The Heresy of Sinless Perfection on Earth
Some people, including, without limitation, Mennonite, Amish, Hutterite, Bruderhof, Schwarzenau Brethren, River Brethren and Apostolic Christian, mistakenly teach that people on Earth can obtain sinless perfection before they die.
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We must evaluate that claim in light of Scripture, no matter what anyone has taught you previously. The Bible plainly provides we will stand holy and blameless in the presence of Jesus one day (Jude 1:24). The Bible also provides that if we say “we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). Therefore, people on Earth certainly cannot obtain “sinless perfection.” They are only deceiving themselves and the truth is not in them.
If we cannot obtain sinless perfection on earth, then why did Jesus commanded us to be perfect, as our heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5: 48)? Actually, Jesus would issue no other command to us regarding our behavior. The standard of our behavior will always be the glory of God (Romans 3: 23). If we fall short of His glory, then we know we have sinned and need a Savior, Jesus Christ the Righteous. Can you imagine Jesus saying “do your sinful best”? No, Jesus would always command us to be like our heavenly Father, perfect. Jesus will always call us to spiritual perfection, but He knows we will always be sinners on earth. Therefore, by faith alone in Jesus as Savior, we know the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin as we walk in the Light on earth (1 John 1:7).
We could cite many more verses opposing the heresy of sinless perfection on earth, but these few verses completely contradict the heresy of “sinless perfection” on earth.
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