Hebrews 12:23

Remember that there are two kinds of perfection the Christian needs—the perfection of justification in the person of Jesus, and the perfection of sanctification worked in him by the Holy Spirit. At present, corruption still remains even in the hearts of the regenerate—experience soon teaches us this. Within us are still lusts and evil imaginations.

But I rejoice to know that the day is coming when God will finish the work which he has begun; and he will present my soul, not only perfect in Christ, but perfect through the Spirit, without spot or blemish, or any such thing. Can it be true that this poor sinful heart of mine is to become holy even as God is holy?

Can it be that this spirit, which often cries, “O wretched man that I am! Who shall deliver me from the body of this sin and death?” will get rid of sin and death—that I will have no evil things to trouble my ears, and no unholy thoughts to disturb my peace?

Oh, happy hour! May it be hastened! When I cross the Jordan, the work of sanctification will be finished; but not until that moment will I even claim perfection in myself. Then my spirit will have its last baptism in the Holy Spirit’s fire. It seems to me I long to die to receive that last and final purification which will lead me into heaven.

Not an angel will be more pure than I will be, for I will be able to say, in a double sense, “I am clean,” through Jesus’ blood and through the Spirit’s work. Oh, how should we praise the power of the Holy Spirit in thus making us fit to stand before our Father in heaven!

Yet let not the hope of perfection in the life to come make us content with imperfection now. If it does this, our hope cannot be genuine; for a good hope is a purifying thing, even now. The work of grace must be abiding in us now or it cannot be perfected then. Let us pray to “be filled with the Spirit,” that we may bring forth increasingly the fruits of righteousness.