A Perfect and Permanent Position
“Love has been perfected among us in this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world” (1 John 4:17 NKJV).
Perfect love produces boldness. We are all excited about the doctrine of “positional truth”, the fact that God already sees us as perfect in His Son (Eph 2:6; Col 3:3). There is no condemnation for those who are in Christ (Rom 8:1). No satanic lie can remove us from that place of boldness (Heb 4:16).
Although our standing is perfect (Rom 5:1-2), our state may not be. Praise be to God, our standing is not dependent on our present behaviour but on His perfect gift of imputed righteousness (Rom 3:22; 4:3; 2 Cor 5:21). God’s desire is to help us so that our state or condition will be more consistent with our standing. That is what we call practical sanctification. Not only do we presently have a perfect position, it is also permanent (Heb 10:14).
If we claim that we are presently and permanently as perfect as Jesus, it sounds almost blasphemous, does it not? Nevertheless, that is what this verse is revealing. It is not because of our own effort but because of something He has done for us. It is so much better than any religion’s best offer or attempt. It is almost too good to be true, is it not? Perhaps that is why so many unfortunately reject God’s plan of salvation.