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By The Church of Christ.com White 3-16-03

Sounds like an easy job to me. In fact that is me. I am excellent at sinning. If I was a student at a school that taught sinning I could miss every class and still be Valedictorian.

But how can you be "perfect" at sinning when sinning is actually the act of being imperfect? You can’t. But you can be the "perfect" sinner. But … not because of our sinning …but rather in spite of it.

I became interested in the "Perfect Sinner" when I read Matthew 5:48 when JESUS said, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

I found this scripture devastating. I felt like I had been duped. I mean because of my imperfection, I had always suspected that there was something more to this salvation thing. So I had been waiting for the other shoe to drop. AND … I felt like this was the other shoe. I mean there is no way I will ever be perfect. No way.

So what did JESUS mean? How can I obey this command from the LORD HIMSELF? "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Well the first part of the quest took me to Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,"

No Condemnation? None at all? What is the definition of Condemnation? Condemnation is - an expression of strong disapproval; pronouncing as wrong or morally culpable; the act of condemning or judging to be unfit.

ANDI have no condemnation placed on me "IF" I am in Christ Jesus. AND The church of CHRIST means the "body of CHRIST". OK now its starting to make perfect sense. JESUS is perfect SO if I become part of HIS perfect body …. Then I am perfect?! That’s it! That is what being a perfect sinner is all about.

If I am part of CHRIST’s body GOD only sees the perfect body of CHRIST so I am the perfect sinner. AND so are you. So are all of us. … that is all of us who are part of CHRIST’s perfect body.

OK … does the scriptures confirm that being part of CHRIST BODY makes us perfect? YES they do.

I Corinthians 13: 10 "but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears."

2^nd Corinthians 12 :9 "But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

Colossians 12: 8 "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ." That’s great! Lets read that again. "We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present "everyone" perfect in Christ."

Hebrews 10:14 "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." This one is the coup de gras and I really like it so I’m going to read it again. Hebrews 10:14 "because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy." We are made holy when we are part of CHRIST’s body.

Isn’t that great? We truly are perfect in GOD’s sight as long as we are a member of CHRIST’s BODY! AND if GOD sees us as perfect shouldn’t we try to see each other the way GOD does? You know … a little more patience mixed with a lot more acceptance of each other? Do we tarnish the perfect body when we display condemnation for each other? I think so but that’s another subject.

So …… how do I become a person who is in Christ JESUS?

This is basically the same question that was asked of Peter in ACTS

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