Don't you feel it in your own soul—that perfection is nowhere in you? Doesn't every single day teach you that? Every tear that falls from your eye weeps "imperfection." Every harsh word that leaves your lips mutters "imperfection." You've looked at your own heart too many times to dream for even a moment of finding perfection there.

But right here, amidst this sad consciousness of imperfection, there is comfort for you: you are "perfect in Christ Jesus." In God's sight, you are "complete in him." Even now—even now!—you are "accepted in the Beloved."

But there is a second perfection, yet to be realized, which is sure to all the seed. Isn't it delightful to look forward to that time? When every stain of sin shall be removed from the believer, and he shall be presented faultless before the throne—without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing! The Church of Christ will be so pure that not even the eye of Omniscience will see a spot or blemish in her. So holy and so glorious that Hart did not go beyond the truth when he said: "With my Saviour's garments on, Holy as the Holy One."

Then shall we know, and taste, and feel the happiness of this vast but short sentence: "Complete in Christ." Not till then shall we fully comprehend the heights and depths of the salvation of Jesus.

Doesn't your heart leap for joy at the thought of it? Black as you are, you shall be white one day; filthy as you are, you shall be clean. Oh, it is a marvelous salvation this! Christ takes a worm and transforms it into an angel; Christ takes a black and deformed thing and makes it clean and matchless in his glory, peerless in his beauty, and fit to be the companion of seraphs.

O my soul, stand and admire this blessed truth of perfection in Christ!