Can A Person Reach Sinless Perfection In This Life?

Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, 

and will fight against them with the sword 

of My mouth. He that hath and ear let him 

hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches;

 to him that overcometh will I give him a

 white stone a new name written, which

 no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:16-17 

     "Repent" is an imperative, that it, it is a command, and it is in second Aorist, therefore if you have not repented do it now and begin living as an overcomer. I met a young woman who attends the Bethel Church here in Redding and she told me that I could reach perfection in this life. Is this true? As I have pointed out in this study in regards to the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicolaitans who were and are false doctrines many today have also become enslaved to false doctrines. Satan and his hordes of demons go about to not win over sinners, he already has them in his fold, but to Christians and to do this he uses men to deceive and one deception is the heresy of sinlessness in the flesh. We need to establish the truth. To do this it would be wise to use the Bible. 

     Anyone, any sane person, knows that life has its ups and downs, and life has its many tribulations and trials. Furthermore, if one is honest, even after converting to Jesus Christ, that is becoming an Authentic Christian life is still a war, a war in nature or in grace. Why else would Jesus speak of you and me commanding us to become an overcomer? In Ephesians 2:1 we have this: "And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses ans sins." Notice the bold type (may addition, but in your Bible you will notice that those words are in italics) as they are not in the Bible. Here is the literal translation of that verse: "and you being dead in offences and sins" (Ephesians 2:1). I do this to clarify that to use this to teach sinless perfection in this life is to misuse this Scripture. Now John does give us this: "It is the Spirit that quickeneth, the flesh profitethnothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they life" (John 6:63). Here the Greek word translated "quickeneth" is present. So what have learned so far, first, take time to read and study Scripture and understand that in some cases for proper translation into English a word must be added for clarification, but in this case a whole phrase was added that does not teach clearly that the Spirit does "Quickeneth" and this we find in John. What does it mean to "quickeneth?" To be "quickened" is to be made alive, to have vigor, to be stimulated, to have indications of life, and this rapidly, to be revived. What is being taught in the Bible is that a person who believes in Jesus Christ becomes spiritually alive. This is necessary for before this "quickening" a person is dead spiritually. The old flesh with all its desires and corruption of the soul still exists and the inner spiritual life that is in Jesus Christ has become alive, united to the life of Jesus Christ. John made this clear that the flesh "profited nothing" and you, until you die, are flesh, carnal, it is not spiritual. Paul reminds of this fact: "For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would" (Galatians 5:17). The fleshly nature your received from Adam and the Spiritual nature you received from Jesus Christ. These two natures are at war with one another. In the book of Romans Paul teaches: "For I delight in the law of God after the inward man: But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin" (Romans 7:22-23). 

     Health is the balance between physical life and external nature, and it is maintained only sufficient vitality on the inside against things on the outside. Everything outside my body is attempting to put me to death. Those things that attempting me to put me to death are the things that will disintegrate me when I am dead. Now, if I, you, have enough fighting power, I produce the balance of health. What is true of the physical body is true of the mental life, we have to fight, and fighting mental balance of thought is produced. 

      Morally it is the same. everything that does not partake of the nature of virtue is the enemy of virtue in you and me, and this all depends on what is our moral calibre for it by that calibre whether or not you overcome and produce virtue. If you fight this attempt to keep you from being an overcomer you will be in and are moral in that particular. You are not virtuous because he cannot help it: virtue is acquired. 

     This is true of spiritually as well: Jesus said: "In the world ye shall have tribulation" (John 16:33). Think on this: every that is not spiritual makes for your undoing, but we are to be of good cheer: (John 16:33b). You have to fight this fight of Authentic Christian Faith but you do not have to do it all by yourself for you have the Holy Spirit dwelling in you and that the Holy Spirit is God, then you have the power of God in you to draw upon so that you will be able to produce a balance of holiness. Holiness is he balance between your disposition and the low of God as expressed in Jesus Christ. No, you will not be able to live in sinless perfection in this life, but you can live in sinless perfection spiritually. This is what you are in Jesus Christ, and if you fail in some way you have Jesus Christ who died for you to make intercesssion for you when you truly repent. You do not have to be a hypocrite if you will just take your Bible and study it, get a Strong's Concordance, read what men have written and are using the truth of the Bible for their thoughts to aid you. Everything you need to know and to fight and to be an overcomer is in the Bible. Sinless perfection in this life is of Satan, sinless perfection spiritually is in Jesus Christ. You must choose what side you will fight with, Satan, or Jesus Christ.

A prudent man forseeth the evil,

     and hideth himself; but the

simple pass on, and are punished.

           Proverbs 27:12

Choose the side you want to be on wisely

Richard L. Crumb

Why Does God Hate The Nicolaitans? Are They Present Today?

So hast thou also them that hold the 

doctrine of the Nicolatanes, which thing I hate.

 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, 

and will fight against them with the sword 

of my mouth. 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 hidden manna, and will give him a 

white stone a new name written, which no 

man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:15-17

     Our study of the doctrine of Balaam answers the question about that doctrine and why God hates this doctrine and teaches us that we are not to be as Balaam. Balaam attempted to use God for his profit. Balaam would not take God's command and tried to get God to give him permission to curse Israel for if he did curse Israel Balaam would receive more than profit, he would receive acclamation giving him more power. We see men today who are profiting by using God to gain that profit. Men such as Joel Osteen, T.D. Jake, Benny Hinn, Bill Johnson, and many more are living a rich and bountiful life. This life of those who are using God are speaking out both sides of their mouth as did Balaam: We need to aid the poor, they say, and have incomes of millions and live in luxurious homes. It is not wrong to be paid or to live in nice homes, but millions of dollars, huge mansions, cars, planes, and to say that they have a heart for the needy? Really? When we hear a quack, quack, we generally will say that it is a duck, when it walks like a duck, we will say that it is a duck. Men and women are being deceived by those men and the true gospel is not being preached. 

     Now we come to another group of heretics: the Nicolatans. Who are they and why does God pronounce His hatred towards them? I have addressed this before but now to readdress this so that we can understand why John was given in this vision by Jesus Christ. John mentions them and shows God's hatred for them and a warning for us to heed.

     Nicolaitans is a Greek word that is a proper noun combined of three Greek words, Nikos, Laos, and Ton. This world cannot be translated into English but it can be transfered. Here is what is meant: Nikos defined means "a conquest, victory, triumph, the conquered and by implication, those who are dominate over the defeated. Laos means people, when Nikos is added to Laos then the meaning is the one who is victorious over people. Ton is a contracted word into a long "a," thus making the word Tan that is genitive, plural in all the genders of the definite article 'the.' This then is the legal Greek construction which becomes Nicholaitans in Revelation.  

     How does this apply to the Church? Who are the ones that are ruling over the Church, and are victorious over the Church and have gained a victory or conquest over the people of the Church? Who are holding dominion over the Church and are compelling the people to submit to arbitrary doctrines, those doctrines that God hates? Nicolaitans carries the meaning for the bishops, the prelates of the Church, those who are demanding that their doctrines are to be followed or they would lose their entry into the kingdom of God. Oh, they do not necessarily say those exact words, but they teach and preach a gospel that is another gospel teaching them to do things to prove that they are Christian, and to gain profit from those who will follow their teaching. There are so many arbitrary doctrines that the denominations hold fast to as the only truth. They force the people to adhere to them. Peter wrote: "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, but being examples to the flock" (1Peter 5:1 - 3).
     Let us observe that Jesus Christ, in all seven letters to the seven Churches speaks of nothing but matters of doctrine, practice, warning and promise. As we look at these seven letters to the seven Churches nothing is to be found from Jesus Christ whereby He dwells upon Church government, or ceremonies. Jesus says nothing about sacraments, or ordinances. Jesus does not mention liturgies or forms. Jesus does not instruct John to write one word about baptism, or the Lord's supper, or the apostolical succession of ministers. Those leading principles called the sacramental system are not forward to any one of the seven Churches, and are not to be found in those seven letters. 
     Unfortunately there are those who do forward those systems and would have us believe these things are of first, cardinal, or paramount importance. Yes, a Church needs to have and to see the importance in sacraments and a Church needs to be well administered, and this means to have an evangelical ministry for if it does then it is more complete and useful Church than in one where those things are not to be found. All are nothing compared to faith, repentance, and holiness. We are not to be content with outward appearances, some outward part of religion. 
    Those Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation were men who attempted to be superior to the laity, to even other clergy, and wanted to have exclusive power over them, to confer orders. So then, the definition and transfer of the Greek tells us that there were men who were practicing carnal and fleshly iniquity by creating a superior class of leaders. This in opposition to the fact that all in the Church, no matter whether they be leaders or not are to constitute a holy brotherhood. They are not to make inferior the brethren. 
    It is no wonder that God hates the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans as they oppose God, misuse God, and misled people. Those who are misled have a gospel that is not a gospel and are under the delusion that they have the truth due to the fact that they are under the spell of a Nicolaitan, then, and now.

He that planted the ear, 
    shall He not hear? He that
formed the eye, shall He not see?
    He that chastiseth the heathen,
shall not He correct? He that teacheth
    man knowledge, shall not He know?
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man,
    that they are vanity.
                   Psalm 94:9-11

Do not be fooled or misled: examine all things

Richard L. Crumb

Why Does God Hate The Nicolaitans? And Are They Still Present Today?

So hast thou also them that hold the 

doctrine of the Nicolatanes, which thing I hate.

 Repent; or else I will come unto thee quickly, 

and will fight against them with the sword 

of my mouth. 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 hidden manna, and will give him a 

white stone a new name written, which no 

man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.

Revelation 2:15-17

     Our study of the doctrine of Balaam answers the question about that doctrine and why God hates this doctrine and teaches us that we are not to be as Balaam. Balaam attempted to use God for his profit. Balaam would not take God's command and tried to get God to give him permission to curse Israel for if he did curse Israel Balaam would receive more than profit, he would receive acclamation giving him more power. We see men today who are profiting by using God to gain that profit. Men such as Joel Osteen, T.D. Jake, Benny Hinn, Bill Johnson, and many more are living a rich and bountiful life. This life of those who are using God are speaking out both sides of their mouth as did Balaam: We need to aid the poor, they say, and have incomes of millions and live in luxurious homes. It is not wrong to be paid or to live in nice homes, but millions of dollars, huge mansions, cars, planes, and to say that they have a heart for the needy? Really? When we hear a quack, quack, we generally will say that it is a duck, when it walks like a duck, we will say that it is a duck. Men and women are being deceived by those men and the true gospel is not being preached. 

     Now we come to another group of heretics: the Nicolatans. Who are they and why does God pronounce His hatred towards them? I have addressed this before but now to readdress this so that we can understand why John was given in this vision by Jesus Christ. John mentions them and shows God's hatred for them and a warning for us to heed.

     Nicolaitans is a Greek word that is a proper noun combined of three Greek words, Nikos, Laos, and Ton. This world cannot be translated into English but it can be transfered. Here is what is meant: Nikos defined means "a conquest, victory, triumph, the conquered and by implication, those who are dominate over the defeated. Laos means people, when Nikos is added to Laos then the meaning is the one who is victorious over people. Ton is a contracted word into a long "a," thus making the word Tan that is genitive, plural in all the genders of the definite article 'the.' This then is the legal Greek construction which becomes Nicholaitans in Revelation.  

     How does this apply to the Church? Who are the ones that are ruling over the Church, and are victorious over the Church and have gained a victory or conquest over the people of the Church? Who are holding dominion over the Church and are compelling the people to submit to arbitrary doctrines, those doctrines that God hates? Nicolaitans carries the meaning for the bishops, the prelates of the Church, those who are demanding that their doctrines are to be followed or they would lose their entry into the kingdom of God. Oh, they do not necessarily say those exact words, but they teach and preach a gospel that is another gospel teaching them to do things to prove that they are Christian, and to gain profit from those who will follow their teaching. There are so many arbitrary doctrines that the denominations hold fast to as the only truth. They force the people to adhere to them. Peter wrote: "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:  Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; NOR AS BEING LORDS OVER THOSE ENTRUSTED TO YOU, but being examples to the flock" (1Peter 5:1 - 3).
     Let us observe that Jesus Christ, in all seven letters to the seven Churches speaks of nothing but matters of doctrine, practice, warning and promise. As we look at these seven letters to the seven Churches nothing is to be found from Jesus Christ whereby He dwells upon Church government, or ceremonies. Jesus says nothing about sacraments, or ordinances. Jesus does not mention liturgies or forms. Jesus does not instruct John to write one word about baptism, or the Lord's supper, or the apostolical succession of ministers. Those leading principles called the sacramental system are not forward to any one of the seven Churches, and are not to be found in those seven letters. 
     Unfortunately there are those who do forward those systems and would have us believe these things are of first, cardinal, or paramount importance. Yes, a Church needs to have and to see the importance in sacraments and a Church needs to be well administered, and this means to have an evangelical ministry for if it does then it is more complete and useful Church than in one where those things are not to be found. All are nothing compared to faith, repentance, and holiness. We are not to be content with outward appearances, some outward part of religion. 
    Those Nicolaitans mentioned in Revelation were men who attempted to be superior to the laity, to even other clergy, and wanted to have exclusive power over them, to confer orders. So then, the definition and transfer of the Greek tells us that there were men who were practicing carnal and fleshly iniquity by creating a superior class of leaders. This in opposition to the fact that all in the Church, no matter whether they be leaders or not are to constitute a holy brotherhood. They are not to make inferior the brethren. 
    It is no wonder that God hates the doctrine of Balaam and the Nicolaitans as they oppose God, misuse God, and misled people. Those who are misled have a gospel that is not a gospel and are under the delusion that they have the truth due to the fact that they are under the spell of a Nicolaitan, then, and now.

He that planted the ear, 
    shall He not hear? He that
formed the eye, shall He not see?
    He that chastiseth the heathen,
shall not He correct? He that teacheth
    man knowledge, shall not He know?
The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man,
    that they are vanity.
                   Psalm 94:9-11

Do not be fooled or misled: examine all things

Richard L. Crumb