Sinlessness vs. Perfection
Discussions of sinlessness are hindered by broad-brush treatments of the topic. It is important to make a distinction between sinlessness and perfection.
Jesus commanded us to be perfect:
Therefore I would that ye should be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect. (3 Nephi 12:48)
His commandment perplexes many who consider their sinful state and wonder how that could ever be. Their bewilderment is not just due to a lack of faith, but also a conflation of the difference between perfection and the path to it.
Perfect in Christ
In the scriptures, the concept of complete reconciliation to one’s present understanding of God in thought and action is called being “perfect in Christ”:
Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God. (Moroni 10:32)
The path to becoming like God is comprised of consistent emulation of how you presently understand him to be, coupled to a successively more accurate understanding of how he is.
The goal of the gospel is to provide a path where men and women can become more like Jesus Christ in character, desire, and action.
The outcome of this process is to become like God is:
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:28)
However, this outcome is not reached in an instant. As you successively learn and completely adhere to what you presently know, God will make you more perfect:
And again, if ye by the grace of God are perfect in Christ, and deny not his power, then are ye sanctified in Christ by the grace of God, through the shedding of the blood of Christ, which is in the covenant of the Father unto the remission of your sins, that ye become holy, without spot. (Moroni 10:33)
The idea of total obedience can be overwhelming because people incorrectly think of it as being “perfect” all of the time. Total obedience is simply to do the best you can imagine, all of the time.
Perfect obedience is the same as being “perfect,” because what you are being perfectly obedient to is not perfection itself, but rather your current best understanding of it.
In other words, what God expects of you right now is not to be like he actually is, but to be like you think he is. There is a vast difference between these two ideals.
The reason he does not expect you to presently be like he actually is is because there is a great gulf between how you are and how he is, comprising not only your capability, but also your knowledge.. This gulf is so vast that it isn’t even presently possible for you to understand how he actually is.
Understanding and becoming more like God requires instruction, time, experience, and faith.
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: (Ephesians 4:13)
The “stature of the fulness of Christ” is a state to which one does not arrive in a day. There is no instantaneous, magical transformation into how Jesus and the Father are. Your obedience to God can and must be perfect, but your understanding of how he is will develop over time.
Sinlessness
To maintain plainness, we opt for the word “sinlessness” over the phrase “perfect in Christ,” as the definition of the latter can too easily be hijacked to mean “a magical transformation from a sinner to a saint,” while the former cannot.
Sinlessness is to live in such a way that every action and desire you have, in every moment, aligns completely with your sincere present understanding of the character of God—what you imagine he would do in your place.
Sinlessness is required in order to receive forgiveness of past sins. The scriptures call this justification.
Sinlessness is also required to have eternal life. The scriptures call this sanctification.
John the Revelator described true disciples of God as those who purify themselves, becoming like Jesus by not sinning and by keeping Jesus’ commandments:
1 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.
2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
5 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.
6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
8 _He that committeth sin is of the devil_; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
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.
10 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 loveth not his brother. (1 John 3)
Anyone living anything short of sinlessness is destined for hell—to pay the price of their past sins and to eternally contend with the knowledge of what they could have had if they had not turned away from the opportunities for improvement they had in life.
Sinlessness is possible
Too many believe that sinlessness isn’t possible. They incorrectly project their own unbelief and lack of conviction onto others. Their choice not to do something doesn’t make it impossible for those who do. Jesus, our example in all things, lived a sinless life:
For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. (Hebrews 4:15)
Though he was born as the Son of God, he was also “in all points tempted like as we are,” but he never sinned, showing that there is nothing about our mortal bodies that precludes us from living without sin.
One of the reasons Jesus had to come to this earth as a man is to prove that it is within the capacity of man to perfectly obey God.
7 Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.
8 Wherefore, after he was baptized with water the Holy Ghost descended upon him in the form of a dove.
9 And again, it showeth unto the children of men the straitness of the path, and the narrowness of the gate, by which they should enter, he having set the example before them.
10 And he said unto the children of men: Follow thou me. Wherefore, my beloved brethren, can we follow Jesus save we shall be willing to keep the commandments of the Father? (2 Nephi 31)
Though Jesus was the only human who kept all of the commandments of which he was aware from birth, many others have followed his example after learning of him.
Many have shown us that sinlessness is possible. Through their example, you are left without excuse.
The highest courts of heaven are filled with “an innumerable number” of those who stopped sinning in life:
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect, (Hebrews 12)
We know the names of at least some of these people. Noah, for instance, “was a just man and perfect in his generations, and [he]walked with God.” (Genesis 6:9) The Israelite king “Asa’s heart was perfect with the Lord all his days.” (1 Kings 15:14) The prophet Nephi “kept the commandments from the time” he learned about the Lord (see 2 Nephi 1:24, see also 1 Nephi 5:20). Job “was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil.” (Job 1:1) Many more men attained to a sinless life, including Adam, Enoch, Abel, Seth, Abraham, Moses, Elijah, and John.
Some may be tempted to disregard these examples with some excuse like, “yes, but these are special people. I’m not special, so it’s too hard for me to be sinless.”
Obedience isn’t easier for some people than others. All people have the same capacity for obedience to God. “He fashioneth [all mens’] hearts alike; he considereth all their works.” (Psalm 33:15)
Even the most righteous people have to overcome the same struggles we all face. “Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are...” (James 5:17) The Lord Jesus himself was “...in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.” (Hebrews 4:15) Jesus faced and overcame all potential obstacles in life, demonstrating it can be done. It is possible to become free from sin:
...that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is; that we may have this hope; that we may be purified even as he is pure. Amen. (Moroni 7:48)
God has given you the power not to sin. You can obey everything God tells you, and you must if you desire to be saved and live with him in heaven.
Obedience is not overwhelming
God has promised that we will never be commanded beyond our capacity to obey:
...the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them. (1 Nephi 3:7)
God makes available to you the knowledge of all commandments which you are presently capable of keeping and only those which you are capable of keeping:
There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. (1 Corinthians 10:13)
We can be confident that any commandment of which we are aware is within our capacity to obey:
And thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness. (1 Nephi 17:3)
You can keep every commandment of which you know, all of the time. This profound truth ought to lead to significant change in your life. You can move forward with the confidence that any trial you face has been given to you by a loving God with full confidence of your capacity to obey.
As you grow in ability, God will reveal more and different commandments to you. To be perfect in Christ is to maintain obedience to all commandments that you know. It is to be reconciled to the portion of God’s word of which you are aware.
Disciples of Christ understand that God controls their understanding of what is best. You can trust in his knowledge and power to arrange circumstances so that you have the ability to obey and emulate everything about him that you presently understand.
Rest in God, knowing that if he has brought an invitation to improvement to your awareness, he knows you are ready to obey it:
And I said unto them: If God had commanded me to do all things I could do them.... (1 Nephi 17:50)
When you believe and lean into this promise, you realize that all of the previous difficulty of obedience is really just the result of your efforts to hold onto things that you know do not accord with your understanding of God while also claiming that you believe him. Choose one: you either believe in God and obey him in all things, or you don’t.
What happens when you keep every commandment you know
The standard commandments found in the scriptures provide a starting point. If you want to draw closer to God, read the scriptures prayerfully and identify each commandment you are currently disobeying. Repent and obey them. As you do this, God will reveal things in the scriptures that you didn’t previously see. He will also give you additional individual commandments.
Individual commandments can resemble scriptural commandments in scope and form or could be one-time instructions. Custom commandments can range from mundane to deeply profound. No matter how arbitrary it may seem, it is of utmost importance to keep any commandment God gives you or has given you, including what is contained in the scriptures.
As you obey what God has revealed, he will reveal more to you, which you are likewise obligated to obey. If you continue faithful, he will reveal yet more to you:
He that keepeth his commandments receiveth truth and light, until he is glorified in truth and knoweth all things. (D&C 93:28)
God will increase the difficulty of each commandment to correspond with your increasing spiritual strength. As he reveals more to you, you must reconcile yourself to him by remaining faithful to the new information he shows you.
If you come to him, he will show you the darkness that remains in you—the ways that you are different from him. There is no darkness in God, and no unclean thing can dwell in his presence. As long as there is darkness in you, you can't be with him. He will reveal to you, line upon line, how you can be more like him or, in other words, how you can more fully take upon you the name of Christ. Eventually, he will reveal to you every law that you need to live to be comfortable in his presence.
You must choose to follow God in each choice, every time. You must deny yourself of all ungodliness, or anything that deviates from the ideal.
What happens when you disobey any commandments at any time
If you sin knowingly, you are ineligible for salvation.
And remember also the words which Amulek spake unto Zeezrom, in the city of Ammonihah; for he said unto him that the Lord surely should come to redeem his people, but that he should not come to redeem them in their sins, but to redeem them from their sins. (Helaman 5:10)
For if we sin wilfully after that we have received the knowledge of the truth, there remaineth no more sacrifice for sins.... (Hebrews 10:26)
9 Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
10 Nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. (1 Corinthians 6)
But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him. Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God. (Mosiah 16:5)
But wo, wo unto him who knoweth that he rebelleth against God! For salvation cometh to none such except it be through repentance and faith on the Lord Jesus Christ. (Mosiah 3:12)
Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil...for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God. (Alma 12:32)
If, along the way, you sin—either by disobeying something you previously knew or resisting or rejecting something newly revealed— you remove yourself from his promises, and you must repent and renew your dedication to the Lord.
Two changes happen when you willingly disobey even one commandment.
First, you immediately recover the penalty of your past sins. God’s law requires you to obey all of the commandments you know. If you break even one commandment, you are held accountable as one who does not obey his law:
For whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. (James 2:10)
If you break even one commandment, you are responsible before God for the penalty of all your sins, including those which were previously forgiven:
And now, verily I say unto you, I, the Lord, will not lay any sin to your charge; go your ways and sin no more; but unto that soul who sinneth shall the former sins return, saith the Lord your God. (D&C 82:7)
Second, when you willingly break even one commandment, you lose some of your capacity to discern between right and wrong and regress to a lower level of understanding, making it impossible for you to see and choose as great of outcomes as you could previously.
Those who willingly disobey God will decrease in understanding, making it harder to see paths to improvement and to obtain what they lead to:
And he that repents not, from him shall be taken even the light which he has received; for my Spirit shall not always strive with man, saith the Lord of Hosts. (D&C 1:33)
You should always obey all of the commandments from God which you know.