The Missing Cross to Purity


Perfection, Purity, and the Sinless State

Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Matthew 5:48

Not be kind of perfect. Not perfect as you can. Not as perfect as humanly possible while trying.
Perfect - as your heavenly Father is perfect - a definitive qualification of perfect.
Perfect that is impossible without divine grace: to change us, to purify us, to make us like Him, perfect.

Text in Light Blue or bold Light Blue can be "clicked" for backup in scripture or detail in writings.
When you have clicked to the on-line Bible, you can change and update to see any Bible version that you prefer.

And the Lord said unto Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job,
that there is none like him on the earth, a perfect and upright man,
one that fears God, and eschews (shuns, abhors) evil? and still he holds fast his integrity,
although you move me against him, to destroy him without cause. Job 2:3

If you search the scriptures trying to prove to yourself that you have eternal life, you can find verses taken out of context that you can use to think you have eternal life; or to prove purity or perfection is impossible (like, even Jesus said he wasn't good) ; thereby convincing yourself there is nothing you have to do to please God except say you believe Jesus is the son of God.

On the other hand, if you:

  • are unhappy still being subject to anger, lust, passions, pleasures, lying, bad habits, etc., or
  • want to have a closer relationship with God, or
  • want peace - quietness, confidence, assurance with trust forever, or
  • want to be pleasing to God, whatever the cost, or
  • want God to run your life, instead of you continue to make mistakes, or
  • want to be doing God's will, not your own,

you will search for how to obtain more of Him than what you have. And you will notice he promises peace, union, and the Kingdom; but you will also notice the many scriptures that show He requires perfection, crucifixion, deadening the sinful nature, the new mind, the new heart, the new man, righteousness, purity, and holiness; and then you will start searching for how to arrive at what He requires from you: repentance, your bodies as a living sacrifice, crucified on the inward cross of self-denial, your sinful nature dead, and Christ' spirit completely replacing the sinful nature in your bodies, to live in union with He and God in the Kingdom within, while on the earth, and then forever as a son of God.

For this you can be sure: No immoral, impure or greedy person..has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of such things God's wrath comes on those who are disobedient. Eph 5:5-6

This section is written in hope that you can see that purity and a sinless state are required and possible, (proven by scripture and George Fox's experience), seek the sinless state created by the changing grace of God through Christ, and then come to receive the return of Christ in his glory to establish his Kingdom in your heart. As long as we live in our sinful nature, we are unruly and incapable of being ruled, governed, or led by a Lord or King. So, if you want Jesus to be your Lord and King, you must put to death the sinful nature by repentance to purity. It is only by grace that we can become sinless and pure, but we have to go to Christ to receive his grace: Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. Rev 3:20 We have to listen to his voice and obey his commands heard, in order to receive his changing, purifying grace.

Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us - if we go to him.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [in us] that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8

As Jesus told Paul: I am sending you to open their eyes
that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God,
so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins
and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.
Acts 26:17-18

When God said that Job was: perfect, upright, shunned evil, and held his integrity under testing, it was before the Law had been issued; and long before Christ came and died on the cross; long before the Spirit of God was poured out on all mankind; and before, Christ made it possible have union and fellowship with God by entering the Kingdom of Heaven within us. So, God has called a man upright and perfect, other than Christ. And as the scriptures below state, so God also consider Enoch, Noah, Zachariah, Elizabeth, Hezekiah, Asa, and David, (though David's was not lasting because of his adultery).

After the Law and before Christ, the only people who received the favor of God were those who walked close to conforming to the Law's requirements; those who ignored his Law, were disregarded by Him, Heb 8:9. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, with only a belief in His name, with humble sorrow for the past, we can approach God and receive the operations of his changing grace to purify our hearts and consciences; whatever our burden of past sins may be. With faith in the name of Jesus, by grace and the cross, He can now make you perfect in every good work to do his will, Heb 13:11;  a forever cleansing and perfection with resulting union is now available to all who go to him for change. And yes, like Job, we too must be tested before we receive the reward of the increase in his Spirit, the Spirit of Love. (See Meditation Guidelines for the testing).  And a little while after that, staying faithful, not tiring of faith energized acts of love, he returns in His glory to establish his Kingdom in your heart and to be your Lord forever.

Men cannot see perfection in another man; men didn't see perfection in Christ - they killed him; the righteous religious people of Israel mocked and ridiculed Jesus, as He was perfecting prostitutes and tax collectors. Job's friends didn't see his perfection - they ridiculed him. Yet, God called Job perfect. You will know perfection by the actions of the person, their conversation, their fruits: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control - not by their claims; that would be boasting, which is the opposite of love. A perfect man still only sees his weaknesses; but as Jesus said to Paul when he complained of his weakness, My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in weakness. He also said, you will know them by their fruits. Quoting William Penn: A perfect man according to God is: blameless, sinless, a shunner of evil; yet "can still make mistakes that are not sins, still be subject to disease, and be without perfect wisdom or glory." And quoting John Gratton: "So it is plain, men may be really, perfectly, sincerely, children or branches, yet may grow from strength to strength, faith to faith, in and by the spirit of the Lord, yet be perfect children, and grow to be young men, and overcome the wicked one, and still grow to be fathers, and still press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded. This is the perfection we mean; we do not mean such a perfection as that nothing can be added unto it."

Now let's look at some of the many, many scriptures that undisputedly support holiness, purity,  and perfection; but are never quoted by the preachers holding up sin today. (Scriptures quoted by the deficit sects, which plead that Jesus came so that we can sin and remain immoral, are also analyzed at the bottom of this page. Click to go to the bottom of the page now.)

From George Fox's Journal :

Another time a common prayer priest, and some other people came to discourse with me. He asked me,' if I was grown up to perfection? ' I told him, ‘what I was, I was by the grace of God.' He replied, 'it was a modest and civil answer.' Then he urged the words of John, 'if we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.' He asked, ‘what did I say to that' 'I said with the same apostle, "if we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us;" who came to destroy sin, and to take away sin. So there is a time for people to see that they have sinned, and there is a time for them to see that they have sin; and there is a time for them to confess their sin, and to forsake it, and to know the blood of Christ to cleanse from all sin,' 1 John 1:7.Then the priest was asked, ‘whether Adam was not perfect before he fell? And whether all God's works were not perfect?’ The priest said, 'there might be perfection as Adam had, and a falling from it.' But I told him, 'there is a perfection in Christ above Adam, and beyond falling; and that it was the work of the ministers of Christ to present every man perfect in Christ; for the perfecting of whom they had their gifts from Christ. Col 1:27. Therefore whoever denied perfection, denied the work of the ministry, and the gifts which Christ gave for the perfecting of the saints. Eph 4:11-13. The priest said, ‘we must always be striving.' I answered, ‘it was a sad and comfortless sort of striving, to strive with a belief that we should never overcome.' I told him also, that ‘Paul, who cried out of the body of death, did also "thank God, who gave him the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. " 1 Cor 15:57. So there was a time of crying out for want of victory, and a time of praising God for the victory. And Paul said, “there is no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus." The priest said, 'Job was not perfect.' I told him, ‘God said Job was a perfect man, and that he did shun evil; Job 2:3 and the devil was forced to confess, that "God had set a hedge about him;" Job 1:9-10, which was not an outward hedge, but the invisible, heavenly power.’ The priest said, 'Job said, “he charged his angels with folly, and the heavens are not clean in his sight.” I told him, ‘that was his mistake; it was not Job who said that, but Eliphaz, who contended against Job.' ‘Well, but,' said the priest, 'what say you to that scripture,' " the most just man that sins seven times a day?" 'Why truly,' said I, ‘I say there is no such scripture;' and with that the priest's mouth was stopped. Many other services I had with several sorts of people between the assizes and the sessions.

Christ told to us to "Seek Ye First the Kingdom of God and His righteousness." Matt. 6:33 He told us the Kingdom of God is within you and does not come with signs to be observed or visible display. Luke 17:20-21. But Paul tells us that anyone who practices sexual immorality, impurity, debauchery, idolatry, hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, envy, drunkenness, etc., cannot inherit the Kingdom of Heaven. Gal 5:20-21

Jesus said, If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell. Mark 9:43-47. He doesn't want us to maim ourselves. He is only illustrating how serious sin is. Jesus is desperately trying to tell us that to enter the Kingdom and escape hell, sin is not allowed, period. He knew false prophets with false gospels would arise to deceive people in the future. He knew false prophets with false gospels promising freedom to continue to sin would arise after he left. Changes in our heart through the missing cross to purity can take away the desire of the hand, foot, and eye to cause us to sin.

So, how do we get rid of these things, unless it is by God's power and grace? Or do we carry these things to the grave with us; and if so, why are we told throughout the scriptures to rid ourselves from these things? As George Fox says, "If we have to carry our body of sin to the grave, these are sad tidings indeed." Of course the gospel is "good tidings," and we don't have to carry our body of sin to the grave - if we go to Christ with trust and nothing held back. We go and offer everything we have, including our bodies, to be used to his glory at his direction; we TRUST Him to give us whatever strength is necessary, to be obedient to whatever he asks, and to be able to do whatever he asks of us with JOY! He came so that we might have life, and have it more abundantly. Remember, eye has not seen, nor ear has not heard, those things God has prepared for those who love Him. 

Since Christ said, "He who loves me, keeps my commands;" how do you keep his commands, including, "Be ye perfect as your Father in heaven is perfect? What are you supposed to repent of? How do you get changed? Christ said; "while you have the light (Christ), believe in the light" John 12:36. This site is dedicated to helping you get in the light and have Him change you to become "children of the light", John 12:36 with "your whole being filled with light" and therefore come out of darkness to a sinless state.

You must go to him, for everyone who comes to Me and listens to My words and does them, ...
He is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid a foundation upon the rock; securely.. Luke 6:47-48
He can't make it any plainer: Come to Me, listen to My words (not read the Bible), and do them.(obey)
If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. John 14:22-23 They make their home, a Kingdom without visible signs with you, in you.
Go to him, sit in silence, listen, and obey what he tells you to do. This is the narrow way; the way of repentance and the cross.

  • seeking the Kingdom of God, as your first priority, is an act of repentance and a cross to your selfish will
  • turning away from evil, as you understand it, is an act of repentance and a cross to your selfish will
  • you don't want to sit quietly every day to listen and watch, but if you do - it is a cross to your selfish will
    this is where you learn from Him, get cleansed by Him, led by Him, and come to know Him
    if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. Rev. 3:20
  • you don't want to obey his commands that you hear, but if you repent- it is a cross to your selfish will
  • you don't want to forgive injustices done to you, but you repent and forgive - a cross to your angry self
  • you don't want to admit and regret what the Light shows your condition to be, but if you repent - it is a cross to your will
  • you don't want to give to others from your excess, but you repent of selfishness and give- it is a cross to your selfish will
  • you don't want to defer to others, rather than insist on you way, but you repent and do it - it is a cross to your selfish will

This is the Inward Cross of Self-Denial

If any will come after me, let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23

This how to kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed and covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God).  Col 3:5. This is the purification process, because it is a cross to your will. Your will is to do something else, rather than sit quietly each day to listen and watch for the Lord. Your will is to disobey any commands you receive, because you like what you are doing and he is telling you to do something different. Your will is to run from anything ugly about yourself he shows you. When you violate your will in these things, you are carrying your cross. Belief in the true gospel, and the cross to realize the promise, releases the power of God to purify you and make you one with Him. This is the true way, to pick up your cross daily and carry it throughout the day.

For more understanding on the necessity of learning in silence, see George Fox's writing on Why Silence? (also on the side bar)

See How to Benefit from the Changing Power of God for more. (also on the side bar)

Christ's sacrifice covers your past sins and those you commit while you are striving become pure. First you have to believe it is possible. Then you have to diligently seek the Kingdom of Heaven as your first priority and passion. This is to strive for purity and holiness; to seek to destroy the sinful nature; and to seek to crucify the passions and desires of this life. The whole purpose of this site is to help you believe it is possible, the true hope, and then to give you a formula. Remember, He is the Rewarder of those who diligently seek Him! He gave us the power to become a son of God; John 1:12, he didn't make everyone a son who conceptually accepts Him as their Lord in name; no! he has to actually become our Lord - to rule us, to control us, to command us, to love us, to discipline us, to reward us with the greatest gift of all - his Love in our hearts - which is Himself, for God is Love.

George Fox said, "the world wants a Christ to help them hold on to their flesh and excuse their human failings; Christ wants to get rid of our failings and be our true Lord in thoughts, actions, and deeds." To some, this is frightening; to others, it is the dream of their life. To the latter we address our comments.

Now, from George Fox's Journal, "Early Years and Translation" here is his experience arriving at perfection:
(full unabridged Journal is available on the left sidebar)

I saw also the mountains burning up, and the rubbish, and the rough, and crooked ways and places made smooth and plain, that the Lord might come into his tabernacle. These things are to be found in man's heart; but to speak of these things being within, seemed strange to the rough, crooked, and mountainous ones. Yet the Lord said, ‘0h earth, hear the word of the Lord!'

           (Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low;
           and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth. Luke 3:5)

The law of the spirit crosses the fleshly mind, spirit, and will, which lives in disobedience, and does not keep within the law of the spirit. I saw this law was the pure love of God which was upon me, and which I must go through, though I was troubled while I was under it; for I could not be dead to the law but through the law, which judged and condemned that which is to be condemned. I saw, many talked of the law, who had never known the law to be their schoolmaster; and many talked of the gospel of Christ, who had never known life and immortality brought to light in them by it. You that have been under that schoolmaster, and the condemnation of it, know these things; for though the Lord in that day opened these things unto me in secret, they have been since published by his eternal spirit, as on the house top. And as you are brought into the law, and through the law to be dead to it, and witness the righteousness of the law fulfilled in you, you will afterwards come to know what it is to be brought into Christ, who is the author of, and you will have peace and access to God. But if you look out from the faith, and from that which would keep you in the victory, and look after fleshly things or words, you will be brought into bondage to the flesh again, and to the law which takes hold upon the flesh and sin, and works wrath, and the works of the flesh will appear again. The law of God takes hold upon the law of sin and death; but the law of faith, or the law of the spirit of life, which is the love of God, and which comes by Jesus, (who is the end of the law for righteousness' sake), makes you free from the law of sin and death. This law of life fleshly minded men do not know; yet they will tempt you to draw you from the spirit into the flesh, and so into bondage. Therefore you, who know the love of God, and the law of his spirit, and the freedom that is in Jesus Christ, stand fast in him. Stand in that divine faith which he is the author of in you, and don’t get entangled with the yoke of bondage. For the ministry of Christ Jesus and his teaching, brings into liberty and freedom; but the ministry that is of man, and by man, which stands in the will of man, brings into bondage, and under the shadow of death and darkness. Therefore none can be ministers of Christ Jesus but in the eternal spirit, which was before the scriptures were given forth; for if they have not his spirit, they are none of his.


"Now I came up in spirit, through the flaming sword, into the paradise of God. All things were new, and all the creation gave another smell unto me than before, beyond what words can utter. I knew nothing but pureness, innocence, and righteousness, being renewed up into the image of God by Christ Jesus; so that I came up to the state of Adam, which he was in before he fell. The creation was open to me; and it was showed me how all things had their names given them, according to their nature and virtue. I was at a stand in my mind, whether I should practice medicine for the good of mankind, seeing the nature and virtues of the creatures were so opened to me by the Lord. But I was immediately taken up in spirit, to see into another or more steadfast state than Adam's in innocence, even into a state in Christ Jesus, that should never fall. And the Lord showed me, that such as were faithful to him, in the power and light of Christ, should come up into that state in which Adam was before he fell; in which the admirable works of the creation, and the virtues of that may be known, through the openings of that divine word of wisdom and power by which they were made. Great things did the Lord lead me into, and wonderful depths were opened unto me, beyond what can by words be declared; but as people come into subjection to the spirit of God, and grow up in the image and power of the Almighty, they may receive the word of wisdom that opens all things, and come to know the hidden unity in the Eternal Being."

         So [God] drove out the man [Adam and Eve out of paradise, the Garden of Eden]; and He placed at the east of the Garden of Eden the cherubim
           and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep and guard the way to the tree of life. Gen 3:24

AND further from George Fox's Journal, "Early Years and Translation"

"Moreover, the Lord God let me see, when I was brought up into his image in righteousness and holiness, and into the state of the paradise of God how Adam was made a living soul; and also to the stature of Christ, the mystery that had been hid from ages and generations: which things are hard to be uttered, and cannot be borne by many. For of all the sects in Christendom (so called) that I discussed with, I found none that could bear to be told that anyone could spiritually grow to Adam's perfection, (that is into that image of God, and righteousness and holiness that Adam was in before he fell), to be clear and pure without sin as he was. Therefore, how would they be able to bear being told that any should spiritually grow up to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; when it threatens them to hear that any shall come, while upon earth, into the same power and spirit that the prophets and apostles were in? Though it is an absolute truth, that none can understand the Apostle’s writings correctly without the same spirit by which they were written.

The Lord God opened to me by his invisible power, how that ‘every man was enlightened by the divine light of Christ.’ I saw it shine through all, and that they that believed in it came out of condemnation to the light of life, and became the children of it; but they that hated it and did not believe in it, were condemned by it, though they made a profession of Christ. This I saw in the pure openings of the light without the help of any man; neither did I then know where to find it in the scriptures; though afterwards, searching the scriptures, I found it. For I saw in that light and spirit which was before the scriptures were given forth, and which led the holy men of God to give them forth, that all must come to that spirit, if they would know God or Christ, or the scriptures correctly, which they that gave them forth were led and taught by. "
(from George Fox's Journal)

Let's clarify what Christian "perfection" is not. It is not being God. It is not being Christ. It is not being free from all sicknesses and earthly maladies. It is not knowing everything. It is not being perfect as recognized by man; even Christ was not recognized by man as perfect in his time.

It is shunning evil. It is being morally upright. It is integrity that is unwavering, whatever the circumstances, including unjust persecution. This is being perfect in the eyes of God, as he describes Job.

Here is why we haven't seen a sinless state of those in Christiandom (what George Fox says in his letter #262.)

The true hope, the true cross, the true faith,
the true worship, the true religion,
the true way, true image,
and true fellowship have been lost since the apostles' days,
among those called christians, who are out of the life.
And they that have lost the cross of Christ, which is the power of God,
in which is the true fellowship,
they have set up a wooden or a stone cross,
so false crosses, false christians.
They that have lost the true hope, which purifies, as he is pure,
they have set up a purgatory to cleanse them when they are dead.
And others cry up a body of sin and death on this side of the grave,
with their hypocrite's hope;
and they have lost the true ministry,
and set up a false one, to preach up imperfection.
And people were imperfect in old Adam before Christ came;
for the law made nothing perfect;
but the true minister, Christ in you the hope of glory,
does make perfect,
both in the Apostles' days and now.
'Christ in you, the hope of glory,' said the apostle, whom we preach,
'warning every man, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.'
So the perfection is in Christ Jesus; the imperfection is in old Adam.
So this is the true hope that purifies,
which everyone that has it purifies himself, even as he is pure.
And everyone that has not a possession of this hope,
pleads for impurity and imperfection,
and a body of sin and a body of death unto their grave,
and a purgatory when they are dead.
Such have a profession of the scriptures, like the Pharisees;
and the hypocrite's hope which shall perish.

Here is what William Penn said about the sinless state, (in addition to his attainment of it):

First, repentance from dead works to serve the living God, which comprehends three operations:
   1) a sight of sin,
   2) a sense and godly sorrow for it, and
   3) a change for the future.

This was the repentance they preached and pressed, and a natural result from the principle they turned all people to.
   For by the light came sight of the sin;
   And with the sight of the sin, a sense and sorrow resulted;
   And with a sense and sorrow about the sin revealed by the light, came a change of life from then on - repentance.

Which doctrine of repentance leads to justification; that is, forgiveness of past sins through Christ, the sole propitiation; and the sanctification or cleansing of the soul from the defiling nature and habits of sin; which is justification in the complete sense of the word: comprehending both justification from the guilt of the sins that are past, as if they had never been committed, through the love and mercy of God in Christ Jesus; and the creature's being made inwardly just through the cleansing and sanctifying power and spirit of Christ revealed in the soul, which is commonly called sanctification.

From here sprang a second doctrine they were led to declare, as the mark of the prize of the high calling to all true Christians: perfection from sin, according to the scriptures of truth, which testify it to be the end of Christ's coming, and the nature of his kingdom, and for which his spirit was and is given. But they never held a perfection in wisdom and glory in this life, or from natural infirmities or death, as some have with a weak or ill mind imagined and insinuated against them. They called this a redeemed state, regeneration, or the new birth; teaching everywhere, according to their foundation, that unless this work was known, there was no inheriting the kingdom of God.

Think about it; have you not thought it strange that so many (thousands) of different sects exist, each with a different interpretation of the scriptures? They squabble over different subsets of the scriptures. None take the whole of the scriptures because they don't understand them. If they had the spirit in the right measure, they would be unified in their interpretation, because there is only one meaning. A group of perfected men and women would be in the unity of the spirit and would have no disagreements; the will of the Father would be executed perfectly by a Body of Christ in the power of Christ. This was the early church; this was the early Quakers. See Jesus Wants to Teach You Himself for more.

The younger members of the body, those not yet perfected, might decide to quarrel with their leaders, out of the unity. This happened to the early Church, where antichrists were leaving the church with a different gospel - as prophesied. This happened to the Quakers that George Fox and his hundreds of thousands formed too. People are always looking for the easy way; not the narrow way that few will find that leads to eternal life.

In the Body of Christ one individual does not have all knowledge or all gifts; what you don't have is made up by other members of the body, so whatever knowledge is needed is received and shared, to be sure the body works together - all controlled by the Head, Christ Himself. Sometimes, you are deliberately left in need of another member of the body to complete your knowledge and understanding on some point. This is to maintain your humility and to strengthen the Body as a whole. This is why Peter was corrected by Paul regarding his not eating with the Gentiles when the Hebrews were around; a correction which Peter immediately owned because his Spirit of Christ confirmed it. Christ could have personally corrected Peter; but for the sake of the body, he let Paul, the Apostle of the gentiles, correct Peter. After you are perfected (freed from sin), you will still be receiving wisdom and knowledge from Christ the Head or from fellowship with other members of the Body.

I see the functioning of the Body almost everyday. I have questions which I pose to the Lord. My wife gets the answers. Thus the Lord maintains interdependence of his Body.

And to those of you who attain perfection, to those who reach purity in this life, by you doing so, (producing fruit), you show yourself to be true followers of Christ, and he then brings honor and glory to our Father - is there anything else worth aspiring to do? For if there is some way we can repay our Father for our breath, our heart beat, our life, our savior who has paved the way for us, then that is the only thing to want - every other thing must take the back seat to the passion of bringing glory to the Son and the Father. As for me, knowing that I can possibly do this for Christ and the Father, as insignificant as I am, I gladly dedicate my life to do so, and I am eternally grateful for the opportunity. For with success, we become united with God, and we operate according to God's purpose, will, and pleasure; and our pleasure is to have clean, pure, holy, perfect purpose in our words and actions - to be a instrument in his hands totally dedicated to life of love.

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Cor 7:1

Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Gal 5:24
For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body of sin might be done away with,
that we should no longer be slaves to sin- Rom 6:6

Ambrose Rigge, another early Quaker minister, has several compelling letters with a different perspective which addresses the many denials of perfection's impossibility: 1) On True Christianity, 2) The Spiritual Man, and 3) A Standard of Righteousness.

Stephen Crisp has an outstanding letter, DESTROYING THE ARGUMENTS THAT SIN CANNOT BE CONQUERED IN THIS LIFE. Below are the introductory paragraphs, with a completely different proof:

MANY are the devices of Satan, and great is the subtlety which he furnishes his children and servants withal, by which he seeks to uphold his kingdom, pleading now a right to what he obtained by subtlety; and has taught his whole family, that it is impossible for any to be freed from under his service; even as if all men that are created of God, were created for the service of the devil; and although the devil can create no man, yet that he is able, after they are made, to keep them in his service; yes, although their maker calls them to serve him. So by this supposed necessity of sin, (which serves the devil and which is a doctrine well-pleasing to man's flesh), he keeps nations, kindreds, tongues and people, in bondage to his will. Not only that, but he has also bewitched and besotted his whole synagogue, and every sort in it, that they cannot endure to hear that they might be freed from sin; and all that come to declare liberty to these captives, and an opening of the door of this prison-house, (the darkness), unto those that are shut up within it, they cry out against such, away with them from the earth, let them be crucified, stoned, hanged, burned, imprisoned and banished, or at least, derided, and mocked at, and all manner of evil be spoken of them: and what have they done? They have preached against sin, that it must come to an end, and have preached that what is perfect, is to be found in this life, by which men might come to the acceptable year of the Lord, unto whom there is nothing acceptable which is imperfect.

Certainly, there is no manner of slaves so well contented with their bondage, as are the devil's are; and therefore it is worth the considering, what right he has to reign over mankind, and what work it is, he gives his servants to do, that is so well-pleasing unto them, that they cannot endure to hear of being set at liberty, as long as they have a day to live. As for my part, I have considered what right the devil can claim to the government which he has among the children of men, reigning over kings and princes, priests and people, from one sect to another, setting them all to work in blind zeal one against another; yet all agreeing in this one question, (that is), is there any man or woman upon the earth, that is free from under the reign of the devil, that he can live without sin? or is it possible for any to be so? The general answer is, no; we are all, and must all be his servants, all the days of our lives. But some might say, seeing you are all fellow servants, and that both you and your work do belong to one master; why then are you disagreeing with one another about the work? But oh! my soul longs that some might be awakened, once to consider and to rethink themselves, how they came to this state and condition, and by what right and authority their master keeps them in this bondage, and whether it is not both lawful and possible to come from under it?

You can read the entire, outstanding letter by clicking here.




Scriptures Used to Try to Prove Perfection is Impossible - thus Justifying Doing Nothing

Now lets look at the scriptures which are usually quoted to argue that you need do nothing because Jesus came and died so that you could continue to sin guilt free: (like if they can prove someone sinned once, then they are justified in sinning continually and doing nothing to correct it.)

1) The first scriptures used to justify continuing living is sin with no effort to change, is Paul's confrontation with Peter:

But when Peter was come to Antioch, I [Paul] withstood him to the face, because he was to be blamed.
For before that certain came from James, he [Peter] did eat with the Gentiles: but when they were come, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing them which were of the circumcision.
And the other Jews dissembled likewise with him; insomuch that Barnabas also was carried away with their dissimulation.
But when I saw that they walked not uprightly according to the truth of the gospel, I said unto Peter before them all, If thou, being a Jew, lives after the manner of Gentiles, and not as do the Jews, why compel thou the Gentiles to live as do the Jews? Gal 2:11-14

So here Paul opposed Peter, telling us he was in the wrong and in hypocrisy.

There are many who joyfully say, "See Peter sinned, proving that if Peter sinned, then no one can be sinless."

To those who judge Peter a sinner, I say: Who are you to judge Peter! Who are you to say his mistake was a sin? Are you so wise a judge and close to God as conclude that Paul's words of "blamed," "not uprightly," and "dissimulation" constitute sin? Perfection is not being without mistakes; perfection is to be without sin in God's eyes.

To repeat the concept of a body of Christ: In the Body of Christ one individual does not have all knowledge or all gifts; what you don't have is made up by other members of the body, so whatever knowledge is needed is received and shared, to be sure the body works together - all controlled by the Head, Christ Himself. Sometimes, you are deliberately left in need of another member of the body to complete your knowledge and understanding on some point. This is to maintain your humility and to strengthen the Body as a whole. This is why Peter was corrected by Paul regarding his not eating with the Gentiles when the Hebrews were around; a correction which Peter immediately owned because his Spirit of Christ confirmed it. Christ could have personally corrected Peter; but for the sake of the body, he let Paul, the Apostle of the gentiles, correct Peter. After you are perfected (freed from sin), you will still be receiving wisdom and knowledge from Christ the Head or from fellowship with other members of the Body, including occasional correction.

2) The second scripture quoted is Ecc 7:20: There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

Quoting Stephen Crisp in his Letter on The Wiles of Satan:

Answer. This is very true, neither do I plead, that any man is free from sin all the days of his life, (except Christ), but have confessed they are all sinners by nature, until they are changed; and besides, there it is but spoken of a people that were under the law, of which the apostle says, that it made nothing perfect; but, said he, the bringing in of a better hope did: but the law did not purify the comers thereunto, according to the conscience; but when the offerors had offered there remained an evidence of sin in the conscience; but what is that to the Christians, who are come to know a better hope, and the blood that purifies the conscience? For that same apostle that said, the law made no man perfect, (under which law Solomon was, as also that people concerning whom it was said, there is none that lives and sins not), notwithstanding the same apostle said, that it was the bringing in of a better hope that did it. And what, are these fighters for sin, and sin-pleaders become so zealous, that they will rather deny the better hope, than to cease from sin? If not, then there is a possibility to be made perfect by the blood of Christ, which the blood of bulls and goats could not do: because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy [note: holiness is not to be assumed as automatically occurred on belief. Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God. 2 Cor 7:1].

3) The third of scriptures quoted to justify impurity, sin, and imperfection starts with 1 John 1:8

John said: But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,
and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives. 1 John 1:8-10
When you examine these verses in lieu of the verses before and after these three, this is the meaning:
We go to the Light (Jesus) to quietly listen and watch, hoping for purification by his blood and grace.
If we go claiming to be without sin, we deceive ourselves, have no humility, and get no help, the truth is not in us.
If when he (the Light) shows us our sins and we confess them, he will forgive and purify us.
But, if when he (the Light) shows us our sins, and if we claim to be without the sin he has shown us,
thinking He is not the Truth, thinking whom we hear to be liar, we have thus failed to repent of our sins;
and His word fails to be planted in our heart, so that it can control us in the future. Thus we have rejected Christ.
But if we accept his conviction [confess and repent] and Him [the Word or Light] as Truth, his word stays in our heart to keep us from sin.
This is how we accept and "receive" Christ. We believe the Light that shows us our sins is Christ. We believe in Jesus within.
 Look at the very next verses below.

My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world. Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked. 1 John 2:1-6
So if we obey the Word the we hear him say to us or what he shows us in the Light,
(Jesus being the Light and the Word), and if we abide in Him, we are of the truth and we know we are in Him.
and God's love is perfected in us; resulting in us walking as Jesus walked, in love and truth.

The false prophets take 1  John 1:8 out of context: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us, and say that proves no one can ever be without sin; ignoring the next statements and ignoring the context of the process of purification being referenced. To be purified you have to have sin to start, or purification is not necessary. John is referencing sin that is to be destroyed, not carried to the grave.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.1 John 3:3
Whosoever commits sin transgresses also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. 1 John 3:4
And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. 1 John3:5
Whosoever abides in him, sins not: whosoever sins hath not seen him, neither known him.  1 John 3:6
Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.  1 John 3:7
He that commits sin is of the devil; for the devil sins from the beginning.
Jesus came so he could destroy the devil and his works [sin] in us - if we go to him.
For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, [in us] that he might destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8
Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remains in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. 1 John 3:9
(And His seed are the words from his voice remaining in you, words heard, the Word of God. Luke 8:14)
In this the children of God are manifest, and the children of the devil:
whosoever doeth not righteousness is not of God, neither he that loves not his brother. 1 John 3:10

The sinful man with hope purifies himself as He is pure. The above describes the purification process.
And when he does, he no longer sins and has fellowship with Christ and the Father including seeing him.
So there is no conflict, just people quoting bible verses out of context.
They are just Bible lawyers trying to hold onto their false hope and pleading for sin, impurity, and imperfection;
so they can justify their doing nothing while charging money for their false interpretations and assurances of salvation.

3) The third scriptures frequently quoted to justify sin is in Romans 3:10-12 (this is the gospel of grace with perpetual sin) 

"There is no one righteous, not even one; Rom 3:10
there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. Rom 3:11
All have turned away,  they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." Rom 3:12
True! No one is righteous, no one decides to seek God themselves; God draws us to Himself. Therefore, no one can boast.

Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin. Rom 3:20
True! We cannot obtain righteousness by following the Law.

But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. Rom 3:21
This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, Rom 3:22
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Rom 3:23
Correct, righteousness comes through faith in Jesus, not the Law; but this is not instant righteousness.

Paul clarifies: for we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. Gal. 5:5
and Paul further: you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness. Rom 6:16
And Jesus said, But seek (aim and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness. Mat 6:33
So, by faith we are given the right to approach God, seeking his grace; but we are not instantly righteous.
Otherwise, we would not be told to seek, wait, obey, and hope for righteousness.
and Paul: Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 1 Cor 15:34
These blind guides further speak of "imputed righteousness of Christ" to us, based on our faith; as it was with Abraham.
True, Abraham received imputed righteousness even before he was circumcised. True, our faith is imputed righteousness.
But he went on to be circumcised, just as we must receive the spiritual circumcision- our heart circumcised from sin.
And Abraham exercised his faith to leave his home for a new land - which we must also do, spiritually go to the kingdom of God.
We can't just sit around celebrating our imputed righteousness, which only gives us the right to approach God for help.
No, we must go to Him to receive his cleansing grace to become righteous- the fruit of which is peace;
 the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever. Isaiah 32:17
Imputed peace, quietness and confidence forever is the make-believe instant righteousness of make-believe Christians.

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Rom 3:24
But this access to God does not make us instantly justified, for we seek to be justified in Christ. Gal. 2:17

And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. Rom 11:6
Not of works, lest any man should boast. Eph 2:8-9
It is faith and grace that saves. We are not saved by works, but by grace. Very true!
But slaves of depravity twist grace to be instantly complete and to justify DOING NOTHING in faith for salvation!.
Per Paul: Grace teaches what to deny and how to live in a godly way that leads to purity. Titus 2:11-14
These whitewashed false prophets have the audacity to claim that the cross and repentance is 'works;'
Going beyond ridiculous, they tell you if you do anything, you will loose your salvation by falling under the law.
This is a malicious distortion of the truth, dreamed up by lazy, evil men, devoid of any sense of godliness.
Works without faith in Christ count for nothing with God. But works energized by faith in Christ are essential.
Paul said, I declared.. that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance. Acts 26:20
The cross is only obedience, and those who oppose it are headed for destruction, for their god is their belly. Phil 3:19
James said, "faith without works is dead." James 2:17
Paul further said, "continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling." Philippians 2:12
Again Paul said, grace results in a people zealous for good works. Titus 2:14
Jesus said, unless you repent you will all likewise perish. Luke 13:3. Repentance requires effort on your part.
And, As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Rev 3:19 (Zealous is -ardent desire, enthusiastic).
Jesus further said, Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. Mat 11:29
Jesus said, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow me. Luke 9:23
Jesus said, I have not found thy works perfect before God. Rev 3:2-3