Dear Jim: I will make a few COMMENTS on your email................
Dear Ray,
Your teachings have changed my life, you are really God appointed and not self or others appointed. I really need the answer to this question to solidify things for me. You say we have to have sin out of our lives to be the chosen, does God make us perfect through Christ? can you show me through scripture that that is not just positionally but in behavior also.
COMMENT: No Believer is "perfect" and totally free from sin while he is still in this flesh. One needs to repent of their sins and be led by God's Holy Spirit into a life where one is no longer reigned over by sin. It doesn't mean that we are perfect and sinless. Even the Apostle John near the end of his ministry plainly stated:
1Jo 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1Jo 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
It says in James that God's seed can't sin, can the new man/creature sin? isn't that part of us perfect? do we have God's seed? what is that seed?
COMMENT: There are a lot of unscriptural phrases in that set of questions that are difficult to answer as asked.
Actually, the Scripture you are trying to reference is found in I John 3:9, not in James' epistle:
1Jo 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
This is speaking of being "born" of God. No one is "born" of God until resurrection. In this life we are only "begotten." The words "born" and "begotten" come from the same Greek word. They didn't have two different words for the two different aspects of regeneration. Here is a Scripture that shows we have only a spiritual "begettal" in this life:
Eph 1:13 In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise,
Eph 1:14 Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
Notice that we must wait "until" our full redemption is acquired. That happens in resurrection. Jesus taught that when we are actually "born" of the spirit (rather than just begotten), we will be "like the wind." None of us are "like the wind" in this life (John 3:6-8).
There are many Scriptures which speak of how we are to come out of sin, and stop sinning, even though we never achieve total perfection while we are in the flesh:
Eph 5:1 Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;
Eph 5:2 And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savour.
Eph 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;
Eph 5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.
Eph 5:5 For this ye know, that no whore monger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.
Eph 5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
Eph 5:7 Be not ye therefore partakers with them.
Eph 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:
Eph 5:9 (For the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness and righteousness and truth;)
Eph 5:10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
Eph 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
Eph 5:12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Eph 5:13 But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Eph 5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light.
Eph 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,
Eph 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
Eph 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.
Eph 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;
Eph 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
Eph 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
This is way to big a subject to cover in an email, but I hope this has been helpful to you. Read all the material on our site. Especially read the first paper at the top of our Home Page: "YOU FOOLS! YOU HYPOCRITES! YOU SNAKES!" This is must reading if you are to understand our walk with God.
God be with you,
Ray
Knowing this answer will help with my understanding.
Thanks
Jim