LAWTON CHURCH OF GOD, LAWTON,
OKLAHOMA
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32
SINLESS PERFECTION “Sinless perfection” is a term used only by
those who deny the possibility of any perfection. We are frequently asked, “Do
you believe in sinless perfection?” Our answer is, “We never use that term,
first, because it is an unscriptural term, and, second, because it is an
ambiguous term. It all depends on what is meant by the term ‘sinless
perfection.’” In asking the question, “Do you believe in
sinless perfection,” people usually mean to say, “Do you believe in becoming
so good and holy you could not sin if you wanted to?” We answer, if this is
meant, “No, we do not believe in ‘sinless perfection.’” But if by “sinless perfection” is meant a
salvation that saves men perfectly from all sin, we would answer in the
affirmative, and insist that the Bible teaches that sort of “sinless
perfection.” We insist that if Jesus Christ can save a man from any sin, He
can save Him from all sin. This is the promise, “If we walk in the light the
blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin.” While we do not teach or believe any man can
become so good and holy he could not sin if he wanted to, we do believe and
teach that men may be so thoroughly saved they will not want to, and by the
grace of God, do not commit sin. We do not say, we have not power to sin, yet
all may know of an experience where they have power not to commit sin. “He
that committeth sin is of the devil. Whosoever is born of God doth not commit
sin.” Perfection, as applied to religious experience
has to do with quality rather than quantity. We must always distinguish between purity and
maturity. A child may be just as perfect as a child as an adult is perfect as an
adult. If Satan can make a man a perfect sinner, then Jesus Christ can make a
man a perfect Christian. Perfection is not a human attainment. It is not
something we do, much as something God does for us. The only perfection we may hope to reach is the
perfection of love. That is the perfection enjoined in “Perfect love casteth out fear: because fear
hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” Who then is a perfect Christian? He whose heart
is cleansed from all sin, and led with pure, unmixed love, so that he loves God
with all his heart, and his neighbor as himself. Three tests of perfect love may
be found as follows:
Obedience to the Word,
Love one to another,
Freedom from torment or fear,
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