Christian Perfection: Is it Possible?
2 Timothy 3:17 “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.”
The Christian life is a heavenly life on earth. It is a continuum. That’s why Apostle Paul, writing by the holy Ghost said, “Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection.” Remember our Lord’s sermon on the mount, when he taught his disciples and the multitudes, and at the end of his message, he said be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Here comes the word again. How should we align ourselves to believe this precept?
Undoubtedly, absolute perfection belongs not to man, nor to angels; but to God.
The Christian perfection is Love. The scripture says, “for he that loveth another hath fulfiled the law. Therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.” And Apostle Paul also told us that all the law is fulfilled in one word, even this: Love. You know why love is the perfection of the Christian faith? It is simply because God is love. And it is this love of God that reaches around the world that made the heavenly Father to send down his only begotten Son for the salvation of the world. Also, the Holy Spirit manifest his fruits under the canopy of love.
Therefore, for Christians to attain scriptural perfection, they must possess that faith which worketh by Love. Because love worketh no ill to his neighbor. John was a burning and a shining light. He was so burning with a zealous fire of unquenchable love within, and the heat of the love brightened his whole life that he was shining with the light of holiness.
When we love God with all our heart, all our soul, all our mind, and all our strength, we can do no more less than love our neighbor as ourselves, even as Christ has loved us. That’s why the scripture says, “Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
Hence, love is the central of the Christian faith, and christian perfection. A heart that is encapsulated by God’s love, what room is there for sin therein?
And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity. Because Love alone is the sum of perfection in heaven. And so it goes without saying, that “Charity never faileth.”
Also Read: Heaven is a highway of holiness
Reagan Azoyenime is a born again Christian and an undergraduate student of Ambrose Ali University, Nigeria. He writes edifying Christian messages centred on salvation in Christ and holiness.
E-mail: razoyenime@gmail.com
