I remember, some time ago, seeing a bumper sticker on the car ahead of me; this is what it said: Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven!
While this may be true from a practice! standpoint, there is another aspect that needs to be taken into consideration when thinking about this statement.
It is true that we still, as believers, sin.
"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us."
But as far as our position and standing before God, we are perfect. Perfect, because we are seen by God the Father, in all the perfection of the Lord Jesus Christ, His beloved Son. We are "in Him." Ten times in the Epistle to the Ephesians we read the expression, "in Christ."
Consider this verse:
"...that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him."
Yes, this is true of every Christian. Whether they have been saved for many years, or just a few minutes. God sees every believer in Christ, and nothing can ever change that wonderful fact. We are forever and unequivocally, "accepted in the Beloved." Ephesians 1:66To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. (Ephesians 1:6). Not because of our own merit or even our state of soul, but because the Lord Jesus glorified, and satisfied God as to the question of sin. And through His grace, as a result of the work on the cross, we are brought into this wonderful standing and lofty position. Praise His glorious name!
What a day it will be when we are all finally, physically and morally like Him, there in the Father's house of bliss and joy.
It is in Christ we stand,
Accepted in God's Son;
We are a holy band,
By grace the work is done.
His righteousness is now our own,
His death and blood, for sin atone,
We have no fear—perfect in Him,
Nothing this precious truth can dim!