Just what is perfection? Paul admonishes us to go on to perfection, urging diligence in becoming complete and mature, following those who endured great trials. Perfection entails completeness, ripeness, and the fullness of the stature of Christ, embodying traits such as being without spot or blemish, sound, undefiled, whole, and mature. These all describe Christ's character, who exemplifies perfection. Does perfection come easily? We cannot expect to escape what Christ Himself endured, learning perfection through suffering. Peter warns us that we will suffer during the perfecting process, and endurance is a sure sign of approaching maturity, not passive waiting, but active diligence. Can we be perfect apart from others? Christ urges us to be as perfect as our Father in heaven, tying the process to how we treat each other. The Kingdom of God is about eternal, peaceful relationships, and we cannot withdraw from people and still develop necessary relationship skills. God never leaves us but continues to work with us, helping us develop our relationships with Him. He is the One who works perfection in us. If we were perfect, would it make us everyone's friends? Those who begin to reach a degree of spiritual maturity will constantly suffer the arrows of jealousy from others. By God's own mouth, Job was a mature man, yet his friends and wife turned bitterly on him at the first sign of imperfection. Christ, the paragon of perfection, was despised more than any man has ever been. What are the fruits of perfection? We can judge our progress by whether the direction of our life produces peace, soundness, patience, faith, and good works. Is our tongue under control? Are we still fearful? Perfect love casts out fear. True maturity requires willingness to give up what is dear for God and man. Does perfection ultimately mean we are completely without fault? Perfection, in everyday life, means maturity and completeness. We can attain an increasing level of spiritual maturity, yet we cannot truly complete the process until our human nature is totally changed. Only then can we reach the goals of being perfect as our Father in heaven, having the mind of Christ, bringing every thought into captivity, and never uttering a wrong word. Is there hope for us? Though Paul urges us on to perfection, he struggled to leave the past behind and pursue the future. Part of the process is maintaining a perfect attitude, a mind ready, willing, and seeking after the prize of the high calling of Christ. What promises are associated with perfection? Those who go on to perfection will never be cast out of the land; their inheritance is eternal. Even spiritual giants, mature and complete as they were, will not receive their inheritance ahead of those now being perfected. They must wait, and we will inherit God's Kingdom together.

God has provided us with all things necessary for life and godliness through His divine power, equipping us to fulfill the purpose He has set for us. He has made us partakers of the divine nature, placing within us the potential to grow in His likeness, though it is not yet fully developed. We are called to use this gift, to exercise the power and love He has given, and to strive toward the goal of reflecting His image. The journey toward perfection is not easy, as exemplified by the apostle Paul, who, despite his stature, continued to strain and fight against human nature to attain the fullness of Christ. This effort involves overcoming pride, anger, frustration, bitterness, and impatience, turning away from self-gratification, and exerting spiritual strength to align with what is holy and pure in God's eyes. God, in His mercy, patiently works with us, urging us to move in the right direction, correcting us as needed to help us grow. We are not yet fully in God's image, but as raw material, we must cooperate with Him to reach His purpose. Though we possess God-like potential and the divine nature, the transformation requires our active participation. The process of sanctification, also called going on to perfection or holiness, is the stage where the greatest change occurs, preparing us for the Kingdom of God. This stage demands our personal effort to transform from human glory to the glory of Christ, guided by the ethical, moral, and spiritual advice abundant in Scripture. God expects us to strive for perfection with all our might, though He does not demand that we achieve it flawlessly. He is tolerant and patient, desiring us to grow and overcome, not to be burdened by guilt or frustration when we fall short. Like a loving parent, He forgives our shortcomings while encouraging us to become better, reflecting His image more fully. The responsibility lies with us to seek His Kingdom, to turn from sin toward righteousness, and to live in a way that mirrors His nature, understanding that this pursuit shapes both our eternal life and the quality of life we experience now. The call to go on to perfection is central, often overlooked yet underpinning every exhortation in Scripture. It is our individual duty to focus on this growth, not merely to follow human leaders, but to conform to the image of Christ, our true Leader. By purifying ourselves through sanctification, we prepare to be used by God effectively, reflecting His holiness and making a powerful witness to the world.

In the pursuit of spiritual growth, we are urged to advance toward maturity, leaving behind the rudimentary aspects of faith. We must not linger on the basics but strive to go on to perfection, aiming to complete our calling as God permits. God desires us to make an honest attempt at righteousness, despite our imperfections, and to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who through His sufferings became perfected as the author of eternal salvation. His path to Saviorhood involved enduring the harshest trials and remaining obedient to His Father, proving His fitness to save mankind. We, too, are called to strive for perfection by overcoming the tests we face, qualifying us to be part of God's Kingdom. This perfection varies according to each individual's ability, as God assigns tasks and expectations based on what we can handle. Each of us receives a reward for our personal growth and maturity, tailored to what Christ knows we can accomplish. We are not asked to do more than is possible for us, and this should be a source of comfort as we struggle to emulate the Father and the Son. This journey toward perfection is not easy; it requires diligent effort, akin to an athlete training for a race. We must run spiritually with all-out exertion to obtain the incorruptible crown of eternal life and fellowship with God. The call to perfection is a serious endeavor, supported by the encouragement of those who have gone before us, urging us to apply ourselves and not let down. God has not given us an impossible task; He has called us with a specific maturity in mind, and we can achieve it through steadfast faith and resistance against the adversary. May the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us after our sufferings. To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In the journey of faith, the pursuit of holiness is central to the purpose of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Holiness reflects the attitude and way that God conducts His life, and it is our responsibility to engrain His way into our pattern of living so thoroughly that it becomes habitual, our first nature. This effort, as a living sacrifice, is our contribution that helps transform us into the image of Jesus Christ. The path to sanctification lies in obedience to doing God's will, given out of gratitude from an intimate relationship with the Father and Son. Jesus, as the Author and Finisher of our faith, is the One who makes men holy, having completed His preparation through gruesome suffering to hold the responsibility as our High Priest. The Father has charged Him with preparing many others to share life with Them in the Kingdom of God. As He sanctifies and shapes us in holiness, He gradually fills His bride, the church, with every gift needed to function effectively, enabling her to glorify God in her overall responsibility to our Father and to our Lord and Savior.