Module 7: Doctrine of Perfection: “Get on the Road to Perfection, Now!”
From our three Lessons on the Doctrine of Perfection, we have learned that every born-again Christian has been made perfect by God. (Heb. 10:14) We also learned that when we keep and obey Jesus’ commandment to love one another as He loved us, we enter the Road to Perfection, and Jesus Christ perfects all the work of our hands. (John 13:34-35, Deut. 28:12, & Col. 3:14).
As we see the day of the Lord approaching, I believe God’s graced “Remnant” (a fire-baptized in the Holy Ghost segment of the body of Christ) will come together around the world united in love and passion and go about fulfilling the Great Commission. (Rom.11:5, Mark 16:15-18, John 14:12 & I Cor. 2: 9-12) The Remnant will exercise Spiritual Authority over all the works of Satan, the likes of which the world has never been seen before—turning places around the world from upside down, to right side up. Through the preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Remnant will also gather people from every ethnic group in the world to become true worshipers of God.
For my final message under Module 7, and this series, I want to talk about the one, and only, perceived threat every born-again Christian who endeavors to walk in Perfection faces in fulfilling the will and plan of God for their lives. More specifically, it is a very simple but profound truth regarding sin and its relevance to the life of Christians. For far too long, Christians have allowed sin to bully them, and set them back in their walk with the Lord. If you get a hold of and apply the things I teach in this Lesson, you will be dangerous to the devil! You will walk in perfection—never stumbling, falling, and failing in life again. And your life will be a sweet smelling savor unto God. So, let’s get after it!
Part D: “Every Born-Again Christian Has Been Freed From Sin, But Many Christians Are Not Living Free From Sin.”
Many people have asked me why it is so important that we regularly attend church services. The most obvious answer is that our New Covenant with God admonishes Christians to regularly come together to worship God, and to have fellowship one with another in love and unity. (Heb.10:25)
However, as born-again Christians, ever striving for perfection, we should have a much deeper understanding of why we regularly attend Church. Church is a “Discovery Zone.” Church is the place where the Word of God is imparted into us, so we can unlearn who we were before we received Jesus Christ, and discover who we are now in Jesus Christ.
Once we discover who we are in Christ, and what we possess in Him, we must immediately reprogram our brains (most often referred to as renew the mind) to the point where we become fully assured of that discovered knowledge. As we replenish our thought-life with the Word of God, we become transformed into that knowledge we have acquired. The Bible says as a man thinks in his heart so is he. (Prov. 23:7)
As we grow in Christ, we are constantly changing out the old software downloaded into the brain from Satan, and our experiences in the world we live in, and replacing it with the new software from God and His Word. Always, remember, how we think determines the things we say, and what we say, determines what we do. And, whatever we do either brings glory to God, or to the devil.
Therefore, we can say as Christians, that we are in the business of “brain washing.” With the Word of God we continually scrub and clean the thoughts of the brain, which enables us to go forth and fulfill God’s will, plan, and goals for our lives so that God may be glorified through us in all things.
Now, think on this question for a moment, and then I will give you my answer. Let’s see if we agree or not.
What is the most difficult perceived challenge you face in living the life of a Christian?
Here is my answer:
Overcoming temptation and the practice of sin (including past or present sin committed).
Some might ask, why I say it’s overcoming the temptation and practice of sin? My response is because the Bible says so! Consider Hebrews 4:15-16. It reads:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be
touched with the feelings of our infirmities: but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without
sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of
grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to
help in time of need.
The writer of the book of Hebrews tells us that Jesus Christ was tempted to commit sin, in every possible way, just like every person (Christians included) is tempted to sin. Yet, Jesus Christ is the only person to live on earth that never sinned. Every human being born into this world has been tempted, committed sin, and fallen short of the glory of God. (Rom. 3:23) Therefore, Jesus Christ is truly our only hope and help to overcome sin. (Acts 4:12) Daily, Satan attacks and harasses every born-again Christian with the temptation to sin and practice it. Many other Scriptures affirm this truth. (Eph. 6:10-18, I Pet. 5:8, James 4:7, Luke 22:31-32, John 10:10, and I John 2:15-17)
While the greatest perceived challenge we face is the temptation to sin and practice it, sadly most born-again Christians will not openly admit that they struggle with thoughts and sinful behavior (past or present). Christians have become experts at hiding sin. Many Christians have become professional masqueraders—playing holy and righteous in the congregation of the saints, but behind closed doors living in bondage to sin. Even though we are encouraged to openly confess our faults, one to another, and pray one for another that we may be healed—Christians still conceal sin practices. (James 5:16)
Christians are determined to nurse, aid, and abed sin—by keeping it secret. However, being transparent and truthful about sin, and all things, is mandatory for worshipping God! (Ps. 51:6 & John 4:23-24) How can we freely worship God in spirit and in truth, if we are hiding sin in our hearts? The answer is we cannot, and our worship of God is false when we do!
One reason why Christians hide sin is because they perceive their Church peers to be like the, “holier-than thou” Pharisees. Christians believe if they reveal sinful behavior to their Christian peers, or the Church at large, the Christian will be looked down upon, judged and condemned, and their sin-business told to others. Hiding sin only produces sin consciousness and torment, to the point, where the Christian will think it is impossible to ever stop sinning. Many Christians have become so use to practicing sin that they have an automatic excuse button they push every time they sin. Saying things like, “God knows my heart,” “I am only human,” and “we all make mistakes.” They also have an automatic forgiveness button with God they push, that sounds like a broken record whenever they slip-up and sin. Saying, “Lord please forgive me for my sins—over and over, every time they sin.
My God, even while I’m warming up to preach this sermon, some of you may be mulling over in your brains a sin you have been hiding, and you have no plans to ever reveal it. Christians cannot make progress in the things of God, and move further down the Road to Perfection when they are in bondage to sin. (Heb. 12:1, Ps. 66:18, & Prov. 28:13)
Sin consciousness only seeks to drive you off the Road to Perfection, and onto the road to spiritual immaturity. In fact, many Christians spend their entire lives, as spiritual babes—forever going to church and battling and grappling with sin practices and shame. This is all because of what’s going on between the ears. They have a total misunderstanding about sin and its relevance to their new lives in Jesus Christ.
I’m tell you, it is high time to get a “good and thorough brain washing” with the Word of God. It’s time for the Christian to live in liberty, and not in bondage anymore to sin. Let those who have been freed by Christ Jesus go and live free from sin once and for all! Glory to God!Every born-again Christian needs to “discover” the life they now have in Jesus Christ. So open your ears and plug this new software into your brains with Romans 6:1-14. For time sake, I will focus mainly on verses 3-7:
(3) Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into
Jesus Christ were baptized into his death?
(4) 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.
(5) For if we have been planted together in the likeness of
his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection:
(6) 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.
(7) For he that is dead is freed from sin.
Come on some body, shout “I am dead to sin, therefore, I have been made free from sin.” Wow! I direct your attention to verse 6. Christians must come into the full knowledge and assurance that our “old man” was crucified with Jesus Christ on His cross. The old man (spirit) is our sinful nature that we inherited from Adam. We did not have a choice in determining our nature when we were born in this world. Because Adam sinned against God, every person born into this world inherited a sin nature. Thus, we all were the servants of sin. (Ps. 51:5 & Rom. 5:19)
Think about it for a moment. When you were born into this world, no one had to teach you how to sin, sinning came naturally to you. As a baby, nobody had to teach you how to be selfish, and cry every time you wanted something. You didn’t care about waking up your parents to feed or change your diaper in the midnight hour. When your parents brought you to church, you didn’t care if the minister was preaching. If you decided to cry and scream to the top of your lungs to get your way, you could care less who you disturbed! No one taught you the word “No.” In talking back to your parents—you intuitively knew the word No, and said it every time you felt like it.
Just as it is a dog’s nature to wag its tale, it was our nature to commit sin of one kind or another. And, even though our parents, educators, and society at large helped modify our behavior with training in doing right and wrong, it by no means changed our spirits, which were inherently evil and we were by nature the children of the devil. (Eph. 2:1-3)
As you got older and came into the age of accountability (the age of knowing right and wrong, normally about age 11 or 12) even though you were warned not to; you did all sorts of devilish things such as: told lies, stole things, used profanity, bullied other children, snuck out the house, and talked back to your parents. Oh, and even if you think you were the “perfect person” growing up, that never did anything evil before you came to the Lord, your spirit man was still desperately wicked. Without receiving Jesus Christ as Savior, when you die, you would just be the best sinner in hell. (John 3:17-18 & John 14:6)
But now, we are born-again Christians, and the Scripture says our old man was crucified with Jesus Christ, (Rom. 6:8) and when Jesus rose from the dead we became new creatures, with a brand new nature—the identical spirit and nature of Jesus Christ, born from above in righteousness and holiness. (II Cor. 5:17, 21)
Let’s wash your brain with John 1:10-13. When you received Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, your spirit was born-again—born not of flesh and blood, but Born of God. Cleanse your thoughts with this truth: “You are born from above, born of God!” You are a new creation of God, and have the nature of God! Repeat it out loud, over and over to yourself, as your spirit is the exact duplicate of the spirit of Jesus Christ. You have full proof you are born-again of God. Look in your spirit, and you will see there is no trace of sin, transgression, or iniquity. (II Cor. 4:18) In fact, your spirit man has no recollection of you ever having sinned! You are Holy for all eternity!
So get hold of this. Now that our nature has been changed, from the old-man (sinful nature) to the new-man (spirit of Christ), we are to walk in the “newness of life,” according to Romans 6:4. The newness of life is Jesus’ resurrected life. That’s right, we are to walk (practice daily) living the same resurrected life here on earth, that Jesus Christ enjoys as the exalted Christ at the right hand of God! (I John 4:17)
Now you are ready for the next great truth. Christians must also know, as verse 6 states, that your “old man was crucified with Jesus, so that the “body of sin might be destroyed.” The body of Christ, the Church, has not well understood, what the “body of sin” is. Follow this:
The “body of sin” is the total output (product, work, performance) of sin. When you think of the body of sin, think of it as a “body of work.” For example, an author has a body of work, which consists of all of the novels they have written. A music composer’s body of work consists of all of the songs they have written. So when we think of the body of sin, we are talking about the “totality of sinful works.”
The Bible gives us an extensive list of the body of sin, often referred to in Scripture as the “works of the flesh” or “carnal mind.” (Gal. 5:19-21, Col. 3:5-10, and I Cor. 6:9-11) Romans 6:6 declares that your old man was put to death with Jesus Christ, so that the total output of your sin might be destroyed. Meaning, that you should no longer practice sin.
Look at it this way. If the author of the novels dies, then no more novels can be written and published by the writer. Since he is dead, he can never write another novel. The only way for the deceased author’s “body of work” to continue to be recognized, is if someone else continues to make known his prior (old) works to others.
Similarly, our old man was crucified and died with Jesus Christ on His cross, therefore as Christians, our old man can no longer produce the body of sin (works of sin). The only way for a born-again Christian to sin and practice sin, is if they are reminded of their past “body of sin.” Our brains, that magnificent organ that lies between our two ears stores, records, and remembers our past experiences with the “body of sin.” Our brains (without being renewed by the Word of God) are full of memories of past experiences with sin. Thus, we are very capable of recalling, thinking, and meditating on our sinful pasts. So in effect, we have the “residue of sin” lodged within the thoughts of the brain.
Just as before we were born-again, Satan tempted us in our thought-life with evil, he continues to tempt us with sinful thoughts after we are born-again Christians. You will notice that Satan never tempts you with committing new sins. Rather, he continues to try to tempt you with sins of the past, especially in your weakest areas of resistance, “called strongholds.” These areas in your past life where you routinely practiced doing wrong things, even to the point of addiction.
To counter temptation, Christians must be aggressive, diligent, and vigilant in washing their brains clean with the Word of God. (Rom 12:1-2 & II Cor. 10:4-6). So take Romans 6:1-14 and wash your brain squeaky clean from sin consciousness—and become God conscious.
Every day, sometimes several times of day, and certainly at the points and times when you are tempted to sin—capture each sinful thought, and replace it with discovered knowledge from the Word of God about you.
You must talk back to evil thoughts with the discovered knowledge from the Word of God concerning who you are and the new life you have in Jesus Christ.
Remember this: The last thought taken and nurtured in your brain is the thought that will remain and reign. The last thought is the one you will speak on and act on in life and bring the fruit of it into existence. (Prov. 18:20-21) The following biblical affirmations show you how to capture every thought of sin and bring it into captivity in obedience to the Word of God using Romans 6:1-14.
The Word of God is Our Weapon of Warfare to Combat and Defeat Temptation and the Practice of Sin.
When the enemy tempts you with sinful thoughts, pull down the strongholds by faith, saying out loud:
- I am dead to sin! (Rom. 6:2)
- I have been baptized into Jesus Christ and, therefore baptized unto His death. (Rom. 6:3)
- My old-man and wicked sin-filled nature is crucified with Jesus Christ, and my entire body of sin (work, output, performance) has been destroyed. The root of sin has been destroyed, therefore, the fruit of the work of sin is destroyed too! As such, I don’t serve sin! (Rom. 6:6)
- I am dead to sin therefore I am free from sin! (Rom. 6:7)
Bring the sinful thought into captivity and make it obey the Word of God.
- Because Jesus Christ was resurrected from the dead, death has no more dominion over Him, and He forever lives unto God. (Rom. 6:9-10)
- As a result, I count myself dead to sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ. (Rom. 6:11) “There is no good thing that ever comes from sin, only evil and the wicked sad pathway to destruction.”
- I refuse to let sin reign in my thoughts and body by a defeated devil! Sin has no power over me. The only way I can sin is if choose to! (Rom. 6:12)
- I refuse to yield my thoughts and actions to sin, which is nothing more than death. Dead things stink, decay, and belong buried in the graveyard. I am alive unto God, alive unto the resurrection, and I yield myself completely unto righteousness—equality with God. (Rom 6:13)
- To all of this I say, sin has no dominion over me. Rather, I rule over sin. (Rom. 6:14) Whenever and wherever I am tempted to sin—I tell sin to get out of my face and out of my way, for it is a dead work!
If you will take these biblical affirmations and resist the devil and temptation with them, you will notice that the thoughts of sin will leave you. Your thoughts will align perfectly with your born-again spirit, where there is agreement to obey God rather than sin. Now, you are resisting the devil, and he will flee from you like the cowardly chump he is! (I Pet. 5:8) You can never sin, if you are not thinking about sinning!
As you declare your freedom from sin by the Word of God, the Holy Ghost, the glorifier of Christ will release supernatural resurrection power through you to live victoriously over the “entire body of sin.” (John 16:14-15) Moreover, the Holy Ghost will bring you to point where you absolutely loathe evil and hate sin, just as God does!
Finally, Romans 6:7 witnesses that through Jesus Christ, we have been made eternally free from sin. Sin has no dominion over us. So why would we ever desire and follow after sin again, especially since when we walked in darkness, we personally experienced the consequences of sin—which is death (gross failure in life).
As free born-again Christians, we live in the resurrected life of Jesus Christ. We live according to the new-man, having the same spirit and nature as Jesus Christ. Therefore, we have a “new body of work”! Because we have a new root, we are only capable of producing new fruit—the works of righteousness.
As such, we love everybody. We forgive everybody. We are kind to everybody. We produce the fruit of the spirit. (Gal. 5:22-23). We produce the gifts of the spirit. (I Cor. 12:4-11 & Romans 12:6-8) We do the greater works of Jesus Christ, in which we exercise complete mastery over all the power of the enemy in the world. Works ordained by God before the foundations of the world. (John 14:12 & Eph. 2:10)
So you see Saints, when we discover who we are in Jesus Christ, temptation and the practice of sin is nothing more than a pebble underneath our feet. The only way born-again Christians can sin is if we give ourselves permission to do so. Let us not continue another day on earth yielding to sin and its practice, which only produces dead works. (Rom. 6:1) But let us live in the newness of life, in the resurrection life of Jesus Christ, the exalted life of Christ on earth; as we await the Lord’s second coming.
Do not let your guard down, always remain vigilant in your thought life, arrest every thought, and see if it passes the smell test of the Word of God before giving it a place to rest in your brain. (Prov. 4:20-27) If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the spirit. (Gal. 5:25)