Complete Victory Over Sin

Complete Victory

“Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy…” — (Jude 1:24.)

There is a massive deception that is pervading the vast majority of Christianity that it is impossible to overcome sin completely in this life. They get this, at least partly, from another deception they believe that claims Jesus had an unfallen, un-sinful nature. However, this is not what the Bible says. If Jesus had an unfallen nature, then He had an unfair advantage over the rest of us.

God’s standard of righteousness is still what it has always been, perfect obedience to His Ten Commandments. In our own strength, it is impossible to meet the requirements of God. However, God has provided every resource necessary for our uplifting from sin and degradation. God has promised not to leave us orphans, and to do anything for us that is necessary to secure our salvation. God does not do for us what we can do for ourselves, but He more than willingly and joyfully does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

The apostle Peter says it this way:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2 Peter 1:3-4.)

When Abraham was walking with God, “the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect.” (Genesis 17:1.) Why would God tell us to be perfect, if it wasn’t possible? If this is how God worked, then satan’s charges would be true about God holding up an impossible standard of morality.

However, the Bible shows us that Satan’s charges are patently false. Jesus became a man, with the same fallen nature as we have, to show us the proof that fallen man, united with the divine power of God, could still keep God’s Law in sinless perfection. Though Jesus was constantly being tempted, He never gave in. His love for us was so great that never once did He even consider indulging temptation, because even that would have been sin, disqualifying Him from being our Redeemer.

“God desires that the beings made in his image shall render obedience to him. He is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” For this he gave his only begotten Son to this world, that in his strength men might have power to obey. He has ‘blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: according as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.’” – (The Review and Herald, December 15, 1896 Par. 9.)

“Perfection alone can meet the standard of Heaven. As God himself is perfect in his exalted sphere, so should his children be perfect in the humble sphere they occupy. Thus only can they be fit for the companionship of sinless beings in the kingdom of Heaven. Christ addresses to his followers these words that establish the standard of Christian character: 'Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect.’” – (2SP 224.)

Time and time again in the Bible, God makes it clear that He wants us to be perfect. He has made it clear to every generation. Central to our sanctification is proper Sabbath keeping through His divine power. If the Sabbath had always been kept, there would never have been an atheist. The Sabbath is the sign that God sanctifies us. (Ezekiel 20.) Those who, by faith, obey God, and love Him with all the heart, will reach sinless perfection.

Consider:

“Those only who through faith in Christ obey all of God’s commandments will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression. They testify to their love of Christ by obeying all His precepts, including the one relating to the observance of the Sabbath, the seventh day of the week, the day that He blessed and sanctified, “because that in it He had rested from all His work.” (Genesis 2:3.)” — (Manuscript Releases, Vol. 8, p. 99.)

“Those who believe on Christ and obey His commandments are not under bondage to God’s law; for to those who believe and obey, His law is not a law of bondage, but of liberty. Every one who believes on Christ, every one who relies on the keeping power of a risen Saviour that has suffered the penalty pronounced upon the transgressor, every one who resists temptation and in the midst of evil copies the pattern given in the Christ-life, will through faith in the atoning sacrifice of Christ become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. Every one who by faith obeys God’s commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.” — (Signs of the Times, July 23, 1902 Par. 14.)

Let us also consider victory over sin in the light of the Sanctuary. When Jesus ascended to Heaven after His resurrection, He entered the Holy Place, was anointed as our High Priest, and began His intercessory ministry for us. On October 22, 1844, Jesus closed the Holy Place Ministry, and opened the Most Holy Place Ministry.

Bible prophecy tells us that the ministry of Jesus in the Most Holy Place is going to close. Jesus will lay off His High Priestly garments and put on His Kingly garments. When Jesus closes this ministry, mankind will live without an intercessor. For the righteous, this means eternal security, and one last fiery trial. For the wicked, this means the seven last plagues.

We are told,

“He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still.” — (Revelation 22:11.)

Once probation closes for all mankind, there is no more hope for the wicked to be saved. What our choice is at the close of probation, is what it will be for all eternity. The coming of Christ does not change anything in our character.

Indeed,

“It is a solemn thing to die, but a far more solemn thing to live. Every thought and word and deed of our lives will meet us again. What we make of ourselves in probationary time, that we must remain to all eternity. Death brings dissolution to the body, but makes no change in the character. The coming of Christ does not change our characters; it only fixes them forever beyond all change.” — (Testimonies for the Church, Vol. 5, p. 466.)

Many also seem to think that Jesus had a different nature than ours. However, this is not the picture of Jesus that the Bible gives us. In fact, when we go to Hebrews, we see this:

“Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For verily he took not on him the nature of angels; but he took on him the seed of Abraham. Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted, he is able to succour them that are tempted.” — (Hebrews 2:14-18.)

Notice it says he took part of the same flesh and blood as us. He took not the nature of angels, but of mankind. He accepted our nature 4,000 years after the fall, with all of dangers that came with it. Now, let’s be clear: He did not sin, and He never wanted to sin. But how can He be our Savior if He had an advantage over us in any way? Plus, if Jesus had an unfallen nature in His humanity, then how can we overcome sin completely as He commands us to do? Having the right understanding of the nature of Jesus is crucial to having the right understanding of righteousness by faith.

Indeed, notice this text:

“For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” — (Hebrews 4:15-16.)

Notice that it is because Jesus lived as one of us, with the exception that He never sinned, that gives us the privilege of coming boldly to His throne to find help in our battles to overcome and conquer sin completely. This idea that sin will never be overcome completely in this life is patently false.

Romans 8 also gives us a picture of the human nature of Jesus. Consider the following verse.

"For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh…" — (Romans 8:3.)

The Greek word for flesh in this verse, according to Strong’s Concordance, refers to, “Human nature (with its frailties [physically or morally] and passions), or…a human being…” The word for sinful in this verse, according to Thayer’s Greek Lexicon, means, “to be without a share in, to miss the mark, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honour…”

Again, to be clear, Jesus never sinned, and He never wanted to sin. But he had a sinful nature that was weakened by 4,000 years of sin. Had He any other nature than we have, He could not be our Savior, and Hebrews 4:15-16 would not be in the Bible. He came in the likeness of sinful flesh. Paul in Romans 8 is agreeing with himself in Hebrews 2.

Consider several quotes from the Spirit of Prophecy.

“But Jesus accepted humanity when the race had been weakened by four thousand years of sin. Like every child of Adam He accepted the results of the working of the great law of heredity. What these results were is shown in the history of His earthly ancestors. He came with such a heredity to share our sorrows and temptations, and to give us the example of a sinless life.” — (The Desire of Ages, p. 48-49.)

“Satan charged God with possessing the attributes that he himself possessed. Christ came to this world to reveal God’s character as it really is. He is the perfect representation of the Father. His life of sinlessness, lived on this earth in human nature, is a refutation of Satan’s charge against the character of God. — (Signs of the Times, December 20, 1905 Par. 7.)

“We should have no misgivings in regard to the perfect sinlessness of the human nature of Christ. Our faith must be an intelligent faith, looking unto Jesus in perfect confidence, in full and entire faith in the atoning Sacrifice. This is essential that the soul may not be enshrouded in darkness. This holy Substitute is able to save to the uttermost; for He presented to the wondering universe perfect and complete humility in His human character, and perfect obedience to all the requirements of God. Divine power is placed upon man, that he may become a partaker of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust. This is why repenting, believing man can be made the righteousness of God in Christ. — (Selected Messages, Vol. 1, p. 256.)

“Christ, the second Adam, came to a world polluted and marred, to live a life of perfect obedience. The race, weakened in moral power, was unable to cope with Satan, who ruled his subjects with cruel authority. Christ came to stand on the field of battle in warfare against all the satanic forces. By representing in his life the character of God, he sought to win man back to his allegiance.

“Clad in the vestments of humanity, the Son of God came down to the level of those he wished to save. In him was no guile or sinfulness; he was ever pure and undefiled; yet he took upon him our sinful nature. Clothing his divinity with humanity, that he might associate with fallen humanity, he sought to regain for man that which, by disobedience, Adam had lost for himself and for the world. In his own character he displayed to the world the character of God. He pleased not himself, but went about doing good. His whole history, for more than thirty years, was one of pure, disinterested benevolence. By his words, his influence, and his example, he made men feel that it was possible for them to return to their loyalty and be reinstated in God’s favor. He led them to see that if they repented, if their characters were transformed after the divine similitude, they would win immortality. — (Review and Herald, December 15, 1896 Par. 6-7.)

“In taking upon Himself man’s nature in its fallen condition, Christ did not in the least participate in its sin. He was subject to the infirmities and weaknesses by which man is encompassed, “that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.” He was touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and was in all points tempted like as we are. And yet He “knew no sin.” He was the lamb “without blemish and without spot.” Could Satan in the least particular have tempted Christ to sin, he would have bruised the Saviour’s head. As it was, he could only touch His heel. Had the head of Christ been touched, the hope of the human race would have perished. Divine wrath would have come upon Christ as it came upon Adam. Christ and the church would have been without hope. — (SDA Bible Commentary, Vol. 5, p. 1131.)

We cannot venture into territory where the Bible and the Spirit of Prophecy are silent. We are told that silence is eloquence on certain matters. But we can know what God has revealed about Himself and the Godhead through these resources. We know: He loves us, Jesus became man with the same nature as us, His substitutionary death is sufficient for all to be forgiven, He is our High Priest, etc..

Consider John the Baptist. Part of his message was to prepare for the advent of the Messiah. And how did John the Baptist preach that the Jews were to prepare? Repentance. Observe:

“And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand…But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance: but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” — (Matthew 3:2, 7-12.)

The first thing this prophet is recorded as saying is to repent. We cannot stand before God unless we have genuinely repented of all our sin. When Isaiah saw the Lord in vision in Isaiah 6, he said,

“Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.” — (Isaiah 6:5.)

When the wicked see Jesus in the clouds of the sky coning to rescue His repentant people, they will say to the mountains and rocks,

“…Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?” — (Revelation 6:16-17.)

Indeed, when Jesus returns, only those who wholly follow Jesus, allowing Him to sanctify them, to unite them as His Church on Himself and His Truth,

“That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” — (Ephesians 5:27.)

As was stated earlier in this study, in order to receive the seal of God, we must overcome sin completely. Those who believe that we cannot overcome sin in this life are in grave danger of losing their salvation. Ephesians here tells us that the church must be without defect. In order for the church to be pure, spotless, and undefiled, its individual members must be as well.

This idea of not being able to overcome sin is one of Satan’s most ingenious deceptions for these last days. If people believe this, then they are not preparing for Jesus to return. Therefore, when probation closes, and afterward when He does return, unless they have repented of this heresy, they will not be ready, and will thus be lost forever.

Consider what Ellen G. White has to say:

“Christ is waiting with longing desire for the manifestation of Himself in His church. When the character of Christ shall be perfectly reproduced in His people, then He will come to claim them as His own.” — (Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 69; emphasis mine.)

“Tell the people of Him who is ‘the Chiefest among ten thousand,’ and the One ‘altogether lovely.’ The Song of Solomon 5:10, 16. Words alone cannot tell it. Let it be reflected in the character and manifested in the life. Christ is sitting for His portrait in every disciple. Every one God has predestinated to be ‘conformed to the image of His Son.’ Romans 8:29. In every one Christ’s long-suffering love, His holiness, meekness, mercy, and truth are to be manifested to the world.” — (The Desire of Ages, p. 826; emphasis mine.)

There are many who think that it is impossible to escape from the power of sin, but the promise is that we may be filled with all the fullness of God. We aim too low. The mark is much higher. Our minds need expansion, that we may comprehend the significance of the provision of God. We are to reflect the highest attributes of the character of God. We should be thankful that we are not to be left to ourselves. The law of God is the exalted standard to which we are to attain.... We are not to walk according to our own ideas..., but we are to follow in the footsteps of Christ. — (Our Father Cares, p. 138.)

You see, we cannot claim to be God’s people while we knowingly violate any of His Commandments. If we do not perfectly represent His character, then when He returns, He will not be returning for us. Now is the day of salvation. Now is the period of probation that is granted to us. Now is the time when we must make the best of the opportunities granted to us to perfect Christian character in the fear and power of God.

This is why God, through the apostle Peter, tells us:

“According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue: Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” — (2 Peter 1:3-4.)

In a prior Bible Study, we went over the end of Revelation 6 and discussed the question, “Who shall be able to stand?” That is, what will the people be like who can stand without fear on the earth when Jesus shall appear to rescue them? These people will be fully prepared to meet Him in glory. They will say,

“Lo, this is our God; we have waited for him, and he will save us: this is the Lord; we have waited for him, we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation.” — (Isaiah 25:9.)

God’s people will be described by the following list of characteristics. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but it serves to get the mind back to Bible study and prayer so that people will understand what they must be in order to be saved.

1. The servants of God, the 144,000. (Revelation 7:3-4.)

2. Them that had gotten the victory over the beast, over his image, over his mark, and over the number of his name. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

3. Those who sing the song of Moses, and of the Lamb. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

4. Those who fear God, and glorify Him. (Revelation 15:2-4.)

5. Them that have the Father’s name written in their foreheads. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

6. Them that are not defiled with women; they are virgins. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

7. Those who follow the Lamb wherever He goes; sanctuary reference. (Revelation 14:1-4.)

This topic is one of the biggest and most glorious themes to be found in both the Bible and the writings of Ellen G. White. Ever since the fall of Adam and Eve, God has been working, not only to reconcile mankind to Himself, but also to bring this great controversy to an end; to bring repentant and sanctified humanity back to the perfect world that we lost 6,000 years ago.

Consider this statement from the Pen of Inspiration:

“The great controversy is nearing its end. Every report of calamity by sea or land is a testimony to the fact that the end of all things is at hand. Wars and rumors of wars declare it. Is there a Christian whose pulse does not beat with quickened action as he anticipates the great events opening before us? The Lord is coming. We hear the footsteps of an approaching God.

“This knowledge of the nearness of Christ’s coming should not be allowed to lose its force, and we become careless and inattentive, and fall into slumber—into an insensibility and indifference to realities. In slumber we are in an unreal world, and not sensible of the things which are taking place around us…

“There are those who have the blazing light of truth shining all around them, and yet are insensible to it. They are enchanted by the enemy, held under a spell by his bewitching power. They are not preparing for that great day which is soon to come to our world. They seem utterly insensible to religious truth.

“Are there not some youth who are awake? Those who see that the night cometh, and also the morning, should work with untiring energy to arouse their sleeping associates. Can they not feel their peril, pray for them, and show them by their own life and character that they believe themselves that Christ is soon to come? … The rapidly diminishing space of time between us and eternity should more deeply impress us. Every day that passes makes one less left us to complete our work of perfecting character…

“As long as there are many asleep, many sporting away the precious hours in careless indifference, as it were, upon the very brink of the eternal world, those who do believe must be sober, must be awake, must be earnest and diligent, and watch unto prayer…

“Have you, dear youth, your lamps trimmed and burning?” — (Maranatha, p. 221.)