SALVATIONAL PERFECTION REQUIRED
(This Has Got To Be The Most Important Bible Study In My Entire Portfolio)
A) INTRODUCTION.
B) OUR PART (Bible Passages).
C) OUR PART (My Favorite Bible Commentator).
D) GOD WANTS US TO BE PERFECT (Bible Passages).
E) GOD WANTS US TO BE PERFECT (My Favorite Bible Commentator).
F) CHRISTIANS CAN BE PERFECT (Bible Passages).
G) CHRISTIANS CAN BE PERFECT (My Favorite Bible Commentator).
H) CHRISTIANS CAN CEASE TO SIN (Bible Passages).
I) CHRISTIANS CAN CEASE TO SIN (My Favorite Bible Commentator).
J) UNDERSTANDING PERFECTION (My Favorite Bible Commentator).
A) INTRODUCTION
If You Cannot Become “Sinless,” then “Sin Less.” Frankly, I am tired of people (Christians) ignoring or downgrading Biblical Perfectionism. Jesus was perfect and He told us to be like Him. He would not ask us to do something that was not available to us. “Christ in you, [is] the hope of Glory,” Colossians 1:27. Without Christ, of course, we cannot “perfect” our Christian character. But with Christ you can. Therefore, we should quit attacking “perfectionism” and being afraid to say it, but rather embrace it.
Consider: It always amazes me the power that is given to the Devil; which does then express the lack of power given to Jesus. For example, the Devil can tempt a person easily, but Jesus cannot save a person FROM their sins, instead of IN them. Jesus cannot defeat the Jebusites, Hittites, Ammonites, Moabites, or Devil[ites] that are inside of you, because they are just too strong for us. But we can serve sin. Baloney as an expression. I believe Jesus is stronger than the Devil and if we will let Him, He CAN save us FROM our sins; Not in them or still with them at the Second Coming of Christ.
If Jesus cannot save us from our sins, then the drunkenness, smoking and whatever besetment one might have, cannot be “overcome.” However, we know that “greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world.” First John 4:4. “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” Philippians. 4:13. And “Christ in you, the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27.
There it is: “Christ in you [is], the hope of glory.” Colossians 1:27. And since “God is Love,” First John 4:8 & 16, then “Love in you, is the hope of glory.” Consider “Love” to be a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
Using the Biblical concept of “overcoming (see Romans 3:4; First John 2:13-14; 4:4; 5:4-5; Revelation 2:7 & 11 & 17 & 26; 3:5 & 12 & 21; 21:7), we must still ask: “How do we overcome?” Answer: Because He “overcame,” Revelation 3:21.
A Christian is a follower of Christ, agreed? Therefore, we are Commanded to be like Him (John 13:15; First Peter 2:21; First John 2:6). Can you name a sin that Jesus is not efficacious enough to give us victory over, other than the sin against the Holy Spirit? NO! Therefore, I cannot believe that God would Command us to be free from sin (John 5:14; 8:14) without providing the power for us to “overcome” whatever sin it is that is besetting us.
The Bible never separates the believer’s righteousness from Christ dwelling within the heart (Romans 8:10; Colossians 1:27; SC:63). The idea that God has all these Commands in the Bible that are really just recommendations and suggestions is an insult to Him and makes His Sacrifice of non-effect, thus exalting the Devil.
We are to “agonize, cease, choose, diligent, keep, effort, endure, hold fast, labor, overcome, pray, put off, put on, remain, stand, strive, turn, walk, war, watch, work out, wrestle,” and many more admonitions in the Bible, lest we be “overcome,” by our cherished sins. We can be and are “overcomers” because we “overcame,” as Christ “overcame.”
Remember though, it is Christ in us that God sees that is our hope of glory, Colossians 1:27. God’s purpose is that we become partakers of His “Divine nature” (Second Peter 1:4; Hebrews 12:10; Ephesians 3:19). “If one half the time we spend in praying for the Spirit were spent in fulfilling the conditions upon which it is promised, we should have much more of it.” YI:538.
THE INCREDIBLE THOUGHT: “He holds up before us the highest ideal, even perfection. He asks us to be absolutely and completely for Him in this world as He is for us in the presence of God.” AA:566. And, God is waiting for His people to become Holy before He Comes (James 5:7). In fact, God is waiting for a perfected people before He can Come (Second Peter 3:11-12).
No yielded temptation is more exciting or rewarding than is obedience to the personal call of God. “God has given us His Holy Precepts, because He Loves mankind. To shield us from the results of transgression, He reveals the principles of righteousness. The Law is an expression of the thought of God; when received in Christ, it becomes our thought. It lifts us above the power of natural desires and tendencies, above temptations that lead to sin. God desires us to be happy, and He gave us the Precepts of the Law that in obeying Them we might have joy.” DA:308.
PERFECTION IS ATTAINABLE: Let no professed Christian take counsel of his own imperfections and say that it is impossible for a Christian to live a sinless life. It is rather, impossible for a true Christian to live any other kind of life. For “How shall we, that are [not always trying to be, but are] dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2. Also, according to First John 3:9, “Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin [did you read that or gloss it over it?]; for His seed [that is God’s Divine principles of life (First Peter 1:23) are successfully planted into the truly converted man; ensuring him spiritual energy to successfully resist sin; because the Divine power of the Holy Spirit operates in his soul; such that he does not continue to sin; and “His seed”] remaineth in him: and he cannot sin [did you read that and not gloss over it?], because he is born of God.” Why not read First John 3:9 again without my comments? For it is so clear by itself.
B) OUR PART
“The LORD shall establish thee an holy people unto Himself, as He hath sworn unto thee, if thou shalt keep the Commandments of the LORD thy God, and walk in His ways.” Deuteronomy 28:9.
“That He may incline our hearts unto Him, to walk in all His Ways, and to keep His Commandments, and His Statutes, and His Judgments, which He Commanded our fathers.” First Kings 8:58.
“Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in His Statutes, and to keep His Commandments, as at this day.” First Kings 8:61.
“Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him: but I will maintain mine own ways {which are God’s “ways”} before Him.” Job 13:15.
“I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved.” Psalm 16:8.
“My soul is continually in my hand:” Psalm 119:109.
“Righteousness keepeth him that is upright in the way,” Proverbs 13:6.
“Wash you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil.” Isaiah 1:16.
“Seek ye the LORD while He may be found, call ye upon Him while He is near: Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and He will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:6-7.
“Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD.” Ezekiel 14:14.
“Cast away from you all your transgressions, whereby ye have transgressed; and make you a new heart and a new spirit: for why will ye die, O house of Israel?” Ezekiel 18:31.
“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself,” Hosea 13:9.
“But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Matthew 6:33.
“In holiness and righteousness before Him, all the days of our life.” Luke 1:75.
“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.” Romans 6:11-13.
“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.” Romans 6:19.
“That the righteousness of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.” Romans 8:4.
“. . . present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:1-2.
“For He hath made Him to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him.” Second Corinthians 5:21.
“. . . let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” Second Corinthians 7:1.
“This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh.” Galatians 5:16.
“If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” Galatians 5:25.
“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.” Ephesians 4:22-27.
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Ephesians 6:10-11.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5.
“Do all things without murmurings and disputings: That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke. . . among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” Philippians 2:14-15.
“Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12.
“[Who?] can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth [who?]” Philippians 4:13.
“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.” First Thessalonians 4:3.
“Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on Him to life everlasting.” First Timothy 1:16.
“If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.” Second Timothy 2:21.
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” First John 1:9.
“He that overcometh, the same shall be clothed in white raiment,” Revelation 3:5.
“And they overcame him [Satan] by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11.
C) OUR PART (MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR)
“Genuine faith will be manifested in good works; for good works are the fruits of faith. As God works in the heart, and man surrenders his will to God, and cooperates with God, he works out in the life what God works in by the Holy Spirit, and there is harmony between the purpose of the heart and the practice of the life. Every sin must be renounced as the hateful thing that crucified the Lord of life and glory, and the believer must have a progressive experience by continually doing the works of Christ. It is by continual surrender of the will, by continual obedience, that the blessing of justification is retained.” 1SM:396.
“God leads His people on, step by step. He brings them up to different points calculated to manifest what is in the heart. Some endure at one point, but fall off at the next. At every advanced point the heart is tested and tried a little closer. If the professed people of God find their hearts opposed to this straight work, it should convince them that they have a work to do to overcome, if they would not be spewed out of the mouth of the Lord. Said the angel: ‘God will bring His work closer and closer to test and prove every one of His people.’ Some are willing to receive one point; but when God brings them to another testing point, they shrink from it and stand back, because they find that it strikes directly at some cherished idol. Here they have opportunity to see what is in their hearts that shuts out Jesus. They prize something higher than the truth, and their hearts are not prepared to receive Jesus.
“Individuals are tested and proved a length of time to see if they will sacrifice their idols and heed the counsel of the True Witness. If any will not be purified through obeying the truth, and overcome their selfishness, their pride, and evil passions, the angels of God have the charge: ‘They are joined to their idols, let them alone,’ and they pass on to their work, leaving these with their sinful traits unsubdued, to the control of evil angels. Those who come up to every point, and stand every test, and overcome, be the price what it may, have heeded the counsel of the True Witness, and they will receive the latter rain, and thus be fitted for translation.” 1T:187.
“Some have asked the question, Must I be on my guard and feel a restraint upon me continually? I have been shown that we have a great work before us to search out our own hearts, and watch ourselves with jealous care. We should learn wherein we fail, and then guard ourselves upon that point. We must have perfect control over our own spirit.” 1T:308.
“I would not dishonor my Master so much as to admit that a careless, trifling, prayerless person is a Christian. No, a Christian has victory over his besetments, over his passions.” 2SG:257.
“Ascertain if you have an inheritance on high. Deal truly with your own soul. Remember that a Church without spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing will Jesus present to His Father.” 2SG:264.
“We cannot equal the pattern; but we shall not be approved of God if we do not copy it and, according to the ability which God has given, resemble it.” 2T:549.
“. Christ pledged Himself to keep the Law which Adam transgressed, and to magnify that Law and make it honorable by demonstrating that It was not arbitrary, and could be kept inviolate by man.” 3SP:257.
“Christians will have new scenes and new trials to pass through where past experience cannot be a sufficient guide. We have greater need to learn of the Divine Teacher now than at any other period in our lives. And the more experience we gain, the nearer we draw toward the pure light of Heaven, the more we shall discern in ourselves that needs reforming. We may all do a good work in blessing others if we will seek counsel of God and follow on in obedience and faith. The path of the just is progressive, from strength to strength, from grace to grace, and from glory to glory. The Divine illumination will increase more and more, corresponding with our onward movements.” 3T:542.
“Will man take hold of Divine power, and with determination and perseverance resist Satan, as Christ has given him example in His conflict with the foe in the wilderness of temptation? God cannot save man against his will from the power of Satan’s artifices. Man must work with his human power, aided by the Divine power of Christ, to resist and to conquer at any cost to himself. In short, man must overcome as Christ overcame.” 4T:32-33.
“Ample provisions have been made for all who sincerely, earnestly, and thoughtfully set about the work of perfecting holiness in the fear of God. Strength, grace, and glory have been provided through Christ, to be brought by ministering angels to the heirs of salvation. None are so low, so corrupt and vile, that they can not find in Jesus, Who died for them, strength, purity, and righteousness, if they will put away their sins, cease their course of iniquity, and turn with full purpose of heart to the living God. He is waiting to strip them of their garments, stained and polluted by sin, and to put upon them the white, bright robes of righteousness; and He bids them live and not die. In Him they may flourish. Their branches will not wither nor be fruitless. If they abide in Him, they can draw sap and nourishment from Him, be imbued with His Spirit, walk even as He walked, overcome as He overcame, and be exalted to His own right hand.” 4T:453.
“By faith and prayer all may meet the requirements of the Gospel. No man can be forced to transgress. His own consent must be first gained; the soul must purpose the sinful act before passion can dominate over reason, or iniquity triumph over conscience. Temptation, however strong, is never an excuse for sin.” 5T:177.
“Even your thoughts must be brought into subjection to the will of God and your feelings under the control of reason and religion. Your imagination was not given you to be allowed to run riot and have its own way without any effort at restraint or discipline. If the thoughts are wrong the feelings will be wrong, and the thoughts and feelings combined make up the moral character.” 5T:310.
“All short routes, all cut-off tracks, all teaching which fails to exalt the Law of God as the standard of religious character, is spurious. Perfection of character is a lifelong work, unattainable by those who are not willing to strive for it in God’s appointed way, by slow and toilsome steps.” 5T:500.
“The work of consecration must go forward and upward, elevating the mind, elevating the speech. Thus we become more and more Heavenly minded, better prepared for translation. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.’ Man is to be perfect in his sphere, as God is perfect in His sphere. How can we attain so lofty a standard? The required perfection is based on the perfection of Christ. In Him is our righteousness. He spoke these Words, and He was by birth a human being, though allied to Divinity. Every provision has been made that man should be a partaker of the Divine nature. God never issues a Command without furnishing the grace essential to carry it out. He says, ‘Without Me ye can do nothing.’ ” Ms. 157, 1898, pp. 1, 2. (“Be Ye Therefore Perfect,” published December 5, 1898.); 6MR:5.
“He has placed man’s destiny in his own hands, telling him that his future welfare depends on his choice. To be saved, he must cooperate with God in His work of restoration.” 18MR:271.
“Paul holds up the standard of perfection and shows how it may be reached. ‘Work out your own salvation,’ he says, ‘for it is God which worketh in you.’ The work of gaining salvation is one of co-partnership, a joint operation. There is to be co-operation between God and the repentant sinner. This is necessary for the formation of right principles in the character. Man is to make earnest efforts to overcome that which hinders him from attaining to perfection. But he is wholly dependent upon God for success. Human effort of itself is not sufficient. Without the aid of Divine power it avails nothing. God works and man works. Resistance of temptation must come from man, who must draw his power from God.” AA:482.
“Sanctification is not the work of a moment, an hour, a day, but of a lifetime. It is not gained by a happy flight of feeling, but is the result of constantly dying to sin, and constantly living for Christ. Wrongs cannot be righted nor reformations wrought in the character by feeble, intermittent efforts. It is only by long, persevering effort, sore discipline, and stern conflict, that we shall overcome. We know not one day how strong will be our conflict the next. So long as Satan reigns, we shall have self to subdue, besetting sins to overcome; so long as life shall last, there will be no stopping place, no point which we can reach and say, I have fully attained. Sanctification is the result of lifelong obedience.” AA:560-561.
“The lower passions have their seat in the body and work through it. The words ‘flesh’ or ‘fleshly’ or ‘carnal lusts’ embrace the lower, corrupt nature; the flesh of itself cannot act contrary to the will of God. We are Commanded to crucify the flesh, with the affections and lusts. How shall we do it? Shall we inflict pain on the body? No; but put to death the temptation to sin. The corrupt thought is to be expelled. Every thought is to be brought into captivity to Jesus Christ. All animal propensities are to be subjected to the higher powers of the soul. The love of God must reign supreme; Christ must occupy an undivided throne. Our bodies are to be regarded as His purchased possession. The members of the body are to become instruments of righteousness.” AH:127-128.
“He gave all Heaven, from which we may draw strength and efficiency, that we be not repulsed or overcome by our great adversary. But the Love of God does not lead Him to excuse sin. He did not excuse it in Satan; He did not excuse it in Adam or in Cain; nor will He excuse it in any other of the children of men. He will not connive at our sins or overlook our defects of character. He expects us to overcome in His name.” COL:316.
“Christ has given us no assurance that to attain perfection of character is an easy matter. A noble, all-round character is not inherited. It does not come to us by accident. A noble character is earned by individual effort through the merits and grace of Christ. God gives the talents, the powers of the mind; we form the character. It is formed by hard, stern battles with self. Conflict after conflict must be waged against hereditary tendencies. We shall have to criticize ourselves closely, and allow not one unfavorable trait to remain uncorrected. Let no one say, I cannot remedy my defects of character. If you come to this decision, you will certainly fail of obtaining everlasting life. The impossibility lies in your own will. If you will not, then you can not overcome. The real difficulty arises from the corruption of an unsanctified heart, and an unwillingness to submit to the control of God.” COL:331; YI:145; YI:260.
“Christ’s work was to restore man to his original state, to heal him, through Divine power, from the wounds and bruises made by sin. Man’s part is to lay hold by faith of the merits of Christ, and cooperate with the Divine agencies in forming a righteous character; so that God may save the sinner, and yet be just and His righteous Law vindicated.” FE:430; MH:451.3.
“As the sacrifice in our behalf was complete, so our restoration from the defilement of sin is to be complete.” FLB:89.6.
“The Bible teaches that everything regarding our salvation depends upon our own course of action. If we perish, the responsibility will rest wholly upon ourselves.” FW:48.
“But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ’s righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul.” FW:100; 1SM:366.
“Through personal effort, joined with the prayer of faith, the soul is trained. Day by day the character grows into the likeness of Christ, and finally, instead of being the sport of circumstances, instead of indulging selfishness, and being carried away by light and trifling conversation, the man is master of his thoughts and words. It may cost a severe conflict to overcome habits which have been long indulged, but we may triumph through the grace of Christ.” GW92:420-421; RH, June 10, 1884.
“As God is perfect in His sphere, so are we required to be perfect in ours. There is a great work before us individually, to reach this high standard. Our attainments will be just in accordance with the effort we make, our character just what we choose to make it; for through the Divine aid promised us, we can overcome.” GW, 1892:446.
“We should be quick to discern danger. We should see the hateful character of sin and should expel it from the soul. The doers of the Word know that in Jesus there is strength, which becomes their own by faith. They are clothed with righteousness that God will accept, for it is the righteousness of Christ. Clad in this armor of God, the panoply of Heaven, they successfully resist the serpent’s wiles.” HP:48.
God “desires us to have the mastery over ourselves, our own will and ways. But He cannot work in us without our consent and cooperation. The Divine Spirit works through the faculties and powers given to man. Our energies are required to cooperate with God.” MB:142.
“Christ in His life on earth made no plans for Himself. He accepted God’s plans for Him, and day by day the Father unfolded His plans. So should we depend upon God, that our lives may be the simple outworking of His will. As we commit our ways to Him, He will direct our steps.” MH:479.
“God placed man under Law, as an indispensable condition of his very existence. He was a subject of the Divine government, and there can be no government without Law. God might have created man without the power to transgress His Law; He might have withheld the hand of Adam from touching the forbidden fruit; but in that case man would have been, not a free moral agent, but a mere automation. Without freedom of choice, his obedience would not have been voluntary, but forced. There could have been no development of character. Such a course would have been contrary to God’s plan,” PP:49.
“While the sinner cannot save himself, he still has something to do to secure salvation. ‘Him that cometh to Me,’ says Christ, ‘I will in no wise cast out.’ But we must come to Him; and when we repent of our sins, we must believe that He accepts and pardons us. Faith is the gift of God, but the power to exercise it is ours. Faith is the hand by which the soul takes hold upon the Divine offers of grace and mercy.” PP:431.
“Success in this life, success in gaining the future life, depends upon a faithful, conscientious attention to the little things. Perfection is seen in the least, no less than in the greatest, of the works of God. The hand that hung the worlds in space is the hand that wrought with delicate skill the lilies of the field. And as God is perfect in His sphere, so we are to be perfect in ours. The symmetrical structure of a strong, beautiful character is built up by individual acts of duty. And faithfulness should characterize our life in the least as well as in the greatest of its details. Integrity in little things, the performance of little acts of fidelity and little deeds of kindness, will gladden the path of life; and when our work on earth is ended, it will be found that every one of the little duties faithfully performed has exerted an influence for good -- an influence that can never perish.” PP:574.
“The Lord places us in different positions to develop us. If we have defects of character of which we are not aware, He gives us discipline that will bring those defects to our knowledge, that we may overcome them. It is His providence that brings us into varying circumstances. In each new position, we meet a different class of temptations.” RH, August 6, 1889.
“Christ said, in the prayer just prior to His betrayal, “I sanctify Myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.’ If the minister would present those for whom he labors, perfect in Christ, he must himself be perfect. This work of becoming perfect through the merits of Christ requires much meditation and earnest prayer. . . The perfection of Christian character depends wholly upon the grace and strength found alone in God. Without the power of grace upon the heart, assisting our efforts and sanctifying our labors, we shall fail of saving our own souls, and of saving the souls of others.” RH, August 8, 1878.
“He who is in harmony with God, will constantly depend upon Him for strength. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.’ It should be our life work to be constantly reaching forward to the perfection of Christian character, ever striving for conformity to the Will of God. The efforts begun here will continue through eternity [since “We cannot equal the pattern; but we shall not be approved of God if we do not copy it,” 2T:549.1]. The advancement made here will be ours when we enter upon the future life.” RH, September 20, 1881; ST, March 10, 1887; SD:327.
“Christ imputes to us His sinless character, and presents us to the Father in His Own purity. There are many who think that it is impossible to escape from the power of sin, but the promise is that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. We aim too low. The mark is much higher. Our minds need expansion, that we may comprehend the significance of the provision of God. We are to reflect the highest attributes of the character of God.” RH, July 12, 1892.
“He [God] requires us to perform only those duties that will lead our steps to heights of bliss to which the disobedient can never attain. The true, joyous life of the soul is to have Christ formed within, the hope of glory.
“Many are inquiring, ‘How am I to make the surrender of myself to God?’ You desire to give yourself to Him, but you are weak in moral power, in slavery to doubt, and controlled by the habits of your life of sin. Your promises and resolutions are like ropes of sand. You cannot control your thoughts, your impulses, your affections. The knowledge of your broken promises and forfeited pledges weakens your confidence in your own sincerity, and causes you to feel that God cannot accept you; but you need not despair. What you need to understand is the true force of the will. This is the governing power in the nature of man, the power of decision, or of choice. Everything depends on the right action of the will. The power of choice God has given to men; it is theirs to exercise. You cannot change your heart, you cannot of yourself give to God its affections; but you can choose to serve Him. You can give Him your will; He will then work in you to will and to do according to His good pleasure. Thus your whole nature will be brought under the control of the Spirit of Christ; your affections will be centered upon Him, your thoughts will be in harmony with Him.
“Desires for goodness and holiness are right as far as they go; but if you stop here, they will avail nothing. Many will be lost while hoping and desiring to be Christians. They do not come to the point of yielding the will to God. They do not now choose to be Christians. [48]
“Through the right exercise of the will, an entire change may be made in your life. By yielding up your will to Christ, you ally yourself with the power that is above all principalities and powers. You will have strength from above to hold you steadfast, and thus through constant surrender to God you will be enabled to live the new life, even the life of faith.” SC:47-48.
“It is through faith in Jesus Christ that the truth is accepted in the heart and the human agent is purified and cleansed. Jesus was ‘wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed.’ Is it possible to be healed, while knowingly committing sin? -- No; it is genuine faith that says, I know that I have committed sin, but that Jesus has pardoned my sin; and hereafter I will resist temptation in and through His might. [First John 3:3 quoted]. He has an abiding principle in the soul, that enables him to overcome temptation.” SD:297.
“When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His Own Divine merit.” ST, June 16, 1890; 1SM:382.
“Every hereditary and cultivated tendency to evil must be seen, subdued, and cleansed, that the soul temple may become fit for the indwelling of the Spirit of God {meaning it wasn’t}. The Divine Will must be accepted, and the human will brought into harmony with God, though it cause bitter agony and tears.” ST, July 18, 1895.
“All circumstances, all appetites and passions, are to be servants to the God-fearing man, not rulers over him. The Christian is not to be enslaved by any hereditary or cultivated habits or tendency. He is to rule the animal passions, rather than to be held in the bondage of habit.” TM:421.
“Our faith, the hope we claim of one day obtaining immortality, calls for the stretch of every muscle, and the strain of every nerve. We cannot be saved in sin and in transgression of God’s Law. We cannot be saved in indolence and inactivity. . . But the task, to the soul seeking for Heaven, is prescribed, that he go under all and every circumstance to Christ for help. And though the path is obstructed through existing inclination, he must press, he must urge his way; he must abase his will, his desires; he must feel his helplessness, his nothingness, and look alone to the Author and finisher of his faith.” YI:93.
“If we would become Christians, we cannot retain our natural habits, and hold fast to the weakness of our character that dishonors our Saviour. We can find no excuse in the plea that this or that sin is the result of ‘my way.’ The professed followers of Christ will always be filled with wavering, will always be tossed like the waves of the sea, unless they give up their way, and take Christ’s way. To cherish our own way, to do those things which naturally please us, will bring upon us the sure result of separation from the presence of Christ.” YI:147.
“Let every one inquire seriously; Am I a genuine Christian? Am I bearing the true marks of a Christian? Am I doing my best to perfect a character after the Divine model? Am I permitting the grace of God to have a molding influence upon me, and am I becoming more and more perfectly conformed to the image of Jesus Christ?” YI:211.
D) GOD WANTS US TO BE PERFECT
“. . . walk before Me, and be thou perfect.” Genesis 17:1.
“God is come to prove you, and that His fear may be before your faces, that ye sin not.” Exodus 20:20.
“And ye shall be holy men unto Me.” Exodus 22:31.
“For I Am the LORD your God: ye shall therefore sanctify yourselves, and ye shall be holy; for I am holy. . . ye shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.” Leviticus 11:44-45.
“Ye shall be holy: for I the LORD your God am holy.” Leviticus 19:2.
“Sanctify yourselves therefore, and be ye holy: for I am the LORD your God.” Leviticus 20:7.
“And ye shall be holy unto Me: for I the LORD am holy,” Leviticus 20:26.
“They shall be holy unto their God, and not profane the name of their God. . . therefore they shall be holy. . . for he is holy unto his God. Thou shalt sanctify him therefore. . . he shall be holy unto thee: for I the LORD, which sanctify you, am holy.” Leviticus 21:6-8.
“All the days of the vow of his separation. . . in the which he separateth himself unto the LORD, he shall be holy,” Numbers 6:5.
“All the days of his separation he is holy unto the LORD.” Numbers 6:8.
“That ye may remember, and do all My Commandments, and be holy unto your God.” Numbers 15:40.
“. . . the man whom the LORD doth choose, he shall be holy,” Numbers 16:7.
“O that there were such an heart in them, that they would fear Me, and keep all My Commandments always, that it might be well with them, and with their children for ever!” Deuteronomy 5:29.
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God: the LORD thy God hath chosen thee to be a special people unto Himself, above all people that are upon the face of the earth.” Deuteronomy 7:6.
“For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto Himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.” Deuteronomy 14:2.
“. . . thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God,” Deuteronomy 14:21.
“Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God.” Deuteronomy 18:13.
“. . .that thou mayest be an holy people unto the LORD thy God, as He hath spoken.” Deuteronomy 26:19.
“. . .serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind,” First Chronicles 28:9.
“Ye are holy unto the LORD,” Ezra 8:28.
“. . . thou shalt visit thy habitation, and shalt not sin.” Job 5:24.
“Thou hast Commanded us to keep Thy Precepts diligently.” Psalm 119:4.
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.” Proverbs 28:13.
“And it shall come to pass, that he that is left in Zion, and he that remaineth in Jerusalem, shall be called holy, even every one that is written among the living in Jerusalem.” Isaiah 4:3.
“. . . be ye clean, that bear the vessels of the LORD.” Isaiah 52:11.
“And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD,” Isaiah 62:12.
“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.” Matthew 5:8.
“Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow Me.” Matthew 19:21.
“. . . they. . . bring no fruit to perfection.” Luke 8:14.
“. . . sin no more,” John 5:14.
“. . . go, and sin no more.” John 8:11.
“I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be made perfect in one;” John 17:23.
“. . . having raised up His Son Jesus, sent Him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.” Acts 3:26.
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2.
“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.” Romans 6:6.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.
“For whom He did foreknow, He also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of His Son,” Romans 8:29.
Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” First Corinthians 3:16-17.
“Awake to righteousness, and sin not.” First Corinthians 15:34.
“. . . and this also we wish, even your perfection.” Second Corinthians 13:9.
“Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you.” Second Corinthians 13:11.
“. . . that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love.” Ephesians 1:4.
“For the perfecting of the saints. . . unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: That we. . . may grow up into Him in all things, which is the head, even Christ. Ephesians 4:12-15.
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 2:5.
“. . . that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the Will of God.” Colossians 4:12.
“To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” First Thessalonians 3:13.
“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” First Thessalonians 4:7.
“That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Second Timothy 3:17.
“But a lover of hospitality, a lover of good men, sober, just, holy, temperate.” Titus 1:8.
“The aged women likewise, that they be in behaviour as becometh holiness,” Titus 2:3.
“. . . we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” Titus 2:12.
“. . . let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God.” Hebrews 6:1.
“For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.” Hebrews 10:26.
“Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14.
“Make you perfect in every good work to do His Will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ,” Hebrews 13:21.
“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4.
“If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:2.
“But as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I Am holy.” First Peter 1:15-16.
“. . . Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” First Peter 2:21-22.
“Who His Own Self bare our sins in His Own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed.” First Peter 2:24.
“But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people,” First Peter 3:9.
“But the God of all grace. . . make you perfect,” First Peter 5:10.
“Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the Divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” Second Peter 1:4.
“Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless.” Second Peter 3:14.
“He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked.” First John 2:6.
“Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection,” Revelation 20:6.
E) GOD WANTS US TO BE PERFECT (MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR)
“If it were not possible for us to be Commandment-keepers, then why does He make the obedience to His Commandments the proof that we love Him?” 1BC:1092.
“The Lord requires no less of the soul now, than He required of Adam in Paradise before he fell -- perfect obedience, unblemished righteousness.” 1SM:373; RH, November 1, 1892, par. 1 {2RH:607}; SC:62.
“Let no one take up with the delusion so pleasant to the natural heart, that God will accept of sincerity no mater what may be the faith, no matter how imperfect the life, God requires of his child perfect obedience.” 1SM:374.
“We must learn of Christ. We must know what He is to those He has ransomed. We must realize that through belief in Him it is our privilege to be partakers of the Divine nature, and so escape the corruption that is in the world through lust. Then we are cleansed from all sin.” AG:235.4; 7BC:943.1; RH, April 24, 1900, par. 6; {4RH:175}.
“The righteousness of Christ is not a cloak to cover unconfessed and unforsaken sins; it is a principle of life that transforms the character and controls the conduct. Holiness is wholeness for God; it is the entire surrender of heart and life to the indwelling of the principles of Heaven.” DA:555-556.
“God has always tried His people in the furnace of affliction. It is in the heat of the furnace that the dross is separated from the true gold of the Christian character {wheat & tears; Sheep & goats; et cetera}. Jesus watches the test; He knows what is needed to purify the precious metal, that it may reflect the radiance of His love. It is by close, testing trials that God disciplines His servants. He sees that some have powers which may be used in the advancement of His work, and He puts these persons upon trial; in His providence He brings them into positions that test their character and reveal defects and weaknesses that have been hidden from their own knowledge. He gives them opportunity to correct these defects and to fit themselves for His service. He shows them their own weakness, and teaches them to lean upon Him; for He is their only help and safeguard. Thus His object is attained. They are educated, trained, and disciplined, prepared to fulfill the grand purpose for which their powers were given them. When God calls them to action, they are ready, and Heavenly angels can unite with them in the work to be accomplished on the earth.” PP:129-130 (see also AA:524).
“The Word of God cannot be bent to men’s likings. It requires obedience, full and free.” YI:175.
F) CHRISTIANS CAN BE PERFECT
“Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.” Genesis 6:9.
“But my servant Caleb, because he had another spirit with him, and hath followed Me fully,” Numbers 14:24.
“Even to morrow the LORD will shew who are His, and who is holy; and will cause him to come near unto Him: even him whom He hath chosen will He cause to come near unto Him.” Numbers 16:5.
“Behold now, I perceive that this is an holy man of God,” Second Kings 4:9.
“For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him.” Second Chronicles 16:9.
“. . . for in their set office they sanctified themselves in holiness.” Second Chronicles 31:18.
“Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” Job 1:8.
“In all this Job sinned not,” Job 1:22.
“Concerning the works of men, by the word of Thy lips I have kept me from the paths of the destroyer.” Psalm 17:4.
“Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” Psalm 32:2.
“Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.” Psalm 37:37.
“I will behave myself wisely in a perfect way. O when wilt Thou come unto me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” Psalm 101:2.
“Mine eyes shall be upon the faithful of the land, that they may dwell with Me: he that walketh in a perfect way, he shall serve Me.” Psalm 101:6.
“Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the Law of the LORD.” Psalm 119:1.
“They also do no iniquity: they walk in His ways.” Psalm 119:3.
“For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.” Proverbs 2:21.
“The righteousness of the perfect shall direct his way,” Proverbs 11:5.
“But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name:” John 1:12.
“God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?” Romans 6:2.
“Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:11.
“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.” Romans 6:17-18.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22.
“Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:37.
“Howbeit we speak wisdom among them that are perfect.” First Corinthians 2:6.
“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” First Corinthians 10:13.
“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.” Ephesians 4:13.
“Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.” Philippians 2:12.
“Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded,” Philippians 3:15.
“And ye are complete in Him,” Colossians 2:10.
“To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God,” First Thessalonians 3:13.
“. . . if they continue in faith and charity and holiness with sobriety.” First Timothy 2:15.
“For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth.” First Peter 2:21-22.
“. . .these things write I unto you, that ye sin not,” First John 2:1.
“And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as He is pure.” First John 3:3.
“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory,” Jude 1:24.
“. . . here are they that keep the Commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.” Revelation 14:12.
“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” Revelation 22:11.
G) CHRISTIANS CAN BE PERFECT (MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR)
“Through being partakers of the Divine nature we may stand pure and holy and undefiled.” 3SM:131.
“If you make God your strength, you may, under the most discouraging circumstances, attain a height and breadth of Christian perfection which you hardly think it possible to reach. Your thoughts may be elevated, you may have noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, and purposes of action which shall raise you above all sordid motives.” 3T:66.1; 4T:567; CH 384.2; Mar:226.2; TA:17.4.
“Self is difficult to conquer. Human depravity in every form is not easily brought into subjection to the Spirit of Christ. But all should be impressed with the fact that unless this victory is gained through Christ, there is no hope for them. The victory can be gained; for nothing is impossible with God. By His assisting grace, all evil temper, all human depravity, may be overcome.” 4T:349.
“In Christ dwelt the fulness of the Godhead bodily. This is why, although He was tempted in all points like as we are, He stood before the world, from His first entrance into it, untainted by corruption, though surrounded by it. Are we not also to become partakers of that fulness, and is it not thus, and thus only, that we can overcome as He overcame? We lose much by not dwelling constantly upon the character of Christ.” 7BC:907.
“The Lord now demands that every son and daughter of Adam, through faith in Jesus Christ, serve Him in human nature which we now have. The Lord Jesus has bridged the gulf that sin has made. He has connected earth with Heaven, and finite man with the infinite God. Jesus, the world’s Redeemer, could only keep the Commandments of God in the same way that humanity can keep them.” 7BC:929; 3SM:140; 6MR:341.
“As Jesus was in human nature, so God means His followers to be. In His strength we are to live the life of purity and nobility which the Saviour lived.” 8T:289.
“The Lord requires perfection from His redeemed family. He expects from us the perfection which Christ revealed in His humanity.” CG:477.
“God calls upon us to reach the highest standard of glory and virtue. The perfection of Christ’s character makes it possible for us to gain perfection.” CME:46.
“In each true-hearted endeavor to work out His plan, He chooses His agents not because they are perfect but because, through a connection with Him, they may gain perfection. God will accept only those who are determined to aim high. He places every human agent under obligation to do his best. Moral perfection is required of all. Never should we lower the standard of righteousness in order to accommodate inherited or cultivated tendencies to wrong-doing. We need to understand that imperfection of character is sin. All righteous attributes of character dwell in God as a perfect, harmonious whole, and every one who receives Christ as a personal Saviour is privileged to possess these attributes. And those who would be workers together with God must strive for perfection of every organ of the body and quality of the mind.” COL:330; YI:260.
“The Saviour’s life of obedience maintained the claims of the Law; it proved that the Law could be kept in humanity, and showed the excellence of character that obedience would develop.” DA:309.
“The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.” DA:311.
“Jesus revealed no qualities, and exercised no powers, that men may not have through faith in Him. His perfect humanity is that which all His followers may possess, if they will be in subjection to God as He was.” DA:664.
“There can be no true conversion without the giving up of sin,” FW:25.
“When it is in the heart to obey God, when efforts are put forth to this end, Jesus accepts this disposition and effort as man’s best service, and He makes up for the deficiency with His Own Divine merit.” FW:50; 1SM:382; ST, June 16, 1890.
“To Jesus, Who emptied Himself for the salvation of lost humanity, the Holy Spirit was given without measure. So it will be given to every follower of Christ when the whole heart is surrendered for His indwelling. Our Lord Himself has given the Command, ‘Be filled with the Spirit.’ Ephesians 5:18.” MB:21.
“Would Christ tantalize us by requiring of us an impossibility? Never, never! What an honor He confers upon us in urging us to be holy in our sphere, as the Father is holy in His sphere! He can enable us to do this, for He declares, ‘All power is given unto Me in Heaven and in earth.’ This unlimited power it is our privilege to claim.” ST, September 3, 1902, par. 5.
“Enoch and Elijah are the correct representatives of what the race might be through faith in Jesus Christ if they chose to be. Satan was greatly disturbed because these noble, holy men stood untainted amid the moral pollution surrounding them, perfected righteous characters, and were accounted worthy for translation to Heaven.” RH, March 3, 1874.
“Through the measure of His grace furnished to the human agent, not one need miss Heaven. Perfection of character is attainable by every one who strives for it. This is made the very foundation of the New Covenant of the Gospel. The Law of Jehovah is the tree; the Gospel is the fragrant blossoms and fruit which it bears.” RH, April 5, 1898; 2SM:1:211-212; 2MCP:571.2.
“Repentance includes sorrow for sin, and a turning away from it. We shall not renounce sin unless we see its sinfulness; until we turn away from it in heart, there will be no real change in the life.” SC:23.
“This Sacrifice was offered for the purpose of restoring man to his original perfection; yea, more. It was offered to give him an entire transformation of character, making him more than a conqueror.” SD:242.
“God grants men a probation in this world, that their principles may become firmly established in the right, thus precluding the possibility of sin in the future life, and so assuring the happiness and security of all. Through the atonement of the Son of God alone could power be given to man to establish him in righteousness, and make him a fit subject for Heaven. . . That which alone can effectually restrain from sin in this world of darkness, will prevent sin in Heaven.” ST, December 30, 1889.
“If the truth sanctifies the soul, sin is hated and shunned, because Christ is accepted as an honored guest. But Christ cannot share a divided heart; sin and Jesus are never in co-partnership.” TM:160.
“Christ has not died for you that you may possess the passions, tastes, and habits of men of the world.” TM:441.
“If your heart is filled with love to Christ, it will be demonstrated that He is stronger than the passions which have ruled you, whose indulgence have undermined noble impulses, and left the soul to the mercy of Satan’s temptations.” YI:110.
“. . . remember that it is one thing to acknowledge the truth of the doctrines of the Bible, and it is another thing to let them control the practical life, and have the living, working principles of truth fashioning the thoughts and actions, that the soul may be pure as God is pure. For as God is perfect in His sphere, so man is to be perfect in his sphere.” YI:118.
“Every practice, every habit, that has a harmful tendency, however innocent it may be regarded by the world, must be battled with until overcome, that the human agent may perfect a character after the Divine pattern.” YI:173.
“A knowledge of Christ will avail nothing unless we become like Him in character, bearing the same likeness, and representing His spirit to the world. Christ is of no value to us unless He is formed within, the hope of glory.” YI:241.
“As the human agent contemplates the character of Christ, and abides in His love, the mind of Christ is transferred to him, and he bears the image of the Divine.” YI:282.
“Those who receive Christ are obedient to His Commands; for His mind is given to them.” YI:397.
“Before the Heavenly universe He showed that men can keep the Commandments of God, and perfect a Christian character.” YI:439.
“Each day, under different circumstances, He tries us; and in each truehearted endeavor He chooses His workers, not because they are perfect, but because they are willing to work unselfishly for Him, and He sees that through connection with Him they may gain perfection.” YI:516.
H) CHRISTIANS CAN CEASE TO SIN
The Bible is not saying that I have not sinned, but it does say that I have available to me the Power [Christ] not to sin any longer.
“Enoch walked with God: and he was not; for God took him.” Genesis 5:24.
“Thou hast tried me, and shalt find nothing; I am purposed that my mouth shall not transgress.” Psalm 17:3.
“I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide.” Psalm 26:1.
“The Law of his God is in his heart; none of his steps shall slide.” Psalm 37:31.
“He shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.” Psalm 55:22.
“That they may shoot in secret at the perfect:” Psalm 64:4.
[Note: One cannot shoot at a “perfect” person if there is none to “shoot” at].
“Blessed are they that keep judgment, and he that doeth righteousness at all times.” Psalm 106:3.
“So shall I keep Thy Law continually for ever and ever. And I will walk at liberty: for I seek Thy Precepts.” Psalm 119:44-45.
“I erred not from Thy Precepts” = Psalm 119:110.
“Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.” Romans 6:18.
“But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.” Romans 6:22.
“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.” Romans 8:14.
“But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.” First Corinthians 9:27.
“Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ,” Second Corinthians 2:14.
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;” Philippians 2:15.
“And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” First Thessalonians 5:23.
“By faith Enoch was translated. . . for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.” Hebrews 11:5.
“Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; That he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.” First Peter 4:1-2.
“. . . give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.” Second Peter 1:10.
“Whosoever abideth in Him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen Him, neither known Him.” First John 3:6.
“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.” First John 3:9.
“Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the Day of Judgment: because as He is, so are we in this world.” First John 4:17.
“We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.” First John 5:18.
“And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault before the throne of God.” Revelation 14:5.
I) CHRISTIANS CAN CEASE TO SIN (MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR)
“Jesus, considered as a man, was perfect, yet He grew in grace. ‘And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.’ Even the most perfect Christian may increase continually in the knowledge and love of God.” 1T:339-340.
“There is no safety nor repose nor justification in transgression of the Law. Man cannot hope to stand innocent before God, and at peace with Him through the merits of Christ, while he continues in sin. He must cease to transgress and become loyal and true.” 1SM:213.
“Abundant grace has been provided that the believing soul may be kept free from sin; for all Heaven, with its limitless resources, has been placed at our command.” 1SM:394.
“Perfection alone can meet the standard of Heaven. As God Himself is perfect in His exalted sphere, so should His children be perfect in the humble sphere they occupy. Thus only can they be fit for the companionship of sinless beings in the Kingdom of Heaven.” 2SP:225.
“Every living Christian will advance daily in the Divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality.” 2T:505; AG:291; ML:249; RH, May 19, 1885; RH, August 17, 1886.
“The Prophets and Apostles did not perfect Christian character by a miracle [meaning they did]. They used the means which God had placed within their reach, and all who will put forth a like effort will secure a like result.” 4SP:305.
“Therefore our sins of selfishness, of unamiable temper, of indolence, of wrong habits and practices, are to be positively and firmly put away. The one who breaks with Satan is to give no place to his temptations.” 7BC:941; 6MR:157.
“None need fail of attaining, in his sphere, to perfection of Christian character. By the sacrifice of Christ, provision has been made for the believer to receive all things that pertain to life and Godliness. God calls upon us to reach the standard of perfection and places before us the example of Christ’s character. In His humanity, perfected by a life of constant resistance of evil, the Saviour showed that through co-operation with Divinity, human beings may in this life attain to perfection of character.” AA:531.
“At every stage of development our life may be perfect; yet if God’s purpose for us is fulfilled, there will be continual advancement. Sanctification is the work of a lifetime. As our opportunities multiply, our experience will enlarge, and our knowledge increase. We shall become strong to bear responsibility, and our maturity will be in proportion to our privileges.” COL:65-66.
“When the character of Christ is perfectly reproduced in His people then He will Come to claim them as His Own.” COL:69.
“Jesus died to save His people from their sins, and redemption in Christ means to cease the transgression of the Law of God and to be free from every sin.” FW: 95.
“[311] God’s ideal for His children is higher than the highest human thought can reach. ‘Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.’ This Command is a promise. The plan of redemption contemplates our complete recovery from the power of Satan. Christ always separates the contrite soul from sin. He came to destroy the works of the devil, and He has make provision that the Holy Spirit shall be imparted to every repentant soul, to keep him from sinning. . .
“He took our nature and overcame, that we through taking His [312] nature might overcome. Made ‘in the likeness of sinful flesh’ He lived a sinless life. Now by His Divinity He lays hold upon the throne of Heaven, while by His humanity He reaches us. He bids us by faith in Him attain to the glory of the character of God. Therefore are we to be perfect, even as our ‘Father which is in Heaven is perfect.’ ” DA:311-312.
“Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s Commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” GC88:622.4.
“The Saviour took upon Himself the infirmities of humanity and lived a sinless life, that men might have no fear that because of the weakness of human nature they could not overcome. Christ came to make us ‘partakers of the Divine nature,’ and His life declares that humanity, combined with Divinity, does not commit sin.” MH:180.
“Sanctification is a state of holiness, without and within, being holy and without reserve the Lord’s, not in form, but in truth. Every impurity of thought, every lustful passion, separates the soul from God; for Christ can never put His robe of righteousness upon a sinner, to hide his deformity.” OHC:214.
“Are we seeking His fullness, ever pressing toward the mark set before us -- the perfection of His character? When the Lord’s people reach this mark, they will be sealed in their foreheads. Filled with the Spirit, they will be complete in Christ, and the recording angel will declare, ‘It is finished.’ ” OHC:150.
“We are anxious that they should rightly estimate the important truths for these last days, and have correct views in reference to the characters they must develop in order to obtain the redemption promised the faithful and perfect [Please don’t say these are two different classes referred to here; you know better].” RH. March 29, 1870.
“It is perfection that is required; and nothing short of perfection will enable you to see the King in His beauty.” RH, April 12th, 1870.
“. . .we have fixed our minds upon the exceeding great and precious reward; and, in order to obtain it, we must have a perfect character. The angels of God are watching the development of character. Angels of God are weighing moral worth; and we are to obtain a fitness here to join the society of sinless angels. Do you expect that when Christ Comes He will give you that fitness? Not at all. You must be found of Him without spot, without blemish, or wrinkle, or anything like it.” RH, April 19, 1870.
“Both you and ourselves fully believe that holiness of life is necessary to fit us for the inheritance of saints in light.” RH, June 6, 1878.
“He [Christ] came to this world and lived a sinless life, that in His power His people might also live lives of sinlessness. He desires them by practicing the principles of truth to show to the world that God’s grace has power to sanctify the heart.” RH, April 1, 1902.
“He who has not sufficient faith in Christ to believe that He can keep him from sinning, has not the faith that will give him an entrance into the Kingdom of God.” RH, March 10, 1904; 3SM:360.
“Satan could find nothing in the Son of God that would enable him to gain the victory. He had kept His Father’s Commandments, and there was no sin in Him that Satan could use to his advantage. This is the condition in which those must be found who shall stand in the time of trouble.” RH, March 14, 1912; GC88:622; GC:623; LDE:267; TMK:354.
“Now, while we point the sinner to Jesus Christ as the one who can take away sin, we must explain to him what sin is, and show him the necessity of being saved from his sins, not in them. He must be made to feel that he must cease to transgress the Law of God, which is to cease to sin. . . The Law of God given from Sinai is a copy of the Mind and Will of the Infinite God. It is sacredly revered by the holy angels. Obedience to Its requirements will perfect Christian character, and restore man, through Christ, to his condition before the fall.” RH, September 27, 1881 par. 16.
“To every one who surrenders fully to God is given the privilege of living without sin, in obedience to the Law of Heaven.” RH, September 27, 1906.
“Those who are living upon the earth when the intercession of Christ shall cease in the Sanctuary above, are to stand in the sight of a Holy God without a Mediator. Their robes must be spotless [“without a Mediator”], their characters must be purified from sin by the blood of sprinkling. Through the grace of God and their own diligent effort, they must be conquerors in the battle with evil. While the Investigative Judgment is going forward in Heaven, while the sins of penitent believers are being removed from the Sanctuary, there is to be a special work of purification, of putting away of sin, among God’s people upon earth. . . When this work shall have been accomplished, the followers of Christ will be ready for His Appearing. . . Then the Church which our Lord at His Coming is to receive to Himself will be ‘a glorious Church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing.’ [Ephesians 5:27].” RH, January 17, 1907; GC88:425; GC:425; SW, January 24, 1905; SW, January 15, 1907.
“The condition of eternal life is now just what it always has been, just what it was in Paradise before the fall of our first parents, perfect obedience to the Law of God, perfect righteousness. If eternal life were granted on any condition short of this, then the happiness of the whole universe would be imperiled. The way would be open for sin, with all its train of woe and misery, to be immortalized.” SC:62.
“Every soul must be saved by his own righteousness.” ST, September 2, 1889.
“The Lord can accept of nothing short of perfection of character, wholeness to God. Any half-hearted service will testify before the Heavenly intelligences that you have failed to copy the Pattern.” YI, October 13, 1892; SD:138.
“It is not necessary that we should stumble and fall; every point in the passage where we must go has been guarded.” YI, May 18, 1893.
“We are to cease to sin, and to become holy in all manner of conversation.” YI, August 17, 1893.
“Christ is our personal Saviour; and if we are His disciples, our wrong-doing will cease, unrighteousness will come to an end.” YI, December 8, 1898.
“If you will stand under the blood-stained banner of Prince Emmanuel, faithfully doing His service, you need never yield to temptation; for One stands by your side Who is able to keep you from falling.” YI, August 3, 1899; TMK:200; OHC:19.
“All sensual, carnal pleasures should be abandoned, and Satan find nothing in us to assail. . . It would not have been inspired of God and written in His Holy Word if it had been impossible for us to reach these high attainments.” YI, November 10, 1886, par. 1 (p. 85).
“By His suffering and resistance He made plain to man that perfection of character can be obtained and maintained by humanity.” YI, December 28, 1899.
“He [Christ] overcame in human nature, relying upon God for power. This is the privilege of all.” YI April 25, 1901; 5BC:1108.
“As you move forward step by step, adding to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, God will be with you, and you will never fall.” YI, January 1, 1903.
“Those who expect one day to stand before the throne of the God of gods and Lord of kings, should live each day in such a way that the approval of God can rest upon them. They should seek daily to remove the blemishes in character that lead to sin, and bring into their lives the perfection of character that all must reveal who have a part in the kingdom of Heaven.” YI, October 29, 1907.
J) UNDERSTANDING PERFECTION (MY FAVORITE BIBLE COMMENTATOR)
“Every Christian will advance daily in the Divine life. As he advances toward perfection, he experiences a conversion to God every day; and this conversion is not completed until he attains to perfection of Christian character, a full preparation for the finishing touch of immortality.” 2T:505.
“Man may grow up into Christ, his Living Head. It is not the work of a moment, but that of a lifetime. By growing daily in the Divine life, he will not attain to the full stature of a perfect man in Christ until his probation ceases. The growing is a continuous work.” 4T:367-368.
“We are to live a pure, perfect life for Christ's sake. We are to love perfection because Jesus is the embodiment of perfection, the great center of attraction.” ST, July 10, 1893, par. 3.
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