How can Christians be perfect?

Jesus commands his followers to be perfect:

Matthew 5:48 King James Version (KJV)

⁴⁸Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

However, can Christians be perfect? The Bible itself says everyone has sin:

1 John 1:8 King James Version (KJV)

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

And all have come short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:23 King James Version (KJV)

²³For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Did Jesus set us an impossible task? Actually he did: Humans cannot be perfect. So, what’s the meaning of Matthew 5:48? Jesus uses the word “be”, which means stay perfect. Christians do not strive for perfection with our own strength to make ourselves like Christ: We put on the perfection of Christ. Here:

Romans 13:14 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁴But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

When we put on the righteousness of Christ, we naturally set aside the desires of the flesh. We are “perfect” by logical extension of being in Christ and not through our own efforts at self-discipline and striving for perfection. We abandon fleshly things by living in Christ. Here:

John 15:4-5 King James Version (KJV)

⁴Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.

⁵I 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.

How do we live in Christ? We deny the flesh and crucify the desires of our flesh:

Matthew 16:24-25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁴Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

²⁵For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.

Isn’t this just semantics? Isn’t living in Christ the same as striving to be perfect? There is a difference according to the Bible:

Galatians 5:24-25 King James Version (KJV)

²⁴And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.

²⁵If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

Those of us who are still struggling to fight off TV and mainstream music, are not walking in the Spirit (because the Spirit of God does not desire fleshly things). We have the righteousness of Christ only when we walk in the Spirit of God. This is the meaning of this passage:

Romans 8:1-14 King James Version (KJV)

8 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

²For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

³For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:

⁴That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.

⁵For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.

⁶For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

⁷Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.

⁸So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

⁹But 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.

¹⁰And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.

¹¹But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.

¹²Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

¹³For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

Pursue the things of the Spirit of God and you will naturally avoid the things of the flesh.

Are you being led by the Spirit of God? Apply these tests	Select
The flesh can never please God. We worship God in spirit and in truth through our conduct and attitude towards God and others: If you want to watch TV, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you like to look at beautiful people, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you desire to eat nice foods, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you seek the security of money, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you enjoy listening to mainstream music, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you look forward to entertainment, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you take pleasure in living in your nice pretty home, which is your sanctuary, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If God is not the actual, real, genuine number one LORD of your life, you are not walking in the Spirit of God. If you are walking in the Spirit of God these things are true of you: People say you are relentless in talking about God. You are immersed in the word of God daily. You repent to the Lord daily in your life. You sing hymns to God all day long. You cry when you think of what Jesus did for you. You love others enough to humble yourself to do anything to save their souls. You constantly ask God for his opinion. You are always labouring to bring the truth of God to people. I realise that many Christians reading the above will ask this question: WHO IS GOING TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN? Between 2.5% to as low as 0.1%: The answer is here.

Are you being led by the Spirit of God? Apply these tests

Why don't more Christians walk in the Spirit?	Select
Some of us very much want to put on the righteousness of Christ but fail to do so either because we have not received our “born from above” experience or the things of the world has choked the seed of God and we continue to live according to fleshly desires. The flesh desires the things we see and hear with our physical eyes and ears (such as sports cars, golf, sports programs, TV generally, mainstream music, delicate food, nice clothes, beautiful friends etc). Are these things wrong of themselves? Not really: 1 Corinthians 8:4-9 King James Version (KJV) ⁴As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one. ⁵For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,) ⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him. ⁷Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled. ⁸But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse. ⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak. All things are permissible because we are not under law: 1 Corinthians 6:12-13 King James Version (KJV) ¹²All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any. ¹³Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body. The things of the world do not affect the man of God, even if we eat, listen, do or see the things of the world (note: fornication is expressly forbidden, this includes masturbation). However, the person who likes to partake in the things of the world is not walking in the Spirit of God because the Spirit of God has one purpose: to save souls, that none shall perish and suffer eternal damnation. John 3:16 King James Version (KJV) ¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. If we remain in Christ and pursue the things of the Spirit, we bear godly fruit. The evidence of abiding in Christ is our labour for God, people coming to the Lord through us and that we ourselves are changing to be Christ-like: gentle and meek, displaying the fruits of the spirit: Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV) ²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. The fruits of the spirit are critically important to servants of Christ because these things demonstrate the light of Christ to the world, so that when people see the light of Christ in us, they will find everlasting life through Jesus Christ. Note: before putting on the righteousness of Christ and walking in the Spirit, check to see if you are born again.

Why don't more Christians walk in the Spirit?

Some of us very much want to put on the righteousness of Christ but fail to do so either because we have not received our “born from above” experience or the things of the world has choked the seed of God and we continue to live according to fleshly desires.

The flesh desires the things we see and hear with our physical eyes and ears (such as sports cars, golf, sports programs, TV generally, mainstream music, delicate food, nice clothes, beautiful friends etc). Are these things wrong of themselves? Not really:

1 Corinthians 8:4-9 King James Version (KJV)

⁴As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

⁵For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)

⁶But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.

⁷Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.

⁸But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.

⁹But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.

All things are permissible because we are not under law:

1 Corinthians 6:12-13 King James Version (KJV)

¹²All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.

¹³Meats for the belly, and the belly for meats: but God shall destroy both it and them. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body.

The things of the world do not affect the man of God, even if we eat, listen, do or see the things of the world (note: fornication is expressly forbidden, this includes masturbation). However, the person who likes to partake in the things of the world is not walking in the Spirit of God because the Spirit of God has one purpose: to save souls, that none shall perish and suffer eternal damnation.

John 3:16 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

If we remain in Christ and pursue the things of the Spirit, we bear godly fruit. The evidence of abiding in Christ is our labour for God, people coming to the Lord through us and that we ourselves are changing to be Christ-like: gentle and meek, displaying the fruits of the spirit:

Galatians 5:22-23 King James Version (KJV)

²²But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,

²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

The fruits of the spirit are critically important to servants of Christ because these things demonstrate the light of Christ to the world, so that when people see the light of Christ in us, they will find everlasting life through Jesus Christ.

Note: before putting on the righteousness of Christ and walking in the Spirit, check to see if you are born again.

How to walk after the Spirit of God

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good point. Got into an argument with someone recently about this. I think it is impossible to become sinless. Reasons being we are still in our fleshly bodies and we still “mess up”. maybe we didn’t think the right thing or a bad thought entered in and we shoved it out mentally or we forgot to help somebody…that is sin. I believe it is not sinning “wilfully” and continously trusting in Jesus to help cleanse us and to ask forgivness when we sin. I get very ocd about bad thoughts and get paranoid and say “forgive me Jesus” a lot.