Can a Saint Go a Day without Sinning?
Introduction
Ask folks claiming to be Christians, “Can anyone go a day without sinning?” Some may take a stand that they can. Others will claim that going any length of time without sinning is not possible, since mortals are fallen creatures. Some practically fight for the right to sin.
One common response is, “You sin all the time, just by your thoughts!” and another is, “We commit the sin of omission all the time!” “Nobody’s perfect!” comes in somewhere. How do Scriptures describe the Saints who pleased God?
Pastor Arthur Glass wrote the following summary (which I have updated later in this document):
The Biblical Definition of Sin
As taken form the pastoral outline notes of Arthur Glass
A. The Depraving Folly: “The thought of foolishness is sin” —Proverbs 24:9-a
The Hebrew word being translated thought is not the usual word. This word means “to connive, design, devise or plan (evil); also to scheme, think (immorally or evil).” Only when used of God can it be used in a good sense (as in Zechariah 8:14 & 15). Whenever it is used of man, it is mainly evil (as in Deuteronomy 19:19).
The Hebrew word being translated foolishness has nothing to do with intelligence or intellectual capacity, or lack of it: but rather with moral or spiritual status: “a state of impious wickedness.”
1. Its Source: The heart
Matthew 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies: 20These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.
2. Its Substance: Evil thoughts (as defined above), murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies
3. Its Sequence: “These are the things which defile a man.”
Examples: Matthew 9:3 And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
Acts 8:22 Repent therefore of this thy wickedness, and pray God, if perhaps the thought of thine heart may be forgiven thee.
B. The Deciding Faithlessness: “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” —Romans 14:23-b
An Example: Titus 1:15 Unto the pure all things are pure: but unto them that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled.
1. Is it for the glory of God? 1 Corinthians 10:31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.
2. Is it for my good or the good of others?
Examples: Titus 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.
1 Timothy 4:8 For bodily exercise profiteth little: but godliness is profitable unto all things, having promise of the life that now is, and of that which is to come.
3. Is it for the furtherance of the Gospel? Philippians 1:27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ.
C. The Deliberate Failure: “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin” —James 4:17
1. In Example: 1 Peter 5:3 Neither as being lords over God’s heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.
1 Timothy 4:12 Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.
1 Thessalonians 1:6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: 7So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor [yet] of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
2. In Exercise: Psalm 131:1 A Song of degrees of David. Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
Acts 24:16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void of offense toward God, and toward men.
1 Timothy 4:7 But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.
3. In Expression: Colossians 4:6 Let your speech [be] alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
D. The Demonstrated Flagrancy: “Sin is the transgression of the Law” —1 John 3:4-b
Deuteronomy 5:32 Ye shall observe to do therefore as the LORD your God hath commanded you: ye shall not turn aside to the right hand or to the left.
1. The Spiritual Law: Deuteronomy 4:2 Ye shall not add unto the word which I command you, neither shall ye diminish ought from it, that ye may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
2. The Social Law: Titus 3:1 Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work, 2To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, [but] gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
1 Peter 2:13 Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; 14Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. 15For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men.
3. The Standard Law: The Bible warns against dissipation, drunkenness, excess, gluttony, intemperance, laziness.
E. The Declared Finality: “All unrighteousness is sin” —1 John 5:17-a
1. In Thought: Psalm 50:21 These [things] hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether [such an one] as thyself: [but] I will reprove thee, and set [them] in order before thine eyes. + Acts 8:20,22
2. In Tongue: Proverbs 6:16 These six things doth the Lord hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, 18An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, 19A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
James 3:2 For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. 3Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. 4Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. 5Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! 6And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.
Matthew 12:36 But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. 37For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.
3. In Transaction: Romans 12:17-b Provide things honest in the sight of all men.
2 Corinthians 8:21 Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.
Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
1 Thessalonians 4:11 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; 12That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and [that] ye may have lack of nothing.
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(The following is added and not original)
F. The Deleterious Frivolity: “The plowing of the wicked is sin.” —Proverbs 21:4-b
The Hebrew word translated plowing is also the word for lamp or light.
Isaiah 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!
Psalm 50:16 But unto the wicked God saith, What hast thou to do to declare my statutes, or that thou shouldest take my covenant in thy mouth? 17Seeing thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. 18When thou sawest a thief, then thou consentedst with him, and hast been partaker with adulterers. 19Thou givest thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. 20Thou sittest and speakest against thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother’s son. 21These things hast thou done, and I kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such an one as thyself: but I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
2 Peter 2:1 But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.
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Discussion
A. The Plot of Evil
“The plot of evil is sin.” The Hebrew literally reads, “The plot of evil is a sin-sacrifice.” This is an End Times warning text, one of several thousand in the Bible. It gives a particular detail that will save the lives of Jewish folks who know and hearken to it. During the Tribulation, Jews (and some non-Jews) will approach the priests at the Temple to do sin sacrifices. They will not know that they are identifying themselves as enemies of those in power by this means, and will be tracked for arrest or death. The Proverbs text explains that the sin sacrifice will be a plot against them. Readers who hearken to this warning will refrain from approaching to do sin sacrifices during this time.
This does not eliminate plots of evil from being sin, but this Proverbs text is not giving this general rule.
I will discuss “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin,” “all unrighteousness is sin,” and “who knows to do good, and doesn’t do it–to him it is sin” later in this document.
“Sin is the transgression of the Law.” Anyone ignorant of the Torah (Law) might find this confusing. Read the Torah (the first six books of the Bible) to determine what constitutes transgressions.
“The lamp of the wicked is sin.” What is this lamp? The Hebrew text literally reads, “The lamp of culpable-ones is a sin-sacrifice.” This again is a warning for End Times events (as are all Proverbs texts). The sin sacrifice will be a signal to culpable ones. They will know whom to arrest and/or kill. Readers of these texts with knowledge who are alive during the Tribulation will know to stay away from the Temple and its sacrifices until Salvation has come.
B. “We are not to judge!”
1. No normal person would argue against trained and certified, uncorrupted judges judging without violating any law of God, just as Biblically appointed judges (Gideon, Samson, Samuel) of old were appointed by God to judge. The blanket statement, “we are not to judge,” is a legal, moral and ethical error. If a non-certified person sets himself as a judge, injustice will be done.
2. A customer in the grocery store or on a car lot judges objects. Distinguishing between different objects and different persons is called discernment, determining differences between objects, persons, works, etc. when they otherwise look very similar. Discernment is a form of judgment. Another form of judgment is condemnation. Anyone who condemns another without being authorized is doing wrong.
3. Folks who date judge the qualities of each other (if they have sense). Those who date and marry without judging usually get the quality of the product they deserve. Judgment is crucial in such important decisions.
4. Condemning anyone before the time (of Yehovah’s judgment) is wrong. Discernment is right.
Matthew 7:1-5 Judge not that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged. And with what measure ye mete [assign by measure], it shall be measured to you again. And why beholdest thou the mote [a small particle] that is in thy brother’s eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, ‘Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;’ and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite! First cast out the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother’s eye!
Messiah addressed many who had not come to faith (Matthew 5-7). In Matthew 7:1-5, an unbelieving Israeli (and therefore under condemnation) is judging another Israeli for a lesser offense! Anyone with a beam in his eye is totally blind, a description of the unsaved. This text does not pertain to Saints.
Luke 6:37 Judge not, and ye shall not be judged. Condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned. Forgive, and ye shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given unto you–men shall give into your bosom good measure, pressed down and shaken together and running over. For it shall be measured to you with the same measure that ye mete withal … (43) …For a good tree bringeth not forth corrupt fruit, neither doth a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. For every tree is known by his own fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns, nor do they gather grapes from a bramble bush. A good man bringeth forth that which is good out of the good treasure of his heart. And an evil man bringeth forth that which is evil out of the evil treasure of his heart. For his mouth speaketh from the abundance of the heart.
In the same manner, the Luke text addressed unsaved Israelis. One Israeli judged another instead of carefully considering his own status before God. The Israelis are commanded to love each other, not sit in judgment upon one other. Israel had courts where judgments beyond this could take place. Messiah guarantees that Israelis who treat other Israelis in a particular way will be treated in the same way. (What is the timing?)
John 7:24 …Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.
Romans 14:10 But why dost thou judge thy brother [concerning foods and holy days]? or why doest thou set at nought thy brother? For we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Messiah… (13) …Let us not therefore judge one another any more. But judge this rather, that no man put a stumblingblock or an occasion to fall in the brother’s way.
5. The next level of judgment is in a dispute over keeping a holiday or eating certain foods. Jewish individuals could not eat some things according to the Torah, while non-Jewish Saints could. Yehovah prohibited all Saints from eating certain foods, like meat sacrificed to idols (if the host discloses that it was involved in this) and anything with blood. Yehovah commanded the Jewish People to keep certain Holy Days. The Gentiles are not given Biblical Holy Days, and they may observe the days of their choosing, or no days. Contention results if a non-Jewish person tries to put restrictions on a Jew, or vice versa. If a Gentile tells another Gentile to keep the Sabbath (which was given to Israel and not the Gentiles), the Torah has been twisted. If one judges another according to his own views, the judge is violating the territory of Yehovah. This judgment belongs to Yehovah only.
I Corinthians 14:29 Let the prophets speak two or three, and let the other judge.
Luke 7:42b “Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?” Simon answered and said, “I suppose that to whom he forgave most.” And He said unto him, “Thou has rightly judged.”
I Corinthians 5:3 For I verily–as absent in body but present in spirit–have judged already, as though I were present, him that hath so done this deed, in the name of our Lord Jesus the Messiah, when ye are gathered together, and my spirit, with the power of our Lord Messiah Jesus, to deliver such an one unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus!
1 Corinthians 5:11 But now I have written unto you not to keep company, if any man that is called a brother be a fornicator, or covetous, or an idolater, or a railer, or a drunkard, or an extortioner–with such an one no notto eat. For what have I to do to judge them also that are without? Do not ye judge them that are within? But them that are without God judgeth. Therefore put away from among yourselves that wicked person!
1 Corinthians 6:2 Do ye not know that the Saints shall judge the world? And if the world shall be judged by you, are ye unworthy to judge the smallest matters? Know ye not that we shall judge angels? how much more things that pertain to this life? If then ye have judgments of things pertaining to this life, set them to judge who are least esteemed in the church. I speak to your shame. Is it so, that there is not a wise man among you? no, not one who shall be able to judge between his brethren?
6. The next level of judgment is when a Believer judges a sinning non-believer. Religious judgment of sinners (for abortions, addictions, etc.) is presumptuous and not a Saint’s responsibility. The non-believer always has sin. Yehovah judges such for sin.
7. 1 Corinthians addresses legitimately judging a sinning Saint (if there is proof). This is vital to maintain the standards of Godliness among Brethren. Some religious folks will judge others for certain types of clothing, hair lengths, drinking wine, etc., but these are not sin issues unless they cross over into immodesty or addictions. Some maintain that a woman’s wearing pants is immodest. If she does not wear pants, that would truly be immodest!
8. The next level of judgment is discernment (of spirits, of spirituality, of things hard to distinguish without wisdom or the Spirit of God). Even unbelievers can sometimes accurately exercise this important level of judgment.
9. 1 Corinthians 6 teaches that Saints will judge unbelievers and angels. They need to show proper judgment now in preparation for this event.
10. Anyone who criticizes is judging. Criticism is not automatically wrong. It can be constructive, destructive or impertinent. Constructive criticism helps a person do right and become better at something good. Destructive criticism tears down and attacks. The critic may be arrogant, bitter or prideful, or may be untaught in proper communications and sensitivity. No one has the right to condemn criticism, but its form is important. It is a vital part of growth.
11. Anyone exercising no judgment is a fool. Anyone utilizing wise judgment demonstrates virtue. Anyone condemning sound judgment defies the Scriptures and lacks understanding.
C. “You sin all the time, just by your thoughts!”
What constitutes a thought-sin? The Torah teaches the following:
Leviticus 19:17 Thou shalt not hate thy brother in thine heart: thou shalt in any wise rebuke thy neighbour, and not suffer sin upon him. Thou shalt not avenge, nor bear any grudge against the children of thy people, but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am Yehovah.
Exodus 23:5 If thou see the ass of him that hateth thee lying under his burden, and wouldest forbear to help him, thou shalt surely help with him.
Luke states,
Luke 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, Rebuke Him! And if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, ‘I repent,’ thou shalt forgive him.
1. Hatred of a brother is sin. The following Psalm describes Biblically proper hatred:
Psalm 139:19 Surely thou wilt slay the wicked one, O God; depart from me therefore, ye bloody men! For they speak against thee wickedly; thine enemies take [thy Name] in vain! Do not I hate them, Yehovah, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against Thee? I hate them with perfect hatred. I count them mine enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart: test me, and know my thoughts: and see if there be a wicked way in me: and lead me in the way everlasting.
2. A Saint does right by hating those who hate Yehovah and His Name. His views of justice must line up with Yehovah’s. Yet Yehovah shows grace to His enemies, and the Saint must do the same with Wisdom. One of Yehovah’s characteristics is hatred:
Psalm 5:5 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight: Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies: Yehovah will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
Psalm 11:5 Yehovah tries the righteous [person]: but the wicked [person] and him that loveth violence His Soul Hateth!
Proverbs 6:16 These… doth Yehovah hate: … A false witness speaking lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.
Galatians 5:11 And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased. I would they were even cut off who trouble you!
Hatred is not sin as long as it—
- is not toward a brother (a believer, or, among the Israelis, a fellow Israeli);
- is part of Biblical grace (Yehovah’s hatred of the above-mentioned sinners has always been an integral part of His grace; He still calls them to repent); and
- does not have destructive bitterness. If an enemy desires to make peace on God’s terms, Biblical grace will eliminate bitterness towards the worst enemy.
Any plot of evil is sin (though the text that mentions a plot of evil is referring to a particular event). The following are examples of the plotting of evil:
- holding hatred toward a brother
- evil bitterness (there is a righteous form)
- presumption (assumption with arrogance)
- plotting murder, harm, destruction, theft (outside of a war action)
- plotting revenge (outside of a war action)
- plotting the ruination of character (outside of a war action)
- covetousness
Covetousness is fervently desiring the exact item or person possessed by another, and is not the same as desiring something or someone similar. Covetousness can be a plot of evil if, given the chance and possibility, someone will violate ethics to obtain the desired object.
The Torah defines sin. There is no case where incorrect thoughts are considered sin. Anyone acting on evil thoughts or plotting evil has sinned.
If I were to see someone doing what might be evil, but I am unsure, if I draw a conclusion before I know the truth and the facts, I have not sinned. If I act upon those thoughts, my act may be sin. Every thought that is truly a sin is a plot. We can correct thoughts before we act upon them. If the Israelis must bring thoughts into subjection, preventing sin (2 Corinthians 10:5b: bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Messiah, and having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience…), all Saints must also. This is not a command to control thoughts. Some have erred by trying to keep evil thoughts out of their minds, feeling guilty before God for even having them. Evil thoughts do not pollute the person in any way. Anyone who has evil thoughts and refuses to yield to them is showing strength, not weakness.
I have often heard the following verse cited regarding thought-sins:
Matthew 5:28 But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
The initial action, looketh on a woman, is followed by another action, to lust after her. This is no passive, fleeting thought, but is the beginning of an evil plot. Lusting after anyone in the Biblical sense is an action. The Israelis lusted after meat. Yehovah gave them quails. They ate them raw. It is no sin for a man to lustily desire a woman for a wife if he refuses to sin in the process of properly acquiring her (if she will have him). Raping, stalking or involving her in adultery are great evils. Lusting for a woman (not lusting after) is not Biblically wrong. God built desires into men and women. The races would have ceased long ago had it not been for this.
If one believes fleeting evil thoughts are sin, he will never able to overcome:
James 1:6b …For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.
Since he is sinning all of the time (in his view), he is less likely to attempt to refuse to sin. Were fleeting thoughts sin, the Word of God would have said so. When one speaks a lie to us, have we sinned? When our mind thinks lies, have we sinned? If we lie and do evil, we sin.
D. “Well, we commit the sin of omission all the time!”
Some use this false doctrine to convict people to go out and witness in every spare moment. “If you don’t witness to every person you can in a given day, you have committed the sin of omission, since we are told to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature,” they say. This is also used to get drivers for the bus ministry or tithers to give to ‘the storehouse’. It is a handy tool to get people to come to every service in order to “not forsake the assembling of yourselves together, as the practice of some is.”
Study the Law of God. Try to find a sin that is not a sin of commission. A sin of omission is a sin done by omitting some necessary act. A sin of commission is a sin done by performing (committing) some act. Every sin in the Bible is a committed sin.
The Torah says to give a coat to a poor brother who is naked. Suppose an Israeli with an extra coat refuses to give his coat. That is an act of disobedience, not of omission.
Suppose someone doesn’t know a particular Law of God, and inadvertently violates it, thereby sinning. It may have been done in ignorance, but it was done, and the command was violated. Examples of this are found in Leviticus and Numbers. Every sin is an act. No sin is an accident. Sin may be done in ignorance, but it is still an act. No Israeli is permitted to be ignorant of the commandment! The Hebrew texts refer to sins of imprudence rather than sins of ignorance. A sin of omission, were it to exist, would be a non-act.
Did Messiah Yeshua witness to every person? He could have witnessed to Herod at His trial, but He refrained (“He opened not His mouth”). Paul was forbidden to preach the word by the command of the Holy Spirit:
Acts 16:6 Now when they had gone throughout Phrygia, and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia, after they were come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia: but the Spirit allowed them not.
Weren’t they commanded to go into all the world, and preach the Gospel to every creature? Abraham did not witness to everyone, nor did any of the Saints. They pleased God by working with their hands and by being obedient in all things. Refuse to commit sins (obviously of commission). That will please Yehovah.
E. “Nobody’s perfect!”
This is a statement of disbelief. Unbelief indicates blindness regarding Spiritual things. Disbelief indicates sight, the refusal to acknowledge what is openly seen, and even obstinacy rooted in pride.
1. What does perfect mean? It is always in the superlative degree. There is nothing above perfect. There is no such thing in the Hebrew language as ‘more perfect’. The expressions more perfectly and more perfect are used in the ‘New Testament’ in the following texts:
Acts 18:26 And he began to speak boldly in the synagogue: whom when Aquila and Priscilla had heard, they took him unto [them], and expounded unto him the way of God more perfectly.
Acts 23:15 Now therefore ye with the council signify to the chief captain that he bring him down unto you to morrow, as though ye would enquire something more perfectly concerning him: and we, or ever he come near, are ready to kill him.
Acts 23:20 And he said, The Jews have agreed to desire thee that thou wouldest bring down Paul to morrow into the council, as though they would enquire somewhat of him more perfectly.
Acts 24:22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of [that] way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter.
Hebrews 9:11 But Christ being come an high priest of good things to come, by a greater and more perfect tabernacle, not made with hands, that is to say, not of this building…
These verses express the addition of perfect information or clarity to what was already known. The Hebrew use of perfect is always expressing a superlative.
Perfect is used as an adjective to describe the Law of God, which is part of the Word of God. It is elevated above the Name Yehovah:
Psalm 138:2b …for Thou hast magnified Thy Word above ALL thy Name…
The statement, “the Law of Yehovah is perfect” declares a perfection that cannot be surpassed.
2. Israel’s sacrifices had to be perfect (not without blemish as in most renderings). They typify Messiah. Therefore perfect will not mean anything less. A car may be without blemish. That doesn’t mean that it will start. A perfect car will start. Perfect means being and doing all that God created the person, item or animal to be and to do by His power and according to His command. Is it difficult to do the will of God when He has given the power and the command to do it? Is obedience difficult? The way of transgressors is hard (Proverbs 13:15).
3. Are there any perfect people besides Messiah? Righteous is to be in right standing before God based on doing right, not under accusation before Him. All unrighteousness is sin, and therefore all righteousness is not sin. A righteous person refuses to sin, and an unrighteous person sins. Yehovah holds the standard and judges according to it. Anything short of righteousness in His view isn’t righteous. Yet someone may do right in the sight of Yehovah and not be righteous, as in the following case:
2 Kings 14:1 In the second year of Joash son of Jehoahaz king of Israel reigned Amaziah the son of Joash king of Judah. 2He was twenty and five years old when he began to reign, and reigned twenty and nine years in Jerusalem. And his mother’s name [was] Jehoaddan of Jerusalem. 3And he did right in the sight of Yehovah, yet not like David his father. He did according to all things as Joash his father did. 4Howbeit the high places were not taken away. As yet, the people did sacrifice and burnt incense on the high places.
To be righteous in the Spiritual sense is both to do right and to be right in all things. Positional righteousness is no replacement for experiential righteousness. Some righteous individuals are not born of God. King Abimelech was such a person:
Genesis 20:3 But God came to Abimelech in a dream by night, and said to him, “Behold, thou art a dead man, for the woman that thou hast taken. For she is a man’s wife.” 4But Abimelech had not come near her. And he said, “Lord, wilt thou slay also a righteous nation? 5Said he not unto me, ‘She is my sister?’ And she, even she herself said, ‘He is my brother.’ In the integrity of my heart and innocency of my hands have I done this.” 6And God said unto him in a dream, “Yea, I know that thou didst this in the integrity of thy heart. For I also withheld thee from sinning against me. Therefore suffered I thee not to touch her. 7Now therefore restore the man the wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.”
4. The theological stand known as Sinless perfection is unscriptural. One of the two words in sinless perfection is redundant, since to be perfect is to be without sin. This false doctrine claims that a person born in sin may lose his ability to sin by entire sanctification (another false doctrine). No mortal hast lost the ability to sin. The Bible gives warnings to Saints to beware lest they fall. But can a Saint be perfect?
Genesis 6:9b Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generations: Noah walked with God.
Genesis 7:1 And Yehovah said unto Noah, Come thou and all thy house into the ark; for thee have I seen righteous before me in this generation.
Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God and refused evil… 1:8 …And Yehovah 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 fears God, and refuses evil?… 1:22 …In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly… 2:3b …a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and refuseth evil? and still he holds fast his perfection [Hebrew], although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause… 2:10b …In all this did not Job sin with his lips.
Luke 1:5 There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judaea, a certain priest named Zachariah, of the course of Abia; and his wife was of the daughters of Aaron, and her name was Elisheva. And they were both righteous before God, walking in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord blameless.
If “Nobody’s perfect,” the Scriptures aren’t true.
5. Some folks attempt to diminish the definitions of words like perfect into meanings like mature (The Law of Yehovah is mature, restoring the soul?) or sincere (The Law of Yehovah is sincere, restoring the soul?). “Be ye therefore mature, even as your Father who is in heaven is mature”? “Be ye therefore sincere, even as your Father who is in heaven is sincere”?
How were some Saints perfect/righteous? Noah walked with God. Job feared God and refused evil. He didn’t accuse God. He held fast to his perfection. He didn’t sin with his lips. Zechariah and Elisheva walked in all the commandments and ordinances of Yehovah, and were blameless before God (Luke 1:5,6). Were they born that way? No. They made up their minds using the power God gave them to consistently do right. Daniel is twice commended for his righteousness:
Ezekiel 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver [but] their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord Yehovah.
Ezekiel 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, [were] in it, I live, saith the Lord Yehovah, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
6. Yehovah has a great investment in each person’s walking righteously. Yehovah leads Israel in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His Name. His Name would be on the line if a Saint were to sin. John, by the Spirit of Yehovah, wrote,
1 John 2:1 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. 2And He is the covering for our sins—and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
He tells the little children to not sin. If any man does sin, the Israelis have Yeshua, the advocate with the Father Who is the covering for the Israelis’ sins, and also for the sins of the whole world. Any man who sins must come to the Advocate that the Israelis have. In the meantime, these little children are not to sin.
7. Is sinning just going to happen? Are we bound to sin daily? We have examples who did not, so they were not bound to sin. Have we less power than they? What shall we say, then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? (Romans 6:1) The modern answer is, Amen! The modern Churchianic answer is, It’s going to happen, and the Grace of God will cover it. The correct answer is, How shall we (who are dead to sin) live any longer in it? We are not to serve sin.
Romans 6:16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
8. There is no such thing as a ‘sinner saved by Grace.’ Either one is a sinner, or one is saved by Grace. “You either is or you ain’t!” No ‘is’ can say that he is a ‘saved Ain’t’! Perhaps the ‘used-to-be-a-sinner’ is now saved by Grace.
Paul stated that he is the chief of sinners. If he was still sinning at the time of his writing, and is still the chief of sinners in evil, what right does he have to write Scriptures telling others to stop sinning? If his being chief was acquired before Salvation, and he still holds the record, and/or if he is prophesying in the voice of another (like Israel) who has now turned to righteousness, is this not an excellent example of the great Grace of God?
9. Consider the woman caught in adultery:
John 8:1 Yeshua went unto the mount of Olives. 2And He came again early in the morning into the Temple. And all the people came unto Him. And He sat down and taught them. 3And the scribes and Pharisees brought a woman unto Him taken in adultery. And when they had set her in the midst, 4they say unto Him, “Master! This woman was taken in adultery—in the very act! 5Now, Moshe commanded us in the Torah that such should be stoned. But what sayest thou?” 6They said this, tempting Him, that they might have to accuse Him. And Yeshua stooped down and wrote on the ground with His finger as though He heard them not. 7So, when they continued asking Him, He lifted up Himself and said unto them, “He who is without sin among you, he shall first cast a stone at her.” 8And He again stooped down and wrote on the ground. 9And they who heard being convicted by conscience, went out one by one beginning at the eldest unto the last. And Yeshua was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. 10When Yeshua had lifted up Himself and saw none but the woman, He said unto her, “Woman! Where are those thine accusers? Hath no man condemned thee?” 11She said, “No man, Lord.” And Yeshua said unto her, “Neither do I condemn thee. Go! And sin no more!”
Had Yeshua commanded her to do what she could not possibly do, Yeshua would have compounded her sin! If she was capable, however, acknowledge that this command is reasonable.
Also consider the following text:
1 John 3:4 Whosoever does a sin also does lawlessness. And sin is lawlessness. 5And ye know that He was manifested so that He will take away our sins. And sin is not in Him. 6Anyone who abides in Him doesn’t sin. Anyone who sins has not seen Him nor has known Him. 7Little children, let no one lead you astray. He who does righteousness is righteous, even as He is righteous. 8He who does a sin is of the devil because the devil sins from the beginning. The Son of God was manifested for this—that He will undo the works of the devil. 9Everyone that has been begotten of God doesn’t do sin because His seed abides in him. And he is not able to sin because he has been begotten of God.
I propose that the last verse (verse 9) should have been rendered in the following manner:
Everyone that has been begotten of God doesn’t do sin (because His seed abides in him, and He is not able to sin) because he has been begotten of God.
This would verify that God’s inability to sin is what empowers the Saint to not sin. Since a Saint has Yehovah’s seed in him, and Yehovah doesn’t sin, simple consistency will teach that the person also will not sin. (Should a Saint sin, the consequences will be much worse than if a sinner sins, since that action brings Yehovah and His Body into disrepute.)
Romans 6:1,14,15 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? Not to exist! 14For sin shall not have dominion over you. For ye are not under the law, but under grace. 15What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law, but under grace? Not to exist!
Conclusion
Saints must consistently live righteously, refusing to sin. Messiah died and rose again so that Saints would live, not sin! If His power is not great enough to enable Saints to stand, He is neither sovereign nor omnipotent. Saints glorify His Name by walking righteously. This is perfection.
Learn what is and isn’t sin by reading the Torah (the first six books of the Bible). Yehovah paid a great price because of sin. Don’t treat the price with contempt by showing that He failed.