Christian or Sinless Perfection

Christian perfection or Sinless Perfection is a doctrine whose beliefs stem from Methodism, which basically says that the heart of the born-again Christian may attain a state of holiness in which believers are made free from sin.

The doctrine is often associated with John Wesley,  the founder of Methodism from his understanding of sanctifying grace.  John Wesley deliberately avoided using the term "Sinless Perfection" but many others that follow his teachings have taken up using the term.

I believe that to teach someone that they can obtain a sinless state of perfection is a false doctrine that will lead many good people down a path of destruction.  We need to read God's word and understand that we will never reach a state of perfection while in the flesh. 

One scripture that you may see quoted to teach this doctrine is:
1 John 3:9
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.

Jesus was the only man to ever live that was literally "born of God" and could not sin.   What I believe John is trying to teach us here is that if you are a true believer then your character will be like the one you believe in.  If you are a born again Christian then you will strive to live Christ like and his character will shine through.  You can tell a saint or a sinner by their actions.   You've probably heard the saying that actions speak louder than words, well in some cases they certainly do.

Another one is:
Hebrews 10:14
For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified.

If you read further you will see that the bible is not saying you will be sinless or perfect.  It is teaching us that Jesus offered himself for our sins and that if we keep his laws in our hearts and on our minds that he will not remember our sins and iniquities. 

Hebrews 10:16-17
This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them;
And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more.

1 Kings 8:61 teaches us to strive to be perfect.
1 Kings 8:61
Let your heart therefore be perfect with the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

We are to strive to be perfect, but Roman 3:10 teaches us that none are perfect. 

Roman 3:10

 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:

This verse in Romans is teaching us that there is none righteous, none sinless, none perfect, no not one. 

1 John 1: 8-10 further teaches us that all sin at one time or another, but if we confess our sins, Jesus will forgive them.

1 John 1:8-10 
If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

The best proof that I can offer you to show that Christian Perfection or Sinless Perfection is a false doctrine can be found in:

1 John 2:1-2

My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not.  And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And he is the propitiation for our sins:  and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

This scripture alone teaches us beyond a doubt that no one can reach Christian Perfection or Sinless Perfection in this life.  If it were possible then there would  be no need for Jesus Christ to be our advocate with the Father.

This is where people need to be reading their bibles and learning to rightly divide the word of truth.  Don't let someone give you a scripture and accept it until you read it in the context of the word and know it's true meaning.  Contrary to what some believe, the bible does not contradict itself.  There is a lot more that can be written on this subject, but I hope I have helped you in some way with what I have written.

Kathy Wellman

Re:  King James Bible

Keeping God's Word Alive

This morning I am thinking of the importance of keeping God's word alive in our lives.  Have you ever wondered just how much what you do affects what goes on in the lives of those around you?  If you are a sullen, sad person, it affects those around you and makes them unhappy.  If you are a happy person with a smile on your face, others are uplifted by your attitude.  I believe we should apply this concept to our everyday lives and how we keep God's word alive in our homes.  The bible teaches us that his word is to be a constant part of our lives.

Deuteronomy 6: 6-7
⁶ And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart:
⁷ And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Deuteronomy 11: 18-19
¹⁸ Therefore shall ye lay up these my words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them for a sign upon your hand, that they may be as frontlets between your eyes.
¹⁹ And ye shall teach them your children, speaking of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, when thou liest down, and when thou risest up.

Children mimic what they see parents do.  They are like sponges soaking up water.  The bible teaches us that God's word should be talked about and taught to our children.  We are to teach his commandments to our children by obeying them ourselves.  We are to apply his word to every aspect of our lives and by doing so we are ensuring that our children will know to trust in God for all things and will do the same with their own children. I would love to see bible study taught in school, but it is not the school's responsibility to teach our children about God, it is not even the churches responsibility, it is the parents sole responsibility to teach our own children.  God placed them in our care and it is our responsibility to teach them about God and help them to become good, moral adults.  If we allow someone else to do what God said we should do, we are slacking in obeying God ourselves. 

Proverbs 22:6
⁶ Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.

You can be sure that your children will learn all about sin from the world.  If they are not learning about God at home, then they are left with nothing but sin in their lives and the wages of sin is death. 

Romans 6:23
²³ For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

In order to keep sin out of our lives, we are to keep God's word alive in our hearts.  We are to pray without ceasing.  We may not be able to be in our prayer closets all day long, but we can have our minds upon the Lord.  We should keep a song in our hearts and talk about God's goodness at every opportunity.
1 Thessalonians 5: 15-18
¹⁵ See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
¹⁶ Rejoice evermore.
¹⁷ Pray without ceasing.
¹⁸ In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Act 12:5
⁵ Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.

2 Timothy 1:3
³ I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

Author:  Kathy Wellman

Reference:  King James Bible