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The Bible indicates time after time that the Lord does indeed want us to strive for perfection. For example, take a look at what Paul says in Titus 2:11-12   "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."  The Lord wants us to live in a holy way "in this present world."  But notice that these verses tell us that it's only by His grace that we can do it. Don't ever forget that!  Jesus tells us in John 15:5 that without Him we can do nothing.  But with Him, we can do all things, as Philippians 4:13 says.

On our own, it's impossible for us to obey God and stay away from sin, but Jesus said in Matthew 19:26 "with God all things are possible."  It's only when the Lord is living within that can we serve Him.  Like Paul said in Galatians 2:20  "I am crucified with Christ, nevertheless, I live. Yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. The life that I now live in the flesh, I live by the faith of the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me."  When we enter into this kind of experience, then we begin to see the power of God working in our lives.  But living a holy life isn't something that happens overnight.  Paul explained in Philippians 3:12-14 that he was not already perfect, but that he kept pressing on, day by day, towards the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 

We suggest that you read through Romans 6:1-13.  These verses talk about dying to sin and rising to walk in newness of life, just as Jesus died and rose again from the grave.  Verse 6 tells us again that our sinful nature needs to be crucified. Then verses 12 and 13 tells us that we should be continually turning form sin to righteousness. Again, we really believe that this is something that happens one step at a time, as God shows us areas in our life that need to be changed and as He gives us the grace to overcome these various sins. This is really what true sanctification is.  Like Jesus said in Luke 9:23  "If any man will come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me." 

We can see that this is a day by day experience of self denial, as our sinful nature is crucified one step at a time.  But we can't get discouraged if we do fall from time to time.  1 John 2:1  "My little children, these things I write unto you that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous."  So, our goal should always be to live without sin and we might mess up from time to time.  But we still should always strive for perfection through God's abiding grace!  Peter commands us: "but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, Be holy, for I am holy."  (1 Peter 1:15-16)

The promises all throughout Revelation 2 and 3 are to "him that overcometh." Why would it say that if it were impossible for us to overcome?  We believe that God is strong enough to do anything and that includes keeping a person from sin!  If he can do it in heaven, why can't he do it now? We all know that the devil can tempt us to sin, but isn't God more powerful than Satan?  Of course He is!  So if we say that's its impossible for God to keep us from sinning, then in reality, we would be saying that the devil is stronger than the Lord.  That's absurd!  We need to have faith when we pray the way Jesus instructed us in Matthew 6:13 "lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen."  Jude 24 promises that God "is able to keep you from falling and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy."