Chapter 19: Myth—Sexuality Doesn’t Matter

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Jesus said, “Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your

Father in Heaven is perfect.” Matthew 5:48

Jesus said to him, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in

Heaven; and come, follow me.” Matthew 19:21

Jesus said, “I in them, and You in me [Jesus]; that they may be made perfect in One, and that the world may know that You have sent me [Jesus], and have loved them as You have

loved me [Jesus].” John 17:23

Paul taught, “[Jesus] we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present

every man perfect [to God] in Christ Jesus.” Col. 1:28

Therefore, Paul made it clear that our flesh will control us at various times, but that we are still — to constantly exert control over the flesh [sin]

by walking in the Spirit. Paul knew that perfection in terms of 100% control over all our sin, outside of Christ, was not possible. All who seek perfection before God will only find it in obedience to God’s Word, as they walk in the Spirit, and not by their flesh. Obedience is what it means to be “in Christ.”

Paul’s teaching on this subject is consistent with God’s instructions to Cain to “rule over sin.” God did not expect Cain to be free of sin. He expected Cain to exert control and to rule over the sin that sought to master him.

God’s Spirit right now is telling me that the doctrine of our human “perfection” is a vile teaching in some parts of the Church. It is vile for the very reason that it misrepresents the gift that God gave us in His Son. If you think that, after accepting Christ, you will never sin again — you are very

delusional and do not understand Scripture. The doctrine that sin no longer matters is an even more vile teaching in some parts of the Church. If you think that continued “willful sinning” or a lifestyle of licentiousness is sanctioned, after accepting Christ, you are also very delusional. God expects

us to try with all of our heart and He understands that we’ll drop the ball on occasion. Ergo, “Every man [presented] perfect [to God] in Christ Jesus.”