Three Aspects of Perfection
There are three aspects of perfection that refer to the believer which are recorded in the New Testament.
Positional Perfection
There is a sense in which each of us who comes to faith in Christ is made perfect at the time of salvation. That perfection is complete and final the moment we trust Christ. The writer of the Book of Hebrews said, "For by one offering He has perfected for all time those who are sanctified" (Heb. 10:14). He was speaking about the perfection we experience positionally the moment we trust Christ. The moment we trust Christ as Savior, God sees us in Christ, perfect and complete in every way. That is our position in Christ.
Progressive Perfection
The practical living or outworking of our position in Christ is a process toward maturity, where the positional perfection we have in Christ is more and more realized in the way we live our lives and God Working in manifest Christ in our thoughts and actions.
Paul spoke of progressive perfection: "Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1). We have already received cleansing in Christ, but Paul spoke of the practical cleansing where we remove ourselves from those things which defile the flesh and spirit. Positionally before God, I have been made perfect in Christ. From a practical aspect, God expects me to be perfecting my holiness by cleansing myself and removing myself from any involvement and association with defiling things. That is the practical aspect of my perfection, which involves the maturing process.
Ultimate Perfection
The third aspect of perfection is sometimes referred to as ultimate perfection. It is the final realization where our position and practice are brought together. Only then will all we are in Christ be realized in our practice.
"Christ also loved the church and gave Himself up for her, so that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she would be holy and blameless" (Eph. 5:25-27). The church will be presented to Christ without any imperfection. That is also what John wrote, "We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is" (1 John 3:2). When we stand face to face with Christ as His redeemed, we will be conformed to His likeness. Our position and practice will be brought together at that future time. That is what we call ultimate sanctification or ultimate perfection.
If you are God's child through faith in Christ, He is working in you. He has called you to His eternal glory. However, if you are lacking maturity and have been a believer for some time, I encourage you to submit yourself to Him and to His Word, that the maturing process will be encouraged and realized in your life. You will be amazed at the joy you will experience each day, walking in love and obedience with your creator.
