Can we be perfect in this world? Is the cliché, “I’m not perfect”, an excuse to continue to live by our flesh and the carnal mind? Are Christians just sinners being saved by grace?
In this study we will take a look at what the scripture says about perfection and sanctification in Christ.
Hebrews 10:11-14
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected (5048 to complete) forever those who are being sanctified.”
This scripture tells us that the sacrifice of Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. The question then would be; are we being sanctified?
Sanctified: 1. made holy; consecrated
Sanctify: 1. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. 2. to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.
Those who are in Christ are being made holy, consecrated, and purified by the washing of water by the word, the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This is an ongoing process but it does have an end for those who have been chosen by God; the bride of Christ will be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, BEFORE the return of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (4487 Rhema, an utterance), that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
John 17:17
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
In this scripture we learn that we are sanctified by the truth, and truth cleanses us from falsehood. Not only does the written word sanctify us when we are given revelation of the scripture by the Holy Spirit, but the spoken Word of God also sanctifies us.
1st Corinthians 6:9-11
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
This scripture tells us plainly that if we continue in sin that we will NOT inherit the kingdom of God! Paul reminded the Corinthian saints about this truth and let them know that they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of God.
1st John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Titus 2:13-14
“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Colossians 1:19-29
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless (299 unblemished, faultless), and above reproach (an expression of rebuke or disapproval) in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect (5046 complete, full grown) in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."
The Lord is not returning for a people who commit sin and are full of iniquity in the inner man. But He wants a chaste virgin, a bride who has been made ready for the Bridegroom, purified, sanctified, washed, holy, unspotted, unreprovable, above reproach, and unblemished in His sight.
In His Service,
Tyrone
In this study we will take a look at what the scripture says about perfection and sanctification in Christ.
Hebrews 10:11-14
“And every priest stands ministering daily and offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But this Man, after He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever, sat down at the right hand of God, from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool. For by one offering He has perfected (5048 to complete) forever those who are being sanctified.”
This scripture tells us that the sacrifice of Jesus has perfected forever those who are being sanctified. The question then would be; are we being sanctified?
Sanctified: 1. made holy; consecrated
Sanctify: 1. to make holy; set apart as sacred; consecrate. 2. to purify or free from sin: Sanctify your hearts.
Those who are in Christ are being made holy, consecrated, and purified by the washing of water by the word, the blood of Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. This is an ongoing process but it does have an end for those who have been chosen by God; the bride of Christ will be without spot, wrinkle, or blemish, BEFORE the return of Christ.
Ephesians 5:25-27
“Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word (4487 Rhema, an utterance), that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.”
John 17:17
“Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”
In this scripture we learn that we are sanctified by the truth, and truth cleanses us from falsehood. Not only does the written word sanctify us when we are given revelation of the scripture by the Holy Spirit, but the spoken Word of God also sanctifies us.
1st Corinthians 6:9-11
“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”
This scripture tells us plainly that if we continue in sin that we will NOT inherit the kingdom of God! Paul reminded the Corinthian saints about this truth and let them know that they had been washed, sanctified, and justified in the name of Jesus and by the Spirit of God.
1st John 1:7
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Titus 2:13-14
“looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.”
Colossians 1:19-29
"For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell, and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross. And you, who once were alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy, and blameless (299 unblemished, faultless), and above reproach (an expression of rebuke or disapproval) in His sight—if indeed you continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast, and are not moved away from the hope of the gospel which you heard, which was preached to every creature under heaven, of which I, Paul, became a minister.
I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect (5046 complete, full grown) in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily."
The Lord is not returning for a people who commit sin and are full of iniquity in the inner man. But He wants a chaste virgin, a bride who has been made ready for the Bridegroom, purified, sanctified, washed, holy, unspotted, unreprovable, above reproach, and unblemished in His sight.
In His Service,
Tyrone
