By Alfio La Spina and William Goff
April 24, 2022
These are a few paragraphs taken from a CGI article by Mike James on Perfection. He says we can not be perfect in the flesh however scripture says otherwise.
Beginning of quote:
“As we can see, there have been Christians who think perfectionism is achievable. But this is not a belief held by the Church of God movement. There are several scriptures we need to unpack to address this question. Let’s start with the one that was used first in a discussion I had with someone who thinks perfection might be possible. The scripture is Matthew 5:48. The scripture states, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” At first glance, it would seem the scripture is saying we should be perfect like God, but, as we have said many times, context is everything. What do the preceding verses say that can help us understand verse 48.
Well, the preceding verses tell us the meaning for verse 48 can be found beginning in verse 43. Here we read that the context of verses 43–48 is contrasting how mankind deals with their enemies and how God’s love would have us deal with them. Christ had love even for those who killed Him so we should try to emulate that perfect character of Christ. It’s important to note the verse does not even say we can achieve the perfection of the Father in this way, but we should be trying to.
One source I read on this scripture noted that there is no mention of a time element regarding when this perfection can be achieved. Because of this lack of mention of a time element, we can’t claim the verse is asserting the perfection can be attained in this life.
Matthew may be using the phrase about perfection here in a similar way to a scripture that was familiar to him (Deuteronomy 18:13). There are various translations of this scripture in Deuteronomy. Some say we must be blameless before our God while others say we shall be perfect. But the point is, these scriptures are not saying we can be perfect or blameless; they are asking us to try to attain to that goal. Another scripture Matthew would have been familiar with is Leviticus 19:2, where God tells Moses to tell Israel, “Be holy because I, the LORD your God, am holy.” Of course, God wants us to be holy—we should try to be—but even here there is no evidence God was expecting humans to achieve that goal.
Think about it. Are you equating yourself with the Father? Thinking you can achieve perfection in this life is equating yourself with the Father. To me, this is blasphemy. Remember, the Father has always been here. We are created beings and can never equate ourselves with the Creator. We will become much greater than we are in the flesh, but that only occurs when we are born again into the spiritual body that is our potential (1 Corinthians 15).
To me, by studying both scriptures in context, it becomes very clear God is not expecting or seeking perfection from us, but He wants us to try hard to be more in line with His character. Are we saying that we could have done what Christ did as a man? Christ was special because He was also God and became man to live the perfect life for us. To equate our character as achieving Christ’s character in this life is to diminish Christ and His sacrifice for us.
Look at the contrast made in 1 Corinthians 15:47–49. Flesh-and-blood mortals are in one category and Jesus Christ is in a different category. Only He could have achieved what He did as a human being. We cannot. We don’t get close to the nature of Christ (perfection) until we are born again.”
End of quote:
Mike James says that Jesus was different than us however clearly that is not what scripture says
Hebrews 2:17-18 (ESV) 17 Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Mike James says:
Beginning of quote:
“One source I read on this scripture noted that there is no mention of a time element regarding when this perfection can be achieved. Because of this lack of mention of a time element, we can’t claim the verse is asserting the perfection can be attained in this life.”
End quote:
Paul says different: 2 Timothy 4:6-8 (KJV) 6 For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. 7 I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: 8 Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Mike James says:
Beginning of quote:
“It is impossible for us to come to perfection and stop sinning”.
End of quote:
He says as long as we try to stop, we will make it into the kingdom of God. I have not been able to find where it says as long as we try to stop, we will make it. Scripture says absolutely the contrary. Satan told Eve if she ate of the fruit from the forbidden tree she would not die.
Mike James is saying the same thing, we will not die. The majority of the churches teach this false doctrine it is the easy way which leads to destruction. Brethren do not be deceived by this false teaching the scriptures provided here are clear we must stop sinning.”
Scripture says:
Romans 8:13-14 (ESV) 13 For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
Galatians 5:24-26 (ESV) 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
Galatians 6:8 (ESV) 8 For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life.
These verses clearly tell us that we must stop sinning.
1 John 3:6-10 (ESV) 6 No one who abides in him keeps on sinning; no one who keeps on sinning has either seen him or known him. 7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.
Ephesians 5:1-5 (ESV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. 2 And walk-in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.3 But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. 4 Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. 5 For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.
This is quoted from Perfect or in Part by Bill Goff in reference to Ephesians 5:1-5
Beginning of quote:
“(Notice what it doesn’t say? it doesn’t say “Hakuna Matata” No Worries, that there is a magic wand at the entrance gate of God’s Kingdom that will clean us up and change our sinful nature.) (Brethren, what it does say, is that sinners are not going to be there.) (We have been called to repent from our sinful ways; we have been called to repent from the ways of this world.)”
End quote:
Jesus told these two people to stop sinning. He does not tell us to do the impossible.
John 5:14 (ESV) 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”
John 8:10-11 (ESV) 10 Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
There is a multitude of scriptures that prove we need to stop sinning if we want to be in the Kingdom of God. Below is just a few more. Brethren I strongly encourage to search the scriptures for more.
1 Corinthians 6:9-11 (ESV) 9 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
Romans 8:8-11 (ESV) 8 Those who are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. 10 But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 If the Spirit of him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you.
Galatians 5:16-18 (ESV) 16 But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
Revelation 2:7 (KJV) 7 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the paradise of God.
Matthew 7:13-14 (ESV)
13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. 14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.
Another quote from Perfect or in Part by Bill Goff
“Brethren, the will of the Lord is for His church (us) to walk this earth uprightly, to be Holy & Pure, and to be holy & pure now. That’s been His will (His standard) for those called into His church from the get-go.
(We’re the Church, brethren, His Golden Candlesticks, and we have been instructed to let our light shine before men!)
Ephesians 5:27 tells us that He is going to present to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle, or any such thing, but a church that is holy and without blemish. And (as we all know) He’s building & perfecting His church now. Better Put: He is Building & Perfecting His Temple now, His Spiritual Temple. He hasn’t erected it yet, but it’s going to go up fast, as soon as the rest of the Stones (us) complete the purification process.
Let’s go there for a moment, and see that (1st Kings 6:7 please.) (hold your finger in Revelation 1, we’re coming back.) God instructed every detail concerning the building of Solomon’s Temple, and every detail has spiritual significance. All the stones that the temple was made of were first perfectly cut and shaped down at the rock quarry.
Then, after the stones were completed (or made ready) they were brought over to the “other side”, and placed into the spot where each stone was specifically prepared for, and they fit perfectly (No need for any “Magic Wand” And no need for any mortar, because the STONES were prepared quite precisely.
(Just like we read in Revelation 19:7 where it says, the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife (His church) hath made herself ready.)
For anyone to believe that the members of God’s Church (the Body of Christ) are not being perfected now (or cannot be perfected now) is absurd to say the least. (It’s the spirit of Antichrist.) and needs to be rejected. We have no time for foolishness; we need to be about our Fathers business, and making ourselves ready.
The standards required in the building of the physical Temple, reflect the same standards required in the building of the Spiritual Temple as well.)
1 Kings 6:7 7 “And the house (God’s house – His temple) when it was in building, was built of stone (that’s us) made ready (complete & perfect – whole) before it was brought thither. (Thither means “the other side”) (That means perfection came before it was brought to “the other side”) before one enters the Kingdom of God.
The process of preparing the stones has been taking place for a long time now. (Fact is, it’s almost complete.) (Some stones [and for some time now] have already completed the process, and their currently asleep and awaiting the resurrection. (Bible terminology would say: “They are in the barn.”)
The remaining Stones (This is where we all might want to take note, because its talking about us here) the remaining stones are also asleep at this time, but with a pulse, we know a lot about them, there divided SPLIT RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE half of them are wise, and half of them are foolish.
(Don’t be deceived by men into thinking that the church of the Almighty God is divided into hundreds of different splinter groups, because in God’s eyes there are only two groups out there, the Wise & the Foolish.)
The wise are keeping the Word of His patience, and have been promised to be kept from the hour of temptation that is coming upon the whole world. The foolish are wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and spiritually naked, and in desperate need of anointing their eyes with eye salve, so they can see and open the door, because Christ is standing on the outside, and knocking, wanting to come in.”
End of Quote:
We come into this world with sinful natures, but God is in the process of changing our natures. He is building His “Holy Righteous Character” in us. And don’t let any false prophet persuade you that it is impossible to achieve while still in the flesh, because we have been given the Power to accomplish it now, while still flesh and blood humans.
Oh, of and by ourselves it is impossible, but we are not by ourselves, with the Holy Spirit of the Father residing in us, we have the Power it takes to accomplish it, to overcome the evil sinful ways of this world and to walk upright just like our Lord and Savior walked.
Remember, of and by Himself our Lord said He could do nothing. He accomplished to overcome by the Power of His Father. And yes, Scripture says He was given the Spirit without measure, but Scripture also says that if we want more of His Spirit, all we have to do is ask.
For those in God’s church, who have been given His Powerful Holy Spirit, and strive for “perfection” (full growth in mental and moral character) For those who strive to be Holy (pure, morally blameless) they will succeed to overcome, just like our Lord succeeded to overcome, because they have the same Power of the Father’s Spirit to accomplish it. And there will be great reward waiting for them in the soon coming Kingdom. (Revelation 3:21)
This is a link to Perfect or in Part by William P Goff http://vwcog.org/Documents/Perfect_Or_In_Part.pdf
This is a link to Be Ye Perfect by Mike James https://static1.squarespace.com/static/50438d1dc4aa994481346f77/t/61a6949c0ccdb40ea73230ce/1638306973734/IN+Vol+42+No+4+website+edition.pdf