LIVING AND WALKING IN PERFECTION

There are so many so called “Christians” in this world that make so many excuses for the way they walk their lives, that it’s no wonder the world looks at most Christians and think ALL Christians are hypocrites. Thankfully, there are REAL Christians in this world, like myself and people who believe like me, who obey the Bible and don’t make excuses like “we all HAVE to sin” and “everybody sins” to explain their actions. Sure, people DO sin, but it has nothing to do with because we HAVE to sin, it’s because we CHOOSE to sin. In Hebrews 13:8, Paul says that Jesus Christ is “the same, yesterday, today and forever”. So, if Jesus Christ himself said in Matthew 7:21-23 that nobody who sins will ever enter heaven, how is it that people think they can sin and will still somehow see heaven? Jesus commanded us to be perfect in Matthew 5:48. In II Corinthians 13:11 Paul says that if we remain perfect, God will always be with us. In II Timothy 3:14 to 17 Paul tells us that we need to remain in God’s word, because only IT can keep us perfect, the way God wants us to be. According to Genesis 17:1, Abraham walked perfect with God. Enoch was found to have pleased God and walked so perfectly with God that he never died, but was simply taken up by God (Genesis 5:24 & Hebrews 11:5). David was a man after God’s own heart, because of his perfect walk (Acts 13:22). But, it is in Job where we find, not only that we CAN walk perfect with God, but HOW to walk perfect with God (Job 1:1, 8 & 2:3). Three times in Job, he is said to have walked perfect with God because he feared God and turned away from sin. There are seven ways to know whether or not you are living and walking perfect with the Lord:

1) Spiritual Maturity.
2) Established in Faith.
3) Rooted and Grounded in Truth.
4) Freedom from Deception.
5) Ability to Speak the Truth in Love.
6) Constant Growth in Spiritual Things.
7) Harmony with Others in Christ.

I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; One Lord, one faith, one baptism, One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ. Wherefore he saith, When he ascended up on high, he led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men. (Now that he ascended, what is it but that he also descended first into the lower parts of the earth? He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.) 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: That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. But ye have not so learned Christ; If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit of your mind; And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another. Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil. Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
(Ephesians 4)
Paul tells us that if we are not walking perfectly according to God’s word than we are not growing in Him. We are supposed to spend every day of our lives growing according to the word of God and less time doing the things of the world. As we grow in the Word and in the Lord, we should have less and less sin in our lives; our living and walking in perfection comes from knowing that sin is no longer a part of our lives. But not only are we supposed to make sure we living and walking in the perfection of God’s word, but if we claim to love others, we are supposed to tell them the truth. If they are living in sin, then we are to tell them that what they are doing is wrong and they need to change.

Spiritual Maturity:
When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.
(I Corinthians 13:11-12)

But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age, even those who by reason of use have their senses exercised to discern both good and evil.
(Hebrews 5:14)
- Spiritual maturity doesn’t just mean knowing the Word of God, but also growing in it daily. We are God’s children and are meant to be living according to His Word, it is only then that we can understand who we are and why we were created; we are creatures that live by faith and ONLY by faith.

Established in Faith:
Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. For by it the elders obtained a good report. Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh. By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.
(Hebrews 11:1-6)

If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;
(Colossians 1:23)

If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. 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.
(James 1:5-8)

(As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were.
(Romans 4:17)
- Being established in our faith is knowing God’s Word so well that we do not question anything found in it and we understand that it and ONLY it is the truth of our lives.

Rooted and Grounded in Truth:
As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:
Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily.
And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:
(Colossians 2:6-10)

And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.
They answered him, We be Abraham's seed, and were never in bondage to any man: how sayest thou, Ye shall be made free?
Jesus answered them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whosoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.
And the servant abideth not in the house for ever: but the Son abideth ever.
If the Son therefore shall make you free, ye shall be free indeed.
(John 8:32-36)

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;
That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,
May be able to comprehend with all saints what is the breadth, and length, and depth, and height;
And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.
(Ephesians 3:16-19)
- When we are grounded in the truth that is God’s Word we will not be deceived when someone comes and speaks words that are not from God’s Word, because we know His Word and cannot be deceived by the lies of another.

Freedom from Deception:
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
(II Timothy 2:15)

Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you seemeth to be wise in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise.
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness.
And again, The Lord knoweth the thoughts of the wise, that they are vain.
(I Corinthians 3:18-20)
- When we are capable of understand what is and is not from the Word of God, we have the ability to have confidence in what we know to be true and therefore can speak the truth that is found in God’s Word to those we love.

Ability to Speak the Truth in Love:
And I myself also am persuaded of you, my brethren, that ye also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another.
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written the more boldly unto you in some sort, as putting you in mind, because of the grace that is given to me of God,
That I should be the minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering up of the Gentiles might be acceptable, being sanctified by the Holy Ghost.
(Romans 15:14-16)

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.
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.
(Colossians 3:16-17)
- When we love someone, we are willing to speak the truth to them, whether or not they might want to hear it, because we love them and want them to continue to grow in the spiritual things that we ourselves continue to grow in.

Constant Growth in Spiritual Things:
As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:
(I Peter 2:2)

But grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and for ever. Amen.
(II Peter 3:18)
- As we constantly grow in the spiritual things of Lord, knowing that the Word of God is our final authority, we can have harmony with others in Christ who have chosen to obey the Word of God unconditionally.

Harmony with Others in Christ:
Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
(I Corinthians 1:10)

But he, knowing their thoughts, said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and a house divided against a house falleth.
(Luke 11:17)
- The ONLY authority in our walk with Christ is the unaltered, unchangeable, undeniable Word of God. If we do, believe, say or act in any other way other than what the Bible says, we are not in harmony with the Bible, with Christ and with God.

NO SIN WILL EVER ENTER HEAVEN!!!
What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?
Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.
For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.
For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Now if we be dead with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him:
Knowing that Christ being raised from the dead dieth no more; death hath no more dominion over him.
For in that he died, he died unto sin once: but in that he liveth, he liveth unto God.
Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.
Neither yield ye your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin: but yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God.
For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
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?
But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.
I speak after the manner of men because of the infirmity of your flesh: for as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.
For when ye were the servants of sin, ye were free from righteousness.
What fruit had ye then in those things whereof ye are now ashamed? for the end of those things is death.
But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
(Romans 6)

Just like there are many people who CLAIM to be “Christians” who follow different denominations there are also so called “Christians” who believe that sin is a part of their lives and willingly go out and sin and do things that the children of God should not and are commanded not do to, and yet they still think they are saved. These are not God’s children, as a matter of fact God says many times that He will reject these people and they will never enter heaven. Most people are content with living with one foot in the world and one foot in God’s word. They think that because they got “saved” at one point in their lives that everything they do is okay from then on; they are sadly mistaken.