Is The Church Perfect?
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he answer to this question depends on to what part of
the church one is referring. For example, if one is referring to the pattern of
the church found in the New Testament, then the answer is yes, it is perfect.
But if one is referring to the members who make up the church, then the answer
is no. The only perfection that members of the church have is the forgiveness
that comes through the blood of Jesus. For Jesus came as a sacrificial lamb to
make forgiveness of sins possible.
When
John the Baptist saw Jesus coming to him, he announced, “Behold! The Lamb of
God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:29). Therefore, one’s redemption can come
only through Jesus. This is why Paul could write about Jesus, “In Him we
have redemption through His blood, the
forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).
As
we seek the forgiveness of Jesus, we should strive daily to live without
sinning, because, to Christians, sin is not a way of life. Paul asked the Roman
Christians, “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may
abound?” (Romans 6:1). Then he
answered his own question, “Certainly not!
How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:2).
However,
even though we may try, as Christians we still sin! How do we know this?
Because John wrote, “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves,
and the truth is not in us” (1 John
1:8).
How
do we deal with sins that are committed? John continues, “If we confess our
sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all
unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).
Thus,
as human beings in the church, we sin and must continually seek forgiveness.
Some author, unknown to me, wrote the following poem that I believe sums up
this subject:
I think that I shall never
see — A church that’s all it ought to be;
A church whose members
never stray — Beyond the strait and narrow way;
A church that has no empty
pews — Whose preacher never has the blues;
A church whose deacons
always “deak” —And none is proud, and all are meek;
Where gossips never peddle
lies, — Or make complaints or criticize;
Where all are always sweet
and kind, —And to all others’ faults are blind,
Such perfect churches
there may be, —But none of them is known to me.
But still, we’ll work and
pray and plan — To make this one the best we can.