Tom, I am sorry for the confusion. It never pays to leave out the most important words - in Christ. Thank you for pointing it out.

What do you think "in Christ, we are perfect" means?

Jesus is perfect. Christ's righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, "Take away the filthy garments from him and clothe him with change of raiment." Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord's host, never betraying trusts into the enemy's hands, they will be transformed into Christ's character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith.--Letter 17a, 1891

Do you have in mind justification or sanctification or both?

In other words, in Christ are we perfect in reality; or, are we only perfect on paper? That is, in Christ are we perfect in the intrinsic sense or only in the forensic sense or both?

TE: Possibly it may be the case that one thinks one is perfect in Christ without actually being perfect in Christ.

MM: If, as you say, being perfect in Christ includes being totally blind to all sorts of imperfections - no one is "actually" perfect in Christ, right?

Now, Martha, do not look to yourself but away to Jesus. Talk of His love, talk of His goodness, talk of His power, for He will not suffer you to be tempted above that you are able to bear. But in Christ is our righteousness. Jesus makes up our deficiencies because He sees we cannot do it ourselves. While praying for you I see a soft light encompassing a hand stretched out to save you. God's words are our credentials. We stand upon them. (Daughter of God 146)

TE: The seriousness of imperfections has to do with the willingness to deal with them when the truth is pointed out by the Holy Spirit. Everyone has imperfections, but the true follower of Christ will respond to the Holy Spirit when these imperfections are pointed out.

MM: Questions:

1. Are you saying that the reason we aren't aware of certain imperfections is because the Holy Spirit hasn't pointed them out to us yet?

2. Is the reason why the Holy Spirit hasn't revealed them to us due to the fact we aren't willing to deal with them yet?

3. Is it because we would we choose to grieve the Holy Spirit instead of crucifying them?

4. Are these imperfections obvious to the people around us?

5. Do they misrepresent Christ to the people around us?

TE: You wrote, "If being perfect in Christ includes being totally blind to all sorts of imperfections, then no one is 'actually' perfect in Christ."

Why not? If being in Christ includes being blind to certain imperfections, then one can be blind to these imperfections and still be perfect in Christ, by definition.

MM: But no one is "actually" (in reality) perfect, right? We are actually, in reality, imperfect.

TE: Deficiencies means the same thing as imperfections, right?

MM: I'm not sure. Either way, is it referring to unknown sinful habits, behaviors that offend people around us, that misrepresent Jesus, that bing reproach upon the cause and church of Christ?

In order to purify and refine our characters, we need the grace given us of Christ that will enable us to see and correct our deficiencies and improve that which is excellent in our characters. {CG 164.2}

Self-knowledge leads to humility and to trust in God, but it does not take the place of efforts for self-improvement. He who realizes his own deficiencies will spare no pains to reach the highest possible standard of physical, mental, and moral excellence. {CT 67.1}

The Lord God of heaven will not supply the deficiencies that result from mental and spiritual indolence. {FE 374.1}

Constantly God is laboring to make up man's deficiencies. Even repentance is brought about through the application of grace. The natural heart feels no need of repentance…. Faith, too, is the gift of God. {HP 221}

God will take men who do not appear to be so richly endowed, who have not large self-confidence, and He will make the weak strong, because they trust in Him to do for them that which they cannot do for themselves. God will accept the wholehearted service, and will Himself make up the deficiencies. {MH 150.3}

Jesus is perfect. Christ's righteousness is imputed unto them, and He will say, "Take away the filthy garments from him and clothe him with change of raiment." Jesus makes up for our unavoidable deficiencies. Where Christians are faithful to each other, true and loyal to the Captain of the Lord's host, never betraying trusts into the enemy's hands, they will be transformed into Christ's character. Jesus will abide in their hearts by faith. {3SM 196.1}

Let none of our brethren imagine that they are doing God's service in presenting the deficiencies of men who have done good, grand, acceptable work in laboring to unfold the message of mercy to fallen men, for the salvation of perishing souls. Suppose that these brethren have weak traits of character which they have inherited from their deficient ancestors, shall these deficiencies be hunted up and made prominent? {3SM 342.2}