Perfect in Love — Growing Until He Comes
Key Verse:
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.” — 1 John 4:17 (KJV)
The Christian life is a journey — a journey that doesn’t end at conversion, or even at spiritual growth. God’s ultimate goal for every believer is something far deeper and far more beautiful: Christlike love.
The Bible calls this “perfect love,” not because it’s flawless by human effort, but because it is full, mature, and complete — love that reflects the very heart of Christ. John writes that this perfected love gives us “boldness in the day of judgment,” because when love rules the life, fear disappears.
This is God’s vision for His people — not just to be forgiven, not just to be improving, but to be transformed into the likeness of Jesus in character and love.
Ellen G. White expressed it beautifully:
“Those who take Christ at His word, and surrender their souls to His keeping… will find peace and quietude.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 331.
Peace comes through surrender. Love comes through abiding. Holiness comes through union with Christ.
What Does “Perfect” Really Mean?
When the Bible speaks of perfection, it does not mean sinless human performance or flawless living through personal strength. It means maturity — full-grown character that has allowed divine love to rule the heart.
Jesus said, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). In the context of the chapter, this perfection is clearly defined:
Loving enemies
Doing good to those who hurt you
Praying for those who persecute you
In other words: Christlike love displayed in human relationships.
That’s what maturity looks like in the kingdom of God.
Ellen White clarifies this principle of maturity:
“True sanctification is harmony with God, oneness with His character.” — The Sanctified Life, p. 10.
Perfection is simply our character aligning with His.
The Last Generation and Perfect Love
The Bible teaches that before Jesus returns, He will have a people who fully reflect His character. Not through their own strength, but through total dependence on Christ’s righteousness.
Revelation 14 describes them as those who “follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth” — totally surrendered and filled with faith and obedience.
Ellen White writes,
“Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.” — The Great Controversy, p. 623.
This does not mean sinless human effort. It means victory through total surrender. It means Christ reigning fully on the throne of the heart.
Perfect Love in Everyday Life
Perfect love isn’t revealed only in crises or persecution — it’s revealed in daily interactions.
When someone speaks harshly, and you respond with patience…
When you forgive even though you’re still hurting…
When you choose purity over pressure…
When you pray for someone who mistreats you…
When you love without expecting anything back…
These are the moments where Christ grows in you.
Ellen White says,
“When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” — Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69.
This is the goal of grace — not merely behavior change, but deep-hearted restoration.
How Love Grows to Maturity
By Staying Connected to Christ
Jesus said, “Without Me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5).
A branch never bears fruit by trying harder — only by abiding.By Surrendering Daily
Every morning we choose who rules the heart — self or Christ.
“Not my will, but Thine,” is the prayer of growth.By Letting Trials Refine Us
Trials aren’t obstacles to perfection — they are tools for it.
“Tribulation worketh patience” (Romans 5:3–4).By Loving When It’s Hard
Difficult people are opportunities to learn divine love.
The hardest love is the holiest love.By Inviting the Holy Spirit to Lead
Only the Spirit can produce Christlike maturity.
“The fruit of the Spirit is love…”
Grace That Finishes What Grace Begins
The God who starts the work of transformation will finish it. Paul assures us:
“He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” — Philippians 1:6
God does not abandon the process. He keeps shaping, pruning, strengthening, and refining until the image of Jesus shines through.
When the Holy Spirit awakens the heart at conversion, heaven commits itself to the entire journey. The same grace that brings a sinner to Christ is the grace that keeps the believer growing in Christ. God never begins what He does not intend to complete.
Ellen G. White affirms this divine commitment plainly:
“When the soul surrenders itself to Christ, a new power takes possession of the new heart. A change is wrought which man can never accomplish for himself.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 324.
Transformation is not a human work — it is a divine miracle. Our part is to surrender; God’s part is to supply the power. He begins the work, and He continues it moment by moment.
This continuing work often involves pruning and refining. Jesus said, “Every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit” (John 15:2). Pruning can feel painful, but it is never punishment — it is preparation. God removes what weakens us so He can strengthen what glorifies Him.
Ellen White expresses God’s purpose beautifully:
“Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church.” — Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69.
The goal of grace is not simply improvement; it is full restoration — Christlikeness. Everything God allows or permits in our lives is part of this shaping process. Trials, victories, rebukes, encouragements, waiting seasons — all are tools used by the Sculptor’s hand.
And every command God gives is accompanied by the power to obey it. Ellen White reminds us:
“All His biddings are enablings.” — Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 333.
This means that God never asks us to do anything without first empowering us to do it.
We grow by yielding.
We overcome by abiding.
We mature by trusting.
Paul echoes the same truth: “It is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure” (Philippians 2:13). God works in the will — changing desires — and in the doing — supplying power.
Ellen White also writes:
“There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.” — The Desire of Ages, p. 311.
God’s grace is not partial — it is complete. He will not stop His work until the character of Christ is reflected in His people.
This is the hope of the Christian: the God who begins the work of grace will finish it. He will shape, purify, strengthen, and sustain you until the day Jesus returns. None of the struggle is wasted. No part of the journey is unseen. He who begins will always complete.
Reflection Thought
Christian perfection is not about being flawless — it’s about being filled with Christ’s love.
It’s not about performance — it’s about surrender.
It’s not about trying harder — it’s about abiding deeper.
One day soon, Jesus will return for a people who reflect His love to the world. Through daily surrender, we can be among them.
Prayer Thought:
“Lord, perfect Your love in me. Teach me to abide in You every day. Shape my character, refine my heart, and prepare me to stand in Your likeness. Make me ready for Your soon return.”