Christian Perfection: The Pursuit of Christlikeness

Al Felder
Jul 6, 2025
3 min read

“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” — Matthew 5:48

In a world that either dismisses perfection as a myth or redefines it on human terms, the Bible holds firm: perfection is real—and it is the standard for the Christian life.

However, Christian perfection is not akin to the world's concept of success or flawlessness. It is not about being the “best version of yourself,” nor is it about denying your identity in pursuit of some mystical goal. Christian perfection is modeled in Christ, and it is both commanded and made possible through the gospel.

A Standard the World Rejects

Atheists and humanists often deny that perfection exists. Their values promote either personal potential (“Be the best you can be”) or self-acceptance without striving (“I'm okay, you're okay”). Others—such as Eastern religions—pursue a kind of “perfection” that involves eliminating desire or identity.

Even in religious systems like Judaism and Islam, perfection is often corporate—tied to political or cultural goals. In paganism, survival and superstition take the place of moral refinement.

But Christianity is different. It calls each person to strive for perfection modeled on Jesus Christ—the sinless Son of God.

The Model of Perfection: Jesus Christ

Unlike man-made standards, Christ’s perfection is both visible and attainable—not through human merit, but through obedient faith. His life, words, and works offer a comprehensive portrayal of what human perfection entails. As we compare ourselves to Him, two things become clear:

We are far from perfect.
We cannot attain perfection by human effort alone.

Yet, we are still called to strive for it.

Conditional Perfection in Christ

When a person believes in Christ, repents of sin, confesses His name, and is baptized (Galatians 3:26–27), they are saved—and they are made perfect in God’s sight. This conditional perfection does not mean sinlessness. It means that God counts them as perfect because of their faith in Jesus and obedience to His Word.

“For he hath made him to be sin for us… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” – 2 Corinthians 5:21

This status gives the Christian confidence to pray, serve, and face death with hope. It’s not based on our worthiness, but on Christ’s sacrifice on our behalf.

Maturity: The Visible Growth Toward Christlikeness

While we are perfect in Christ, we are not yet perfected in character. Therefore, we pursue maturity—spiritual growth that makes us more like Jesus day by day.

Maturity is:

Letting go of sinful habits.
Growing in biblical knowledge.
Learning to forgive.
Developing godly attitudes.
Bearing the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22–23).

This process is not optional—it is part of our calling. As long as we remain in the flesh, we are faced with a choice: repeat the sinful patterns of the past, or pursue Christlikeness and grow into the perfection God desires for us (Galatians 5:13–25).

Why Strive for Perfection?

We pursue actual spiritual perfection:

Expresses faith in the Perfect One—Jesus Christ.
Witnesses to the world through our conduct and character.
Enables joy, peace, and purpose in our lives now.
Shapes the church into a community that reflects heaven.
Guards our souls from the world’s influence.
Answers life’s greatest question: “What should I do with my life?”
Prepares us for the reward that awaits in eternity.

Final Thought

Perfection, as described in Scripture, is not about self-promotion or external achievement. It’s about Christlikeness—and that is the only worthy goal for every disciple.

By walking in the Spirit, we strive each day to grow more like Christ. And when Christ returns, we will be changed fully—transformed into the perfect image we’ve long pursued (Philippians 3:8–14; 1 Corinthians 15:50–58).