Tell a person he is spiritual and perfect, and most likely he will disagree. He probably believes firmly in the substantiality of his material body, knows he has character faults to overcome, mortal longings, moral weaknesses, and is well aware that he has lessons to learn and higher to go in the attainment of wisdom and the expression of goodness before the description fits. Yet, in effect, the present spiritual perfection of man was the startling message of the writer of the Epistles of John, the man whom earliest tradition regarded as none other than the beloved disciple of Christ Jesus.
Writing to his own disciples, this veteran follower of the revolutionary teaching of Christ epitomized its message in terms so gentle that at first it may not seem as radical as it is. "Beloved," he wrote, "now are we the sons of God." Could anyone have more purely spiritual parentage, more promising possibilities, grander status, a more abundant inheritance?
John went on to explain how this great truth of man's perfect spiritual being, though at first obscure, becomes apparent to us through the Christ, the spiritual idea of God. "It doth not yet appear what we shall be," he continued. "But we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."
I John 3:2, 3 John was preaching Christ, the true, spiritual idea of God, and the perfection of God's expression, man, which had been so ideally exemplified by Jesus. He was explaining to his followers how all could demonstrate the same perfection, immortality, and eternality by following the Master's example. "And now, little children," he had said, "abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming."
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