transforming grace and pledged power to resist temptation.
Perfection is attained only through God's grace, while requiring human cooperation. Believers must cooperate by bringing wills and ways into conformity with God's, willingly submitting the will, praying earnestly, humbling themselves, and striving with determined obedience. Gaining perfection of character is each person's work, done by setting the mark high and being determined to reach it. When a person resolves to obey, God at once helps and makes that person a witness heaven approves, adding mental power and strength as He strengthened Daniel. Daniel's refusal to eat as the king commanded shows this cooperation, meaning refusing to join others in breaking right rules, saying no with decision out of fear of God and love for God that keeps His commandments.
Christ gives efficiency to every soul who strives for clear, far-seeing moral faculties, with whole-souled, enthusiastic earnestness in self-denial and following Christ for eternal interests. Those who call on Him in faith can receive strength to overcome wrong habits and practices. Converted believers should recognize inherited defects and cultivated wrong habits in their characters and make strenuous efforts to overcome them. God's grace works wrong ways out of the character and establishes right ways. Retaining bad habits as unchangeable parts of individuality shows that Christ's transforming grace has not corrected the heart, for to be a Christian is to be Christlike.
Overcoming requires correcting every fault, with repeated struggle against self and inherited tendencies, close self-examination, and correction of every harmful trait. Wrong habits must be overcome, and right habits, correct speech and correct habits must be cherished, working away from all commonness and cheapness and reaching up for perfection. It means unlearning wrong habits of speech, building opposite traits, practicing self-control over thoughts and words, and warring daily against inherited and cultivated tendencies. No one is excused who allows known defects to remain in character, and no one must stop to think I cannot do this, for in the Lord's strength defects and ignorance may be overcome. It calls for living in complete loyalty to God: keeping every sense alert, avoiding influences that expose the soul to temptation, disentangling from anything that can tarnish it, and making God's word the rule of life rather than inherited or cultivated habits, tastes, ambition or appetite, giving the whole mind, heart and soul to the Lord.
It includes supplying deficiency in character with efficiency and improvement, bringing the self as living machinery under training to exactitude, order and promptitude, keeping appointed time and using time to improve the mind instead of making excuses. It includes right use and care of the fearfully and wonderfully made body, constant watchfulness and prayer against temptation, and an unflinching witness before others. Temperance in eating, drinking and all habits of life is part of that cooperation. People are to bring appetites and animal propensities under the control of reason, rather than letting them rule. This perfection includes self-denial and temperance, which preserve physical and mental strength for God's service. It includes respecting the mind and body God has given and not abusing their faculties.
Obedience to God's Word enables people to rise higher, while Scripture sets out temperance's benefits and intemperance's dangers. Purity of heart in purpose and action is essential for every soul who desires increased knowledge. Perfection cannot be attained while indulging appetite or while body and mind remain diseased, for reason must govern the animal propensities.
Attaining the standard requires effort through the grace of Christ and consecrating the whole being — body, soul and spirit — to holy work. Those who bear His truth must be clean and perfect lest the truth passing through impure channels be marred by the corroding of their thoughts and actions. It means constantly reaching forward toward perfection of character and striving continually for conformity to the will of God, with daily earnest efforts to cleanse from all filthiness of the flesh and of the spirit and to perfect holiness in the fear of God. This calls for personal consecration and sanctification of the whole being to God, living with Christ's vigilance, copying His example, and speaking sincerely to help those in darkness and sin. The time is the great day of atonement when every case is being decided by the Judge of all, and those preparing for entrance into the heavenly courts cannot afford to be careless.
Law Obedience and Holiness
God's holy law is a transcript of His character and the standard He calls people to obey, expressing perfect righteousness and harmony with Him, and nothing less than perfect obedience to it is accepted. As God is perfect in His high and divine sphere of action, so man may be perfect in his human sphere, with Christlikeness as the ideal of Christian character. That ideal never degrades but refines taste, sanctifies judgment, and purifies and ennobles thought by bringing it into captivity to Christ, never making a person coarse or rough, discourteous or self-important, passionate or hardhearted. It opens a path of continual advancement that includes everything good and pure and noble and elevated, requiring continual striving and constant onward and upward progress toward perfection of character, with life and character examined against the perfect standard and with resistance to influences that draw the mind from God and wise use of every hour of probation. In one sentence the command gives the source and nature of the righteousness of all who enter heaven, which is not reached by human effort that fails and can never enter the kingdom, but comes from God and shares His character, with its fruits described throughout the Sermon on the Mount, while the heavenly Father is the perfect manifestation of the principles that are the foundation of His government. Christ's life perfectly expressed that law, and those who become like Him will obey God's commandments and, clothed in His righteousness, be fit for heaven and join the King's feast among the blood-washed people.
That obedience means living in obedience to God's moral standard and becoming capable through Christ of loving God supremely with heart and soul and mind and strength and one's neighbor as oneself, which together sum up God's commandments and man's duty. Disciples are to obey the law's precepts and represent God's character to the world, patterned on the character of the Father in heaven, rather than lowering the commands to fit weakness. This love is to be lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of looking on them and passing by on the other side, and it is commanded to churches, to many in positions of trust, and to all in responsible positions, since position does not make character. Reaching toward this perfection as the life-work in conformity to God's will requires self-denial in controlling passion when it strives for mastery, resisting censure and faultfinding, patiently bearing with difficult people and with a dull and trying child, faithfully carrying responsibilities and standing at the post of duty though others fail, lifting burdens wherever duty requires not for applause or policy but for the Master with unwavering fidelity, and doing good and working patiently and cheerfully for others even when inclination leads to self-pleasing and when the work is unappreciated. Those who share Christ's love have no limit to their influence and work for humanity, following Christ who did not grow weary in saving fallen men, joining the day-and-night work of angels for human uplifting according to the plan of salvation, in continuous persevering work and waiting in submission to God's will, ready for every call of duty until the Master bids laying the armor down.
Christ explained the law's full, far-reaching claims, restoring its true meaning from the distortions of human traditions, showing it is not a cold code of outward demands but holy and just and good and remains the standard of righteousness in its breadth and dignity. The law He gave on the mount reaches every part of life, condemns every evil action, and requires perfect obedience, and His commands are necessary to bring people into harmony with Him. The standard is the ten holy precepts proclaimed at Sinai, the first four defining duty to God and the last six duty to man, summed as loving God with all heart and soul and mind and loving neighbor as self, to be remembered and meditated upon. Fallen man, degraded by sin and weakened in power to distinguish right from wrong and to obey, cannot of himself meet this standard, and God in love would not break His covenant or alter His law to meet man's deficiencies, but gave His only-begotten Son that believers should not perish but have everlasting life. Christ laid aside His royal robes and lived the law of God in humanity, bringing power sufficient to overcome sin, so that by partaking of His divine nature human beings can also live that law and be elevated and ennobled, and those who truly follow and accept Him as Saviour desire to obey God and represent His character. That ideal is set before sinners and calls for loyalty to His law, and it can be reached only through Christ's grace, by practicing the truth and living by the perfect principles shown in His life, with His grace and power enabling believers to overcome every fault as God's adopted children conform their lives to His will. Perfect obedience would bring love and harmony and joy instead of oppression and injustice, and would reveal Christianity's power to the world.
Perfection must be gained now during probationary time in this world through earnest striving and prayer, by separating from sin and devoting time to repentance and service to God rather than letting pursuit of earthly wealth crowd out character formation. Character must be made fit for heaven before probation closes and Christ returns, by continuing to learn in the school of Christ with the heart open to heavenly knowledge, growing in grace and knowledge of the truth, learning the necessary lessons and gaining the victory in His name. This preparation fits a person to stand the final examination and grand review that must shortly take place, standing in the merits of the heavenly Redeemer with heavenly honors. There will be no further opportunity then to gain moral fitness or be purified from sin, and each person will remain as found, for there is no second term and no second privilege or opportunity after this life to redeem abused privileges and lost opportunities; it is now or never.
The call requires holiness like the Father's holiness, purity and holiness of character without spot or stain of sin, brought into conformity with God's will. This accords with God's call to Israel to be holy because He is holy, a charge given to the whole people and not only to their leaders, and it applies in dealings with others, especially those who oppose God's counsel, with each person contributing to the character of the whole community. It is answered not by promises alone but by fruits of repentance and a daily walk that shows conversion, for others cannot force a person to harbor wrong thoughts or do wrong actions, and each person's choices show whether fit for the society of heaven. Jesus met that standard while taking the form of sinful man and clothing His divinity with humanity, remaining holy even as God is holy and one with God in purity and holiness of character. Because He was a Sin-bearer needing no atonement for Himself, His sinless perfection qualified Him to be the Saviour of mankind and to make propitiation for the sins of the whole world.
Perfection in Daily Life
Perfection in one's own sphere as God is perfect in His means thorough prompt work, faithfulness and integrity in small matters, faithful performance of little duties and little deeds of kindness and cheerful words and truthfulness, for each duty done faithfully is precious to God and treasured as a gem when earthly work ends. God's own perfect work appears as clearly in the tiniest insect as in the king of beasts, and the believing child's soul is as precious as angels about the throne, so perfection is seen in the least no less than the greatest. Strong beautiful character is built by individual acts of duty, by integrity in little things and fidelity in least as well as greatest details, which gladden life and exert a never-perishing influence for good, and success in this life and in gaining the future life depends on faithful conscientious attention to little things.
Perfection includes order, method, cleanliness, energy and wise thoughtful management in all plans and arrangements, especially for religious service, doing everything in the most perfect manner according to pattern. It follows the principles of perfection and order specified to Israel encamped in the wilderness, teaching that God is pleased with order and right example and not with disorderly arrangements, careless work and untidy surroundings. It means planning carefully rather than leaving matters to the last moment and rushing, working with economy yet allowing no cheapness, and bringing all work to a perfect standard that represents God's character.
Perfection is required in presenting truth, with care, grace and intelligence so delivery does not detract from the word, and with Christ abiding within to gain all possible grace and discipline of mind. Faulty speech is no little thing, and must be overcome: defective pronunciation, unattractive tone, high unnatural key, voice too low to be heard, thick clumsy manner, hurried excited rushing with words crowded together so half is lost, and loud long talking that abuses the organs of speech and makes the speaker unacceptable. In its place is control of voice, talking earnestly but calmly and unexcitedly, slowly yet earnestly and solemnly with assurance, every word distinct so the hearer gains every sentence, the most favorable impression is made, pulpit effort is of far greater advantage and less taxing, and the message comes as a savor of life unto life. Followers are to preserve Christ's dignity and grace in everything done and said, guarding words and actions rather than excusing carelessness.
Perfection of character in words, deeds and spirit reflecting the Father is Christlikeness: ever kind and gentle, with perfect love dwelling within as fragrant influence, showing kindness, gentleness, forbearance and unselfish love, never sour or unapproachable and never compromising with wrong to obtain favor. It is cultivated in this life as preparation for membership in the royal family and everlasting kingdom, with a continually higher standard, through progressive sanctification in which day by day life is changed and adorned. It requires crucifying self, casting down cherished idols, letting Jesus enter to cleanse from defilement, obtaining mastery over self at all times and under all circumstances, living wholly as Christ's in time and strength and influence, and representing Him by forbearance, patience and unselfishness. Speaking pleasant rather than harsh words brings God's peace into the heart, dwelling in the sunshine of His presence mellows and transforms, and learning from Christ increases desire to build His kingdom, enlighten others, cease living to self, and feel greater obligation to work for others as privileges and facilities increase. Profession must be honored by beautiful traits and graces, putting away harshness of speech and action, clinging imperfections and disparaging of fellow workers, helping them climb, exchanging deformity for practical godliness, ennobling life by steadfast purpose, and being true representatives in deed and truth, which God's just and reasonable requirements demand in order to see the kingdom.
Parents are to cooperate with God to help children form perfect characters through patient gentle wise discipline, training them for heaven rather than indulging or idolizing them, making it life-study to render them as nearly perfect as human effort with divine aid can make them. Perfection in the redeemed family is perfection in character-building, purifying even as Christ is pure, not backsliding but conformed to heaven's will, with households purified because the end is nearer than when first believed. All are measured in heaven's scales by home life, so a Christian in the home is a Christian everywhere and home religion exerts immeasurable influence; fathers and mothers must understand best methods, put away murmuring and complaining as disrespect, live as in God's dwelling place and as members of His family by creation and redemption, cherish respect and tenderness, never mar and scar others' life and spirit, and show miracle-working power so the world knows they have been with Jesus. Only those perfect in character can see God, and entrance to His kingdom requires following the Pattern, with more of Jesus and far less of self, doing right because right and pleasing to God, educated for heaven's society to stand pure and white before the throne where nothing defiling enters.
Those who work with God as co-partners to build, strengthen and advance His kingdom must strive not only for perfection of character but for perfection of every bodily organ and quality of mind, so every movement adorns doctrine and commends sanctifying truth. This applies especially to physicians, nurses, helpers and all in medical missionary work, who must continually aim upward under the discipline of the greatest Teacher, keep learning and improving rather than claiming the standard cannot be reached. In the Lord's strength defects and ignorance may be overcome, for He is the source of wisdom and grace to those striving for the standard; known defects must not remain, no one may stop with I cannot do this, wrong habits must be overcome and right habits, correct speech and correct habits cherished, working away from all commonness and cheapness and reaching up for perfection. There is no graduating place this side of heaven, the course ever tends upward, and thorough preparation and highest skill and work of the highest order are required of learners, nurses, evangelists, ministers, canvassers and gospel students to prepare for higher education above.
Every minister is commanded to reach perfection in work as solemn duty, taking hold earnestly, condemning sin in the flesh without apology, and reaching up in faith and hope for grace and right judgment so deficiencies can be overcome, with progress measured across years lest one end farther from the standard than shortly after first receiving truth. Position does not make character, yet the command comes to churches, to many in trust and to all in responsible positions, requiring guarding of spirit, words and actions and doing true faithful work with every step heavenward. Disciples are to represent Christ in character with grace and love in action, meekness and lowliness of heart, pursuing obedient perfection rather than making conduct depend on fear of exploitation or loss. The command applies the lesson of love to God with all heart, soul, strength and mind and to neighbor as self, lived out in helping suffering fellow creatures instead of passing by on the other side.
Perfection like the Father means being barricaded by Christ's grace in self-control and purity amid satanic witchery and licentiousness, watching against the enemy, doing nothing to encourage temptation, refusing to remain in evil atmosphere, with strength to withstand so seducing spirits have no influence, otherwise the overcome have only themselves to blame. It closes the lessons on resisting seducing and evil spirits, calling every saint to discern weak points and guard them with rigor and severity with Jesus as pattern man. Those buried with Christ in baptism and raised in resurrection likeness have pledged newness of life, and God has pledged that power and grace of Father, Son and Holy Spirit will await their call and aid them when tempted to deny Christ, giving power and wisdom to stand victorious over all beguiling, lifting a standard when the enemy comes like a flood.
The call to be blameless harmless sons without rebuke amid a crooked perverse nation, doing all without murmuring and disputing and shining as lights holding forth the word of life, to walk before God and be perfect as Abraham and to walk with God as Enoch three hundred years, was given to Laodicea after faithful instruction and much excellent labor. It calls for standing perfect and complete in all God's will, with Christ in the heart the hope of glory, presented perfect through preaching, warning and teaching every man in all wisdom with labor striving according to His mighty working. This requires personally appropriating heard truth, carrying out given instruction and following up work begun; merely hearing without appropriating and obeying rejects warning and entreaty and surely brings the Laodicean result.
God's children are to be perfect in their humble sphere as God is perfect in His exalted sphere, showing heaven's spirit by love and kindness even to enemies, benevolence and mercy to all, unlike the world's narrow selfishness, which fits them for companionship with sinless beings. Christ expects kingdom subjects to understand requirements and strive to be perfect, for those who do not cannot enter the heavenly courts; walking where He leads is the safe path to that perfection. Every son and daughter of Adam must press forward to the standard in all work, habits and practices as solemn duty before believers and unbelievers, growing from childhood to mature strength, using every ability diligently without excusing laxness by low position, consecrating reason and talents to holy work and others' good. When virtues are perfected in obedience, personal influence is reproduced in others and leads still others to the highest standard, which is the highest missionary work.
Reaching toward conformity to God's will as life-work means loving God supremely with might, mind and strength and neighbor as self, which is impossible without self-denial: ruling the spirit when passion strives for mastery, resisting censure and faultfinding, patience with a dull trying child, standing at duty though others fail, lifting responsibilities wherever duty requires not for applause or policy but for the Master with unwavering fidelity, doing good when inclination leads to self-pleasing, and working patiently cheerfully even when unappreciated. Aiming at perfection of character in all works and walks, keeping heart, soul, mind and strength in conformity to God's will, obeying righteousness, keeping commandments, repudiating highhanded injustice toward God's servants and maintaining sanctified dignity with power to discern righteousness from unrighteousness and truth from error, costs something unanticipated, may empty the purse and seriously affect resources. Yet it keeps the soul fortified with clean principles, enlarges experience, places the believer on vantage ground with the faithful of all ages, brings fellowship with God and with those serving Him in body, soul and spirit, and brings heaven's grace in rich profusion to impart to others while the standard is lifted higher still, following Christ who wearied not in saving the fallen and joining angels' day-and-night work for human uplifting until the Master bids lay armor down.
Perfection is pursued while finite and liable to err, not claimed as already complete but as an aim on the narrow way for those loving God supremely and neighbor as self, following Christ in everything and conforming life to His teachings and to His divine words and works. It requires growth in grace, cooperation with God, faithful disciplined overcoming of defects and self, constant study in probation to copy the Pattern, and continual advance without stopping halfway, desiring and panting after holiness with Yes, Lord, holier, holier still, as God's voice leads higher and still higher. It permits no pride in supposed perfection and is not a mystical escape above sin's reality nor a treating of sin as harmless.
Characters finally accepted must be perfect in all parts like the heavenly pattern in every smallest detail, as the earthly tabernacle had to be to represent the heavenly. Such spiritual perfection comes through heavenly knowledge sought with perseverance and received through faith, resulting in holy Christlike life, with the written word measuring motives, words, actions and use of time so that neglect leaves one wanting with final fate. The state of the heart regulates life and character, so new converts must be impressed with the law's far-reaching principles and have its spirit in the heart or labor is lost; this requires cleansing the soul temple, bringing thoughts and actions under God's will, overcoming as Christ overcame in meekness and lowliness, and constant prayer and repentance as the salt of experience. The redemption price obliges each to understand requirements and become what God desires, aiming in one's own case to obliterate every physical, mental and moral defect, with educators under special obligation to model it.
Perfection includes humanity's mutual connection by God's design, with no one independent and each place in the whole mattering, shown in unity, love and fellowship, obedience rather than preferring one's own way, and conduct reflecting the Saviour. It is a complete experience in unselfish benevolence of word and action, with kind loving regard for fellow workers and suffering humanity, serving acceptably, settling difficulties to glorify God, learning meekness, lowliness and humility, partaking of lovingkindness, and never hurting Christ's souls. It stops watching and faultfinding, sets the face Zionward, lets heaven's attractions win the soul to purity, tender compassion and love for brethren and the erring, takes straying ones in with joy that forgets worry, pain and difficulty while angels rejoice, and lifts the church from lowness by correcting unkindness, retaliation, strife and separating words, so virtues perfected reproduce influence in others.
God's perfection is the standard of purity and holiness, calling for overcoming debasing vices and cultivating virtues that strengthen body and soul, with His help to all who seek and His word guiding to the standard. His supreme concern for holiness appears in warnings, chastening and permitted reverses upon individuals, families and churches to turn from sin, reveal danger, humble hearts in repentance and save. Those who repent, humbly confess, obey commandments and receive Christ's righteousness are received into favor, pardoned, clothed with His garments, honored with His presence, treated tenderly even when backslidden, and given strength and victory.
Knowing God's greatness, justice, mercy and love must be expressed in life and shared, with the knowledge of His glory shining in the heart, and with industriousness for God and not idleness even while awaiting His near coming. That requirement governed planning and holding of camp meetings, demanding the first be made as far as possible a right sample of what every future one ought to be. Those knowing truth are to be perfect by receiving strength, grace and keeping power from the Father so they do not walk contrary to sacred principles, turn from sanctifying truth, contaminate its purity with error, hold it in light esteem as of little consequence, or exalt self by human plans.