Is The Church Perfect?

          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:

THE PERFECT CHURCH...

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.