Perfection is not possible!

 

Spencer Woolley Kimball (March 28, 1895 – November 5, 1985) was an American businessman, civic and religious leader, and was the twelfth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). He said, "Being perfect means to triumph over sin. This is a mandate from the Lord. He is just and wise and kind. He would never require anything from his children which was not for their benefit and which was not attainable. Perfection therefore is an achievable goal." Can we really triumph over sin – if that means being perfect?

The Mormon is taught that he must triumph over sin and that he is saved by grace ‘only’ after he has done all he can and he must be perfect. It appears to me forgiveness of sins in the LDS church is dependent upon the persistent and necessary effort of the Mormon to keep the Laws of God. Some Elders in LDS would dispute this, but even if some LDS Elders do dispute it I can see how it would easily be construed by some members of LDS that perfection is essential. I believe our forgiveness depends on what Christ did on the cross and the Grace of God.

I sincerely sympathize with the Mormon who is seeking to please God, honor Him, and bring glory to Him by trying to obey all His commandments. Can anyone say that he has done all he can do and has triumphed over sin and is perfect? I do not think so! I do not think God would put such a burden on anyone.

The Bible teaches us that if you want to be made right before God based on your efforts, then you better not make any mistakes. "For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all," (James 2:10).  Does the Gospel of the Bible teach that forgiveness of sins is based upon our obedience to the Law's and Ordinances of any church and that we are to be perfect? I don’t think so. "For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law (Romans 3:28-30).”…therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,” (Romans 5:1). "…nevertheless knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, that we may be justified by faith in Christ, and not by the works of the Law; since by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified," (Galatians 2:16).

Justification is the legal declaration by God where God declares the sinner righteous in His sight.  Justification is by faith and not by keeping the Law in any way - not by doing all you can do, not by triumphing over sin, and not by being perfect. No one (except Jesus) can keep the whole Law, triumph over sin, and be perfect.  Christians can only trust in the righteousness of Jesus and receive Him by faith, (John 1:12). All we need to do is accept that Jesus alone is our only hope and that we must by faith accept His work on the cross for the complete forgiveness of our sins.

After we are then made right before God, we are changed in our hearts and then desire to do that which is right before God. God works in us to bring us more into the image of His Son Jesus.  We then are able to freely serve God, love Him, and keep His commandments out of appreciation and gratitude to God--not to please God so we can be saved. The good news is that Jesus has done all that needs to be done, and we can by faith trust in Him and be made righteous in His sight and do not have to achieve perfection – which is impossible.

Jesus doesn’t make up the difference. Jesus makes all the difference. Grace is not about filling gaps. It is about filling us. Jesus paid our debt in full. He didn’t pay it all except for a few sins. He paid it all! It is finished. Christ asks us to show faith in Him, repent, make and keep covenants, receive the Holy Ghost, and endure to the end. By complying, we are not paying the demands of justice—not even the smallest part. Instead, we are showing appreciation for what Jesus Christ did by using it to live a life like His. Christ’s Grace Is Sufficient to ‘Transform Us’.
Many Christians view Christ’s suffering as only a huge favor He did for us, but it is more than that it as a huge investment He made in us.  Grace isn’t just about being saved. It is also about becoming more like Him. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can live after we die, but that we can live more abundantly here and now. The miracle of the Atonement is not just that we can be cleansed and consoled, but that we can be transformed.

Too many Christians are giving up on the Church because they are tired of constantly feeling like they are falling short. They have tried in the past, but they always feel like they are just not good enough. They don’t understand grace. It is sad, but that some in the church are making many Christians feel this way with their judgmental attitudes toward many of today’s societal issues. Some in the church have laid so much guilt on some Christians they feel like, “I’ve blown it. There is no use in even trying anymore.”

There are not just two options perfection or giving up. God does not work that way. God only ask us to do our best and when we fall to get up and try again. In fact He will help us get up and start over if we will only ask Him. We do not even have to be worthy of a chance to try again we only need to be willing to accept the chance.

Remember - the grace of Christ is sufficient—sufficient to cover our debt, sufficient to transform us, and sufficient to help us as long as that transformation process takes. We must also remember Grace is not the absence of God’s high expectations of us, but is the presence of God’s power to forgive us even when we cannot reach those expectations.

 **I received a comment and I want to make sure that no one thinks I am trying to say that we should not strive to be obedient to God. In regards to the comment I do not believe that you must be baptized in order to go to heaven. I just cannot accept that aborted babies and unbaptized infants do not go to heaven. I know what the Bible says regarding baptism, but I also believe that you have to read the Bible keeping in mind the character of God. I certainly did not intend to imply that you can do anything you want and Grace will save you. I do not think Grace is a license to sin. There are consequences to choices. **