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You and I - regardless of how hard we try - cannot live a perfect and sinless life.

However, in the sight of God and Jesus Christ, we are already considered perfect. However, we will be literally and completely perfect only at our resurrection. And even before then, if we die before Jesus returns.

All of us, if we are truly submitted to God, desire to be all that He wants us to be. He certainly approves of our desire to be perfect as He is perfect. The desire is there, but the ability and capacity is beyond us. When we realize that we have "missed the mark", discouragement and frustration begins to set in and undermine the process of growing in grace and knowledge.

There a scripture that has often led to wrong conclusion concerning being perfect in this life, but is rather to encourage our commitment to yield to God as He works in us toward the future goal of perfection: The KJV of this scripture is stated as follows:

" Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." - Matthew 5:48 (KJV)

The tense of the first word "be" should be translated as "become" which is the prgressive tense of "be". Belief and surrender to Jesus does not make us perfect instantly.

Notice the Amplified Bible, that corrects as follows: "You, therefore, will be perfect [growing into spiritual maturity both in mind and character, actively integrating godly values into your daily life], as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:48 (AMP)

What is required of those who would follow Christ is not spiritual perfection immediately, and certaintly not instantly. Becoming perfect is a lifelong process, and is never completed until by faithfulness and growth we are faithful to what God reveals to us. There have been some who, not understanding this process are discouraged that they still sin while striving to become perfect.

There was rich young man who desired to be one of the disciples of Jesus who did not understand that by his finacial success and legalistic prior life, he had become perfect enough to follow Jesus:

“I have kept all these things [from my youth]; what do I still lack?” Jesus answered him, “If you wish to be perfect [that is, have the spiritual maturity that accompanies godly character with no moral or ethical deficiencies], go and sell what you have and give [the money] to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow Me [becoming My disciple, believing and trusting in Me and walking the same path of life that I walk].” But when the young man heard this, he left grieving and distressed, for he owned much property and had many possessions [which he treasured more than his relationship with God]. - Matthew 16:21-22

The rich young man did not yet understand the difference between "be" and "become". He felt that he already had what was required as being perfect. and was qualified to follow Jesus.

And so it is with all who would follow Jesus, and receive eternal life. We cannot be perfect in this life.. We must grow in faith, becoming more and more like Jesus Christ, but becoming perfect is a process that is completed onlky when our spirit goes to heaven at our death.

"But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to myriads of angels [in festive gathering],and to the general assembly and assembly of the firstborn who are registered [as citizens] in heaven, and to God, who is Judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous (the redeemed in heaven) who have been made perfect [bringing them to their final glory], and to Jesus, the Mediator of a new covenant [uniting God and man], and to the sprinkled blood, which speaks [of mercy], a better and nobler and more gracious message than the blood of Abel [which cried out for vengeance].- Hebrews 12:22-23.

We are made perfect when our spirtit goes to heaven when we die. If we are alive when Jesus returns, we are made perfect when Jesus returns.

"Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, and offer to God pleasing service and acceptable worship with reverence and awe" - Hebrews 12:28 (AMP)

"'Christ in You...'" from Dale Krebbs

The Saints Who Slept