THE POSSIBILITY OF PERFECTION

PASTOR OLUWASEYI OSANYINBI

ROMANS 8

No matter our levels in following God, we still have challenges. However, it is stated unequivocally in Scriptures that we should be perfect like our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:48; I Peter 1:16). In the face of this apparent contrariety, what is the way out? The Book of Romans was penned down to resolve these fundamental issues. We are saved and justified by faith; nevertheless, we have a law working in our members to contradict the law of God (Romans 7:24). If we are frustrated enough and cry out to God, then we are ready to be delivered. As far as we are coping with our unpleasant situations, we are not ready for solution. We must learn how to use our frustrations to our advantage by turning to God for breakthrough. When Paul got tired of his subjection to the body of sin, he cried out unto God and he found a way out.

In order to make man perfect in the Old Testament; God instituted a system of sacrifices. It was so pathetic that the Israelites got carried away with the sacrifices without paying attention to what really mattered. In the New Testament, Jesus had to die to bring men on the same page with God. By virtue of Jesus’ sacrifice, man can lay claim to perfection. However, God is very pleased when a man is ready to obey Him. Grace has been popularly misconstrued to be unmerited favour. However, Scriptures reveal that grace is merited by humility (James 4:6). God only gives grace to the humble. It takes the humble to obtain mercy. Grace can only come on the platform of mercy.

ROMANS 8:10-12

When a man has Christ in Him, his spirit becomes life because of righteousness though the body is dead because of sin. There is a higher dimension: If the Spirit of Him that raised Jesus Christ from the dead dwells in the body which is destined to die, it will be quickened. Immortality is guaranteed by the Quickening Spirit. We are expected to interact with the Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus which supersedes the Law of Sin and Death.

ROMANS 7:1-6; 8:4

We were once married to sin which kept impregnating us and we kept producing children of sin. We all have wombs, that is, our minds. Evil thoughts are like seeds that the Devil plants in our minds. Those thoughts germinate when we brood on them, thereby producing death ultimately. Jesus came to the earth and took on sin. He was bait for sin. In fact, He became sin. When He died, sin died. Jesus of Nazareth died with sin in Him. Thankfully, the one that resurrected was not Jesus of Nazareth. It was the Christ that resurrected. Christ is the Quickening Spirit. Through Christ, we can walk perfect before the Father. Through Him, we levitate above sin. Through Him, we are free from the Law of Sin and Death. Through Him, sin loses dominion over us.