“Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” What does this mean?

Biblical “perfection” is the product of the divine imputation of Jesus’ perfection over the life of the one who believes that Jesus is Messiah (2 Corinthians 5:21). Believers in the New Covenant are positionally “perfect” as a divine promise of the Father who chooses to not see the sin of the faithful but only sees the perfection of His dear Son over the life of the one who has surrendered their sin to the grace of Jesus’ work performed on the Cross at Golgotha (Matthew 26:28).

Though a Christian remains encumbered by a body of death in Adam (Romans 7), their “true self,” the spirit, is viewed as holy and perfect by the Father via New Covenant promise (Hebrews 8:12).

With that said, true, practical, daily perfection in word and deed is the ultimate goal of daily Christian sanctification as the Christian is transformed day-by-day via sanctification via the indwelling Holy Spirit into the “perfect,” obedient, image of Jesus…this work of sanctification is a life long goal of the Spirit subsequent redemption by faith (Galatians 5:16).