Even it appears impossible, we still can be perfect because of the grace of God. People think that nobody can become perfect. But, it is God who makes his people perfect. To live a perfect life is a hard task for anybody and everybody. Christians try again and again to be perfect, but only to find that they fail to become perfect. It is an impossible task for somebody to become perfect.
What a delusive strategy of the Satan! As the inventor of the doctrine, Satan is simply supporting his ancient accusation that God was asking far too much. He accused God of being unfair by requiring something that was impossible. He was able to convince a third of the angels that God was unreasonable to expect obedience to His law, and he has been trying to make everybody else believe it since that time.
Satan knows that sin is the only thing that will keep anyone out of heaven. Thus, he had to perfect a plan to make people look lightly upon breaking the law. To make this idea acceptable to Christains, Satan actually was able to disguise it as a doctrine and foist it upon a compromised Christain.
When Peter began sinking in the Sea of Galilee, it was not because God's plan or power had failed, it was Peter that lost focus on Jesus, by being carried away by the wind that is blowing towards him (Peter's sinking had nothing to do with the failure of the divine power of God. It did not change Christ's will for him to walk on the water. It only pointed out Peter's need of stronger faith to enable him to obey Christ's command).
Peter could have rationalized, like so many modern Christians, and said, "God didn't want me to walk on the water, and besides, it's impossible for anybody to do such a thing anyway."
The Hypnotised Man:
I read about a man who submitted to a scientific hypnosis experiment. While under the influence of a light hypnotic trance the subject was ordered to pick up a glass from the table. Although he was a strong, athletic type, the man could not budge the glass from its position. His most strenuous exertions could not lift the glass that was light enough for any child to remove.
Why could he not do it? Because the scientists, after placing him in the trance, had told him that it was impossible to pick up the glass. Because his mind was convinced that it could not be done, his body was unable to carry out the command to lift it. What a dramatic demonstration that no person can really obey commandments which he believes to be impossible of performance!
Examples of People in Bible that were Perfect:
¤ The Bible says that Noah was just (righteous), perfect, and most of all he walked with God. In the sight of God, Noah was perfect because Noah had not disobeyed a single commandment given to him by God. Gen 6:9, and 22 says; ''Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God... Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he ."
¤ God Himself challenged the devil saying that Job lived a perfect life. Job 1:8 says; ''And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? ". Also Job1:22 says; ''In all this Job sinned not..."
¤ God told Abraham to live a perfect life before him. Gen 17:1 says; ''And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the LORD appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect". Abraham fulfilled what God has required of him and received the testimony even from Jesus Christ. We can see this in John 8:39; ''They answered and said unto him, Abraham is our father. Jesus saith unto them, If ye were Abraham's children, ye would do the works of Abraham."
¤ When King Hezekiah was sick he asked God to remember his perfect life and God favored him immediately. 2King 20:3 says; ''I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart , and have done that which is good in thy sight."
¤ The Apostle was speaking to those who were already perfect in the Church of Philippians. This proves that there were perfect people in the Church. Phil 3:15 says; ''Let us therefore, as many as be perfect , be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you."
¤ Though the apostle rebuked some for their sins in Corinth, he still acknowledged the perfect ones, as found in 1Cor 2:6; ''Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect : yet not the wisdom of this world, nor of the princes of this world..."
These are few of many accounts of people or group of people in the Bible that were considered to be perfect. If these people can be perfect, then a human can become perfect!
Could this perfection mean that we have to be 100 % correct and right all the time?
This cannot be so, for even these people stated above at one time or the other were sinners. For example; Abraham, out of God's command, slept with Hagar (his wife's maid) so as to have a child. David, not only slept with Bathsheba, but also killed her husband so as to cover up his sin.
No wonder the bible says; "There is none righteous, no, not one" (Romans 3:10), "For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23), "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." (1 John 1: 8-10 ).
These all means that there is no one (except Jesus) that was/is perfect throughout their life-time, it also means that we cannot be perfect or sinless by our own power. Lets learn from David, whom after realising that he had sinned against God, asked for forgiveness, and renewed his ways before the Lord, and with God's help, he lived upright there-after.
David then declared in Psalm 18: 20-23 that; "The Lord rewarded me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands hath he recompensed me. For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his judgements were before me, and I did not put away his statutes from me. I was also upright before him, and I kept myself from mine iniquity."
So how can we be Perfect?
Lets learn from these people, what their secret was.. I tell you that, there is no other person that can make one perfect other than God. Since God made them perfect, He can also make us perfect.
Meaning of Perfection:
Shouldn't we consider what it really means to be perfect? Perfect in Christ means the following: We, as the branches abide in the vine, should abide by the word of God; receive the power of the Holy Spirit as the branches receive the sap from the vine; and produce the same fruit as Jesus has produced while he was a man. This is said by Jesus in John 15:5, and 7; ''I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing... If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you...''
Wow! even Jesus Himself declared that we can do nothing without Him, no wonder St. Paul says in Phillipians 4:13 that; ''I can do all things through Christ which strenghtens me.'' (That little expression " all things " is the key to victory for every one of us. It includes power over drugs, immorality, appetite, pride, and every act of sin that would rob us of eternal life.) But still everything depends on the surrender, and commitment of one's self to the indwelling Spirit of Christ.
God says that it is not possible to do spiritual deeds with carnal strength. It is an impossible task. That is why, He wants us to become spiritual so that the spiritual things may come to us naturally. Romans 8:8-9 says; ''So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his."
But then, the devil always decieves his people that nobody can be perfect. Do you belong to Jesus or to the Devil? Even Jesus Christ says that His sheep will hear His voice and will follow Him, as said in John 10: 26-27 ; ''But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you. My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:"
Evidences That We Can Be Perfect:
It is more than clearly stated in the Bible that it is possible to overcome sin, and also to be perfect. The Bible:
- Instead of saying we may be saved, says we can be "saved to the uttermost" (Hebrews 7:25).
- Instead of saying we may conquer, it assures that we can be "more than conquerors" (Romans 8:37).
- Instead of being told that we can just triumph, we are told that we may "always triumph" (2 Corinthians 2:14).
- Instead of promising whatever we might ask to help us in our spiritual battles, says He will give us "exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think" (Ephesians 3:20). And the verse just prior to that one clearly guarantees that we may "be filled with all the fullness of God" (verse 19).
"Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust" (2 Peter 1:4). Notice that it is "by these" that we escape the corruption of sin. What are "these"? They are the promises of God! (Few of which are stated in the verses above).
What all these means is that when you get the power of Christ in your life, you have everything else you could ever desire. "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?" (Romans 8:32). There is that term again " all things " You will find it also in 2 Peter 1:3: "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness ..."
These means that by claiming the presence of Christ in your life, you also receive everything that Christ possesses. Paul described it this way: "But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption" (1 Corinthians 1:30). Here, we have these ''all things'' being broken down by St. Paul.
What do "righteousness," "redemption," and "sanctification" include? The word "redemption" is not limited to redemption from the guilt of sin, but from the power of sin also. "Sanctification" is a word that describes continuous, daily growth in overcoming sin. "Righteousness" literally means right-doing and applies to a dynamic fulfillment of God's will.
Every child of Adam needs two things desperately — forgiveness for the past and power for the future, and Redemption includes both of them. Jesus did not come just to take away something — our guilt; but to give us something — victory over sin.
Eph 5: 25-27 ; ''Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish." This means that Jesus Christ died for the Church in order to purify the Church and to make it perfect for Himself .
Eph 4: 11-13 ; ''And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:." This means that Gods purpose for the church is to perfect the believers .
If you need more assurance that victory can be yours, read the following:
- 1 Corinthians 15:57; "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ ."
- 1 John 5:4; "For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith ."
- 2 Corinthians 5:21; "… that we might be made the righteousness of God in him ."
- 1 John 3:6; " Whatsoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him ."
Could It Be That We Have Been Hypnotised?
The hypnotized man could not physically lift a small glass from the table because his mind was so fully convinced that it couldn't be done. Has Satan been able to immobilize the church through the power of his hypnotic, lying assertion that obedience is impossible? It certainly seems so.
No one is going to put forth any serious effort to do something that he believes to be impossible. Obviously then, those who believe they cannot live without sinning are not attempting to live without sin. No reasonable person will waste time and effort in a vain struggle to accomplish nothing.
Can a person believe that there is no way to stop sinning, and yet make plans not to sin? Guess thats impossible. But the Bible commands us to "make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof." (Romans 13:14). Are we not making provision for sin by laying hold to the fact that it is impossible not to sin?
To deny the possibility of total victory over sin is to rob God of the glory of His mission. He came, the Bible says, to destroy the works of the devil. Those works are the works of sin. If no one claimed His power to overcome sin completely, the devil's accusation would be confirmed, and the requirements of God would be exposed as too difficult to obey.
Jesus's mission was to counteract and neutralize the entire program of sin - defilement introduced by Satan. Restoring the image of God in man is a very important part of the everlasting gospel. The most glorious experience of the truly converted is to break the pattern of self-indulgence and sin. Under the rule of the Spirit of God, fleshly habits may be conquered and expelled from the life. Through faith in the promises, unbelievable power can be released into the life of one who is willing to give up the enjoyment of sin.
The heart of God longs for us to take Him at His word and to claim the power He has promised. It is the only road to real victory. But no one can experience victory who does not believe victory is possible.
This perfection is a point to be attained as a christain (and the point it is attained can be termed as Maturity, just like a child grows to be mature, a christain should grow to the maturity level). Why not start from a level today? The word Perfect/Mature denotes those who have attained the full development of innate powers, in contrast to those who are still in the undeveloped state - adults in contrast to children.
Thus the thought here is - Ye shall be satisfied with, and shall attain to, no lower state than that of maturity. It is this maturity that will make you love those that wronged you, will make say the truth always, and to understand and always obey Gods commandment (which can be specialised into one, i.e. Love (Love to God, Love to our neighbours).
How To Be Victorious Even If You Are Hypnotised:
There is not a habit or sin known to man that cannot be conquered through faith. Do you know why "trying" does not work in overcoming the devil? Trying will never break the power of sin in a single instance, because we're facing an enemy who will always be stronger than we are (thats why God says; Resist the devil, and he will flee from you, not fight him. If you try fighting the devil, even if you win today, he will always come back, and with a stronger strategy). What, then, is the answer to our weakness and defeat?
First of all, one must understand that all of heaven's gifts are available to us through the promises of the Bible, and we receive them by faith. Peter describes the "exceeding great and precious promises" and assures us that "by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature" (2 Peter 1:4). Mighty power is stored within the promise to fulfill itself to all who claim it in faith. So few are willing to believe that the promised blessing becomes theirs the very moment they believe it. But why is it so hard to believe implicitly that God will do what He promises?
"But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57). Victory is a gift, not that we earn it by our efforts. The only thing we need is to ask, and it shall be given unto us freely by Christ. He is the only one who has ever gained victory over Satan.
The Bible says you may have the victory as a gift through Jesus Christ. Do you believe He will give you that power if you ask Him? How certain can you be that God will answer your prayer for victory immediately?
Matthew 7:11 says; "If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?" Is it a good thing when you ask for victory over that sin you are addicted to? Of course it is! Will God give the victory when we ask Him? Jesus said He was more willing to give this good thing than we are to feed our children when they are hungry. He is waiting to honor your faith and to "supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:19).
But then why have we been so reluctant to apply for the provisions of grace? Why is it so hard to believe that God means exactly what He says? He will keep every promise (God is not man that He should lie). And faith makes it so.
How do we know we have the victory after we ask Him? The very moment we ask, we should accept the fact of fulfillment, thank Him for the gift, and get up and act like it has been done. No kind of proof- feeling or sign should be demanded or expected. The self-fulfilling power in the promise is released in response to our faith alone.
Romans 6:11, "Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." The word "reckon" means to believe, or to consider it done. Every particle of faith should be focused on that one request for victory and then it should be accounted as done.
Do you remember how Peter walked on the water? He asked Jesus if he could step out of the boat onto the raging sea, and Jesus told Peter to come. But how long did Peter do the impossible by walking on the water? The Bible says, "When he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me" (Matthew 14:30). What was Peter afraid of? He was afraid of sinking and drowning. In spite of Christ's assurance that he could safely walk on the water, Peter began to doubt the word of the Master. That is when he began to sink. As long as he believed the promise of Jesus and acted in faith, he was safe. When he doubted, he sank.
So, whatever it is you are trying to overcome, Christ says, "Come to me. I will give you the victory." As long as you believe that you have been delivered, you will have the victory. It is as simple as that. The very moment you ask for victory it will be placed in your life as a reservoir of power. You won't feel it, but it is there. It will remain there as long as you accept it in faith (For some people the deliverance is so dramatic that they lose even the appetite for the sin).
Usually, the desire remains, but in the moment of temptation, the power to walk past the temptation springs forth from within. Faith accepts the fact of deliverance and constantly claims the victory which is in the secure possession of the believer.
Romans 13:14. "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof." Under the old "trying" plan, provision was made to fail in most cases. But under the "trusting" plan, we have no reason to fear failure on the grounds of human weakness. Victory does not depend on our strength but on God's power. We might fail, but He cannot fail. All plans that might involve any degree of compromise are abandoned.
We might need to be reminded of our total dependence upon His strength. But this does not diminish the beautiful plan of God to impart power and victory through "exceeding great and precious promises" of the Bible. Without faith by the receiver not even God's promises can be appropriated. The limits are clearly defined in the words of Jesus, "According to your faith be it unto you" (Matthew 9:29).
So therefore, if you are willing to be delivered, the victory, power, and deliverance is there. just reach out in faith and it is yours. Believe it and claim it this very moment. God wants you to be free. And sure He wants you to be perfect, He has sent a perfect example to this world to show the way of perfection, and through Him (and Him alone) can you be perfect, but remember, only if you want to. So break loose today, and take the bold step towards perfection.
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