Forever Perfected in Christ

One of the subtlest ironies, yet most critical doctrines for believers is that before God, they are perfect and complete:

"For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified." (Hebrews 10: 14)

and

"And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power." (Colossians 2: 10)

We are perfect in Him! What are the promises accorded to us because we are perfected in Him? Read on:

"The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master." (Luke 6: 40)

This has been fulfilled in every believer by the power of the Holy Spirit, the promise of the Father released upon the world on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2: 33):

"To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:" (Colossians 1: 27)

"My little children, of whom I travail in birth again until Christ be formed in you." (Galatians 4: 19)

Also:

"Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)

This perfection we receive as a matter of faith, not works:

"This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

"Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?" (Galatians 3: 2-3)

Many believers may worry about such revelation, convinced that men and women in the Body of Christ will just sit around and do nothing. Yet such an outrageous finding is repudiated thus:

"Do we then make void the law through faith? God forbid: yea, we establish the law." (Romans 3: 31)

and

"This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh." (Galatians 5: 16)

and

"Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law." (Romans 13: 10)

and

"For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this; You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Galatians 5: 14)

How do we love? In fact, it is God's love that works within us:

"For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love." (Galatians 5: 6)

And this love, a fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5: 22), has been perfected in us. God sent His Son to die for us (1 John 4: 10). His love is the standard, the motivation, the source:

"We love him, because he first loved us." (1 John 4: 19)

We are perfected and complete in Christ, and by faith we receive His love, which in turn animates us to love, to fulfill the law, and bear much fruit.