I have recently started going to a new church. Many of
the church members believe that Christians must be perfect.
I have always thought that Christians aren't perfect - just
forgiven. Can you give me some texts to share with them?
First, it is wonderful that you are interested in sharing with
your fellow believers in the hope of shedding more light upon
their path. This is the job of all true Christians. You asked
for texts on the issue of whether or not Christians can be
perfect...
The issue you have brought up is an old one. To this day, theologians don't agree on the answer. Perhaps this is because the answer seems to contradict itself. Question: "Can Christians live without sinning?" Answer: "Yes and No"... Are you confused? Well, lets get out the Bible to clear things up.
At the heart of the issue is the subject of FAITH and WORKS. Many Christians mistakenly believe that they either posses faith or works... In this context, FAITH is desirable... And WORKS becomes the villian. But this division is not Scriptural. Scripture in fact JOINS the two.
James 2:14-18
What doth is profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, and one of you say unto them, 'Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled'; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; WHAT DOTH IT PROFIT?
EVEN SO FAITH, IF IT HATH NOT WORKS, IS DEAD, BEING ALONE. Yeah, a man may say, 'Thou hast faith, and I have works:' show me thy faith without thy works, AND I WILL SHOW THEE MY FAITH BY MY WORKS.
Here we see clearly that the evidence of faith in a person's life IS his/her works! Let's go beyond this with an illustration. Peter is a mortal man. A mortal man cannot walk on water... Yet Peter DID walk on water. See the story in Matthew 14:22-33.
Obviously Peter could not walk on water through his own abilities... In fact, when Peter began to rely on his own skills, he became afraid and sank. Jesus rebuked him with the words: "Oh thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?" If Peter had continued walking in faith, he would have continued walking on the water. This analogy holds true for gaining the victory in our lives over sin.
No one, on their own, can live without sin. I John 1:9-10 tells us that if we say we never sinned, we are liars. Yet, we do NOT have to keep on sinning. See Romans chapter 6. Here we learn that we DIED to SIN... We cannot continue to sin because we have allowed that part of us to die. We are now no longer slaves to continue sinning, we are freed under grace.
What does it mean to be free from the law? When I drive 55mph down the highway, I do not need to activate a RADAR detector. Why? I am not afraid of the law... Because I AM KEEPING THE LAW. Only those who KEEP God's law are FREE.
Can a Christian live without sin? Not on his own. But if he connects his life fully with God through faith - A Christian CAN live a victorious life. If he is truly victorious, he IS NOT SINNING. This is achieved through the same means by which Peter walked on water.
It may interest you to look up some Bible examples of people who have achieved this kind of perfect faith. Here are some references for your convenience:
Enoch was taken to heaven in his body because he "walked with God". Genesis 5:21-24
Elijah was physically taken to heaven in a firey chariot. 2 Kings 2:1-18
So, when you share texts with your fellow church members, be sure to encourage them to maintain a DAILY connection with Jesus. For only when mortals, through faith, grasp the hand of God; can they be victorious over all sin in their lives.