Good for you. Obviously you have a perfect walk with God, you are sinless and you exceed the righteousness of the first apostles.
Well, it's not about me but it is about what the Scriptures say. I do not believe Sinless Perfection is a salvation issue because it deals with going the extra mile in putting away non-mortal sins. For an example of a non-mortal vs. a mortal sin, just check out Matthew 5:22 below (by the words of our Lord Jesus Christ).
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” (Matthew 5:22).
The words highlighted in blue above are non-mortal sins, and the words highlighted in red is a mortal sin.
For there is a sin unto death, and a sin not unto death (See: 1 John 5:16-17).
As for your your mention of words that say, “
exceed the righteousness”:
Jesus says,
“For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20).
This is a problem in regards to the popular view in Christianity in regards to salvation. In context, Jesus was not saying all this so as to make a point that we cannot obey God. Neither was Jesus teaching that we can commit mortal sin and still be saved by having a belief alone in Him as the Savior. The whole sermon on the mount deals with how we must put away certain sins and if not, these sins can bring condemnation to us, and destroy our souls (See: Matthew 5:28-30, Matthew 6:15, Matthew 12:37, Matthew 25:31-46, Luke 9:62). For to love God and to love your neighbor is a part of inheriting eternal life (See: Luke 10:25-28).
You said:
I am far from perfect, I stumble in many ways and yet I am born again. (James 3:2),
You are reading James 3:2 from a corrupt Modern Translation (Note: Most Modern Translations stem from the Alexandrian Egyptian manuscripts. This is no surprise because Modern Translations remove 1 John 5:7, which is the one and only verse that point blank teaches the Trinity clearly and yet Alexandira Egypt is where Arianism originates (which just so happens to coincidentally removes 1 John 5:7 thereby supporting Arianism). Also, the Bible predominantly speaks negatively of Egypt, as well).
James 3:2 in the King James says,
“For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” (James 3:2) (KJB).
Also, James 3:2 and neither the context supports that we can stumble into sin and still claim we are born again. In fact, James talks about the necessity of obedience to God's Word as a part of eternal life or salvation (See: James 1:12, and James 1:21). Granted, I believe being born again is a past experience, but just because a person has been born again spiritually at one point in their life does not mean that they cannot be deceived by the deceitfulness of sin and harden their heart and depart from the living God (See: Hebrews 3:12-14). Those who are born again are characterized by doing righteousness.
“If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.” (1 John 2:29).
In fact, we are able to know the difference between the children of God, vs. the children of the devil on whether or not they do righteousness and love their brother.
“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 3:10).
Is one doing righteousness if they justify sin?
“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.” (1 John 3:8).
“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20).
Does doing righteousness guarantee a believer is saved if they also commit sin or iniquity?
Jesus says,
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23).
So Jesus is telling certain believers who did wonderful works in His name to depart from Him because they worked iniquity. Iniquity is sin.
Also, please pay close attention to these words by our Lord, as well (in the same passage).
“Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.” (Matthew 7:22-23).
I don't know about you, but when Jesus says that MANY will say to me that they did wonderful works in His name, He is referring to the majority of believers in Jesus Christ because they did wonderful works in His name. But just doing good works alone was not enough because these believers also justified sin with the thinking they would be saved because Jesus said to depart from Him because He did not know them on the account that they worked iniquity (i.e. sin or lawlessness).
Most Christians today believe they can sin and still be saved. Jesus points them out by saying, ”MANY will say unto me...” (Matthew 7:22), and says for them to depart from Him because they work iniquity (Matthew 7:23).
Now, some in the sin and still be saved camp will attempt to try and twist our Lord's words in Matthew 7:23. However, the context will refute them every time. Matthew 7:26-27 (the context) basically says that everyone who does not do what Jesus says is like a fool who built His house upon the sand, and when a storm came, great was the fall of that house. This is a picture of the destruction of anyone (believer or not) who will be destroyed if they justify sin.
You said:
However, you might like to take heed of 1 Corinthians 10:12 also.
And how does one fall? By being deceived by the deceitfulness of sin and hardening their heart by sin and thereby departing from the living God (Hebrews 3:12-14). Both Hebrews 3 and the beginning of 1 Corinthians 10 talks about those Israelites who fell in the wilderness. Thus the warnings by Paul against sin 1 Corinthians 6:9-10, and 1 Corinthians 10:6-10. The Israelites who fell away in the wilderness obviously fell away on the account of their justifying sin instead of seeking forgiveness with the Lord and then by a changed born again heart, they could then obey Him. Just read 1 Corinthians 10:6-11. There is no mention here about how the Israelites needed to trust in God alone and the future Messiah's finished work while they justified sin. That would be turning God's grace into a license for immorality (Jude 1:4).
