Part IV:
“” Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” If we are members of the church, or the children of church members, we have been taught from our early childhood that we are “miserable sinners”, and that no matter what we do, yet we are sinners. This idea has been so instilled into our minds that we regard this injunction of our Lord, to be perfect even as our Father in heaven is perfect, as a mere incentive to cause us to strive toward perfection, but at the same time without any hope of ever attaining it on this earth. Thus, we accuse the Lord Christ of a form of deception, for commanding us to do that which he knew to be impossible for us to do; therefore, we are not expected to obey.
John carries out the same idea of perfection as did Christ: “Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he (Christ) is righteous”, and we would emphasize the words of the beloved disciple, “let no man deceive you”, but do right and you are right. Again, remember that when you do the best you can, through watchfulness, prayerfulness, and diligence in every direction, you have done all that any one on earth or in heaven can do. The angels can do no more than to do their best. If there were no provisions made by the Holy Spirit to enable you to be perfect, then it would be better if the words of the Christ and of the beloved disciple John had not been spoken; they are a deception, or, at least it was folly on the part of the Christ and of John to express them.
Bear in mind that you are begotten of God; that your real self is the son of God, a spiritual and divine being, as truly as was Jesus of Nazareth. And remember too, that being a son of God you are in touch with his Spirit, and that all power in heaven and in earth is at your command; for you were created and embodied for the exclusive purpose of taking the kingdom from the Father and executing dominion over all the earth. Therefore, keep ever before your mind’s eye, the clear distinction between your real self, who is the son of God, and your physical body, which is the son of man. In the physical body are weaknesses and inclinations toward depravity, but in your real self is the divine son of God that gives you inclinations toward righteousness.
Strive above all things to realize that, being a son of God, you are one with the Father, and to realize also that the words of Jesus are applicable to you, when he said, “All things that the Father hath are mine”. If you are faithful and accept your high calling, you are to receive the kingdoms of this world and the dominion over them. When these realizations become vivid to you, then you will be conscious that you are walking before God and being perfect. As God said to Abraham, “I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.”
It is essential that you believe and realize these things, for that which you believe, you grow to be like, it matters not what it is. If you believe that you are a miserable sinner, you will grow to be a miserable sinner; but if you believe that you are a son of God, and will to be righteous even as he is righteous, then all the new life that is generated in the body and conserved by you for the use of the brain and soul powers, will be of that perfect quality. It is well known that if a child is constantly told that he is ugly, wicked, and bad in every way, he will grow to be wicked and bad. That holy child that has been begotten in you, wants to realize its holiness, its righteousness, its oneness with the Father, its perfection in his sight, and all these qualities must be realized and cultivated in your mind.
But remember, you must keep active the distinction between the physical structure and the appetites and passions arising therefrom, and the real self, the spiritual man. Remember, the object of your incarnation in flesh is that you take control of this body and no longer allow it to be controlled by the appetites, passions, and desires of the flesh, but to regenerate it into the likeness of your real self and the likeness of the everlasting Father. Here you have an individual work, great and important, which must be done by you. When the Christ said, “seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you”, he implied that the seeking of God and his righteousness must be the first and chief object, and all other things must be subordinate to that object.”
Hiram Butler
The Mark Of God: Understanding Your "I AM Presence" 