Is sinless perfection possible this side of heaven? I wish it was! I wish I could believe it. If it is, sadly my experience does not match. However, the Scripture says, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8). But there is sinless provision this side of heaven. The provision is two-fold.
First, the regenerated human spirit is a “new creature” which is described as “all…new” (2 Cor. 5:17). Obviously, the body and soul levels of man are not “all…new.” So this is speaking of the human spirit. This new creation is “the divine nature” (2 Pet. 1:4) or God’s “seed [sperma]” that “remaineth [abides]” in the believer (1 John 3:9). Amazing—something of the very nature of God is implanted in the believer at the new birth. This is “the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Eph. 4:24). The regenerated spirit is righteous and holy—it must be, for it is the nature of God. Is this not a sinless provision? Yet it gets even better.
Second, the Holy Spirit moves into the new man. Not only is the divine nature implanted into the believer, the Divine Partner indwells the believer. This is “Christ in you” (Col. 1:27) providing for the reality of “Christ liveth in me” by “faith” (Gal. 2:20). The Spirit of Jesus brings the victorious life of Jesus right into the believer. Just as two become one in marriage, so “he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit” (1 Cor. 6:17).Ultimately, the sinless provision is a person, the Savior Himself.
The provision for victory is perfect—the divine nature joined to the Divine One, namely Jesus. Sadly, our access of this sinless provision is imperfect, because at times we yield to the flesh. But there is a sinless provision. When we allow the Holy Spirit to convince us of the reality of this truth, then we can have “access by faith into this grace wherein we stand” (Rom. 5:2), and thus “be partakers of the divine nature” that escapes “the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Pet. 2:4). Sinless perfection? No. Sinless provision? Yes. The problem today is not that there are those who are becoming too “sinlessly perfect,” but that there are far too many who are not depending on their sinless provision.
John Van Gelderen
Post Author
This truth is so amazing and encouraging!