So, you believe we can become perfect here on earth? You believe in the doctrine known as Perfectionism? I don't believe in that doctrine.
Neither do I believe in Perfectionism, which is a psychological illness. No one is perfect except God.
"One is holy; One is the Lord, Jesus Christ to the glory of God the Father. Amen." (Divine Liturgy)
However, how do you interpret Matthew 5:
Matt. 5:48 NKJV said:
Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.
Why did Christ give us this rule?
Based on this command, are we not to strive to be perfect?
If there is any hesitation on this point, then look at Mark 12:30-31.
If we obey Christ's commandment to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect, then we will simultaneously fulfill the 1st and 2nd Commandments found in Mark 12 where Mark quotes Christ who quotes from Deut. 6:4,5 and Lev. 19:18.
Mark 12:30-31 NKJV said:
"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength." This is the first commandment.
And the second, like it, is this, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." There is no other commandment greater than these.
Ah, but there is more, we will not only love our neighbors, but also our enemies as Christ reminds us in St. Matthew:
Matt 5:43-44 NKJV said:
You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you.
By loving our enemies, and not expecting people to return our love, we will fulfill the law of Christ, who also loved His enemies. And Matthew 5 is completed by Christ's command: "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect."
Furthermore, Christ wants us to strive for perfection and not be lukewarm in our spiritual life as He states in Revelation 3:15-16
Rev. 3:15-16 NKJV said:
"I know your works, that you are neither cold nor hot. I could wish you were cold or hot.
So, then, because you are lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will vomit you out of my mouth."
The casual, lukewarm, indifferent attitude that many Christians have to their spiritual condition is death to their soul. If we do not struggle against sin, then we are indifferent and lukewarm. As long as we struggle and are repentant, then we are righteous in the sight of God, and He will forgive us our many sins.
However, if we deny that we are sinners, then we make ourselves liars as St. John states.
I John 1:8-10 NKJV said:
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Therefore, we must acknowledge our sinfulness, and God will forgive us and make us righteous. However, we cannot think that a one-time confession at an altar call will justify us.
We must repent and confess our sins every time we fail. This is the struggle to which Christ calls us: to strive for perfection, but if we fall into sin, then we should repent, get up again, and continue the struggle to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect.
Finally, St. John clarifies any remaining confusion about the link between sin, righteousness, and perfection:
I John 2:4-5 said:
But who says, "I know Him," and does not keep His Commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him.
By struggling to keep the 1st and 1nd Commandments listed above, and by repenting of our sins, God will bring us to perfection, and it will be His work of Grace in us.