The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 12 Aug, 2020 10:01 AM
The Godly Heresy of Sinless Perfectionism
22/02/2018 | Matthew Payne
How can a heresy be ‘godly’? In short, it can’t. Godliness is about conformity to sound doctrine (Titus 2:1). However, most cases of (reasonably convincing) false teaching will consist of biblical truths that have been skewed in some way. The ingredients are good, but the recipe is incomplete or else has had unwelcome things added, and the result is a theological and practical mess.
Sinless Perfectionism is a doctrine like that. In short, it holds that it is possible for Christians to completely defeat sin in the present life and to live holy lives like Jesus did. At a glance, it makes a lot of sense. Jesus came to save us from sin. He died for our sins on the cross and he sent his Holy Spirit to empower his people to overcome sin and to live obedient, righteous lives in the present (Titus 2:11-14). Christians should have the highest aspirations for living holy lives and rejecting all sin.
Sinless Perfectionism is Unbiblical
However, the Bible also says that ‘If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us’ (1 John 1:8). It speaks of the fact that until the resurrection we must be at war with sinful desires (Galatians 5:16-17). Sin is not an enemy ‘out there’. It’s an enemy within that lives and feeds off our fallen human desires and weaknesses (James 1:13-15). That is why sinless perfectionism is not only untrue but also dangerous. People don’t tend to win battles that they don’t even realise they are supposed to be fighting.
Sinless perfectionism is not only untrue but also dangerous. People don’t tend to win battles that they don’t even realise they are supposed to be fighting.
There is a much-repeated (but possibly untrue) story about the 19th century Baptist preacher C.H. Spurgeon in which he debunked perfectionism in a memorable way.[1]
Spurgeon was at a conference where a preacher taught perfectionism in an outspoken manner and even claimed to have reached a state of sinless perfection himself. Spurgeon didn’t challenge him on the spot. Instead, the next morning he poured a pitcher of milk over the man’s head, to which the ‘perfectionist’ responded with the kind of rage and hostility that you’d expect from any sinner. Perfectionism debunked.
We like this story. It’s funny to hear of false teaching being exposed in an amusing way. But I suspect that our reaction is far too smug. It betrays an attitude of self-assurance at precisely the point where we should feel our greatest need. It demonstrates a disturbing lack of concern about the fact that we sin and that our sin is deeply offensive to God. When we remember this then it’s impossible to gleefully say in our hearts: “you stupid perfectionists—of course we all sin!” Are we pleased with the situation? Have we forgotten what sin is? Even though we know that it’s false, shouldn’t we wish that sinless perfectionism were true? Don’t you long to be free of sin?
Spiritual Complacency is Unbiblical Too
If there is an equal and opposite error to sinless perfectionism then it is the sin of spiritual complacency. It’s shrugging your shoulders at sin’s inevitability. It’s acceptance that sin is just part of life, and I’m OK with that. It’s responding to occasions of sin by almost justifying it with glib lines like: “we know that we all sin.” That is a ghastly attitude for a Christian to have and it needs to be challenged.
If there is an equal and opposite error to sinless perfectionism then it’s shrugging your shoulders at sin’s inevitability—sin is just part of life, and I’m OK with that.
It is easy for me to criticise sinless perfectionism because I don’t personally know any Christians who struggle with this doctrine. However, I dare say that I know an entire evangelical culture that is complacent about sin. We’ve forgotten that sin is ugly and grotesque; the complete opposite to righteousness. We’ve forgotten that God’s will for our lives is that we be holy (1 Thessalonians 4:3). We’ve forgotten that what Christians look forward to above all else is Jesus returning to take away our sin completely. We’ve forgotten that anyone who truly desires that day to come will be obsessed with living a holy life now (1 John 3:2-3).
Jesus taught that Christians would ‘hunger and thirst’ after righteousness (Matthew 5:6). Imagine a man who has been deprived of food and water for far too long. Hunger and thirst are not just a thought in his head, but all-encompassing desires that cannot be ignored. His whole body cries out for sustenance! He will never – can never – be satisfied until his desire is satiated. Is our hunger for righteousness like that? That’s what perfectionism (at its best) gets right. It desires to be without sin. That is a profoundly godly ambition, and one that all Christians should share. We recognise that we will inevitably fall short. But we are not happy about it.
Come Lord Jesus!
[1] I suspect this anecdote evolved from an incident that Spurgeon recounted in his autobiography which isn’t nearly as exciting. However, the point is the same: Spurgeon exposed a self-professed “perfectionist” as sinful by driving him to anger. See C.H. Spurgeon, C.H. Spurgeon’s Autobiography: 1. The Early Years (Edinburgh: Banner of Truth, 1962), 229.
The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 13 Aug, 2020 01:01 AM
DARKNESS CANNOT COMPREHEND GOD WHO IS LIGHT
THE SON OF GOD DECLARED THE FATHER TO THIS DARKNESS WORLD OF MAN...
John 1:5 And the light shineth in darkness; and THE DARKNESS COMPRE4HENDED IT NOT.
John 1:18 No man hath seen God at any time, the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath DECLARED HIM.
THIS IS THE MESSAGE DECLARED TO THE DARKNESS OF MEN..
GOD IS LIGHT AND TYOU CANNOT FELLOWSHIP WITH HIM IN ANY OF YOUR DARKNESS..
1 John 1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him,AND DECLARE UNTO YOU , that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and WALK IN DARKNESS, WE LIE,, and do not the truth:
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
ITS REPENTING OF ALL DARKNESS THEN CLEANSED OF ALL DARKNESS/UNRIGHTEOUSNESS BY JESUS CHRIST
CONTINUES, WE FORSAKE THE SINS TO HAVE MERCY..
Proverbs 28:13 He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso CONFESSTH AND FORSAKETH them shall have mercy.
AS THE MERCY WE SHOW REJOICES OVER GODS JUDGEMENT..
James 2:13 For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.
THE CHASRITY CHRIST GIVES INTO US COVERS THE MULTITUDE OF SINS WHEN WE WALK IN PERFECT CHARITY...
1 Peter 4:8 And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.
IT IS BLESSED TO HAVE OUR SINS COVERED ( FORSAKEN ALSO)
Romans 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
AS GOD SENT HIS SON TO BLESS US IN TURNING US AWAY FROM ALL INIQUITY..
Acts 3:26 Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.
UNGODLINESS IS TURNED AWAY FROM JACOB, THIS IS THE CIVENANT HE MAKES WITH US WHEN GOD TAKES AWAY OUR SINS (AS PER 1 JOHN 1 CLEANSES US OF ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS)...
Romans 11:26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
AS CHRIST GAVE HIMSELF FOR US TO FREDEEM US FROM ALL INIQUITY...
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
ALSO CHRIST HAS ALRTEADY DECLARED, ALL WORKERS OF INIQUITY ARE TO DEPART FROM HIM WHO CALL HIM LORD LORD..
Luke 13:27 But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.
28 There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you yourselves thrust out.
SHIOW ISRAEL, AND THOSE OF THE FIRST COIVENANT AND THE LAW THEIR SINS
THEY DELIGHT TO KNOW GODS WAYS
AND DELIGHT APPROACHING TO GOD...
Isaiah 58:Cry aloud, spare not, lift up thy voice like a trumpet, and SHEW MY PEOPLE THEIR TRANSGRESSIONS, and the house of Jacob THEIR SINS.
2 Yet they seek me daily, AND DELIGHT TO KNOW MY WAYS, as a nation that did righteousness, and forsook not the ordinance of their God: they ask of me the ordinances of justice; THEY DELIGHT IN APPROACHING TO GOD.
EVIL/SIN DWELLS IN ALL THOSE OF THE FIRST COVENANT, THOSE BELIEVING IN THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH
FOR THEY DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD ( THE LAW OF THE FIRST CIVENANT)
BUT SADLY THEY OBEY THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH..
Romans 7:20 Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21 I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22 FOR I DELIGHT IN THE LAW OF GOD after the inward man:
23 But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into CAPTIVITY TO THE LAW OF SIN which is IN MY MEMBERS.
Romans 7:5 For when we were in the FLESH, THE MOTIONS OF SINS, WHUCH WERE BY THE LAW, did WORK IN OUR MEMBERS TO BRING FRUIT UNTO DEATH.
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me FREE FROM THE LAW OF SIN AND DEATH.
3 For 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:
4 That the RIGHTEOUSNESS OF THE LAW MIGHT BE FULFILLED IN US, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 13 Aug, 2020 01:54 AM
Adam,
Once again you reveal how you understand or do not understand how to read, and study the Scriptures.
You do as most people, you think of a subject, then you find as many scripture to fit into your subject, yet you never give the entire context that refutes your understanding.
John writes, 1 John 1 verse 5 - 10
5 This is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you, that God is Light, and in Him there is no darkness at all.
6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;
7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.
8 If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.
Verse 9, to cleanse, this is in the PRESENT indicative ACTIVE tense, meaning GOD Almighty is always cleansing us, as we are not completely SINLESS in this life.
The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 13 Aug, 2020 02:06 AM
Titus 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and PURIFY UNTO HIMSELF a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him PURIFIETH HIMSELF, EVEN AS HE IS PURE.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: HE THAT DOETH RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RIGHTEOUS, EVEN AS HE IS RIGHTEOUS.
8 HE THAT COMMITETH SIN IS OF THE DEVIL; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
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.
10 In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
James 4:5 Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?
6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
7 Submit yourselves therefore to God. RESIST THE DEVIL AND HE WILL FLEE FROM YOU.
8 Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. CLEANSE YOUR HANDS, YE SINNERS, and PURIFY YOUR HEARTS, ye double minded.
Hebrews 9:13 For if the blood of bulls and of goats, and the ashes of an heifer sprinkling the unclean, SANCTIFIETH FOR THER PURIFYING OF THE FLESH:
14 How much more shall THE BLOOD OF CHRIST, who through THE ETERNAL SPIRIT offered himself WITHOUT SPOT to God, PURGE YOUR CONSCIENCE from dead works to serve the living God?
Psalm 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place?
4 He that hath clean hands, and A PURE HEART; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
5 He shall receive the BLESSING FROM THE LORD, and RIGHTEOUSNESS from the GOD of HIS SALVATION.
6 This is the GENERATION of THEM THAT SEEK HIM, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
Matthew 5:5 Blessed are the MEEK: for they shall inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst AFTER RIGHTEOUSNESS: for they shall be filled.
7 Blessed are THE MERCIFUL: for they SHALL OBTAIN MERCY.
8 Blessed are THE PURE IN HEART: for they shall SEE GOD.
2 Corinthians 6:3 Giving NO OFFENCE IN ANY THING, that the ministry be not blamed:
4 But in all things APPROVING OURSELVES as the ministers of God, in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses,
5 In stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labours, in watchings, in fastings;
6 BY PURENESS, by knowledge, by long suffering, BY KINDNESS, by the Holy Ghost, by LOVE UNFEIGNED,
1 Timothy 1:5 Now the end of the commandment is CHARITY OUT OF A PURE HEART, and OF A GOOD CONSCIENCE, and OF FAITH UNFEIGNED:
1 Timothy 3:9 Holding the mystery of the FAITH IN A OURE CONSCIENCE.
1 Timothy 5:22 Lay hands suddenly on no man, neither be partaker of other men's sins: KEEP THYSELF PURE.
2 Timothy 1:3 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;
2 Timothy 2:22 Flee also youthful lusts: but follow RIGHTEOUSNESS, faith, charity, peace, with them that CALL ON THE LORD OUT OF A PURE HEART.
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 Peter 1:22 Seeing ye have PURIFIED YOUR SOULS IN OBEYING THE TRUTH THROUGH THE SPIRIT unto unfeigned love of the brethren, see that ye love one another WITH A PURE HEART FERVENTLY:
2 Peter 3:1 This second epistle, beloved, I now write unto you; in both which I stir up YOUR PURE MINDS by way of remembrance:
The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 13 Aug, 2020 09:31 AM
Adam, Where’s the verses proving your false sinless perfectionism. Not one verse above teaches sinless perfectionism!!
At His return for His Saints (Saints are NOT continual sinners everyday David, or they would not be Saints!)
He that is filthy, let him be filthy still, he that is NOT filthy, let him be NOT filthy still....
There is your verse you asked for and there are a ton more! if they are NOT filthy at His return for those Saints David then obviously they are NOT sinning and therefore perfect, correct?
The Messiah says - be perfect even as my Father in heaven is perfect! Did the Messiah lie to us David???
The Error of Sinless Perfectionism of ADAM7777 Exposed
Posted : 13 Aug, 2020 11:44 AM
Hugs,
Do you understand this verse wich you posted.
The Messiah says - be perfect even as my Father in heaven is perfect! Did the Messiah lie to us David???
Of course not, as you left out the context, but let me post that for you.
Matthew 5 verses 38 - 48
38 You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye and tooth for tooth.’
39 But I tell you not to resist the evil person. Instead, whoever shall strike you on your right cheek, turn to him the other also.
40 And to the one willing to sue you and to take your tunic, yield to him the cloak as well.
41 And whoever shall compel you to go one mile, go with him two.
42 Give to the one asking of you, and you shall not turn away from the one desiring to borrow from you.
43 You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those persecuting you,
45 so that you may be sons of your Father in the heavens. For He makes His sun rise on evil and good, and He sends rain on righteous and unrighteous. 46 For if you love those loving you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47 And if you greet only your brothers, what extraordinary are you doing? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48 You shall be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.
1. Verse 48, The English word ' Perfect ' in the Greek means to be COMPLETE.
2. This Scripture is a comparison, as GOD Almighty shows man how He treats others.
If man wants to do as GOD Almighty, then man should treat others as GOD Almighty does.
3.The word perfect / COMPLETE is in the PRESENT tense, so if man wants to presently be as GOD Almighty, then he needs to treat others as GOD Almighty does.
Remember, present means exactly that every second of every day, man will always fail.
