The Frustration of AA: Progressing to Perfection Which Has Been Perfected

This thought brings us to Step Ten, which suggests we continue to take personal inventory and continue to set right any new mistakes as we go along. We vigorously commenced this way of living as we cleaned up the past. We have entered the world of the Spirit. Our next function is to grow in understanding and effectiveness. This is not an overnight matter. It should continue for our lifetime. Continue to watch for selfishness, dishonesty, resentment, and fear. When these crop up, we ask God at once to remove them. We discuss them with someone immediately and make amends quickly if we have harmed anyone. Then we resolutely turn our thoughts to someone we can help. Love and tolerance of others is our code. (AA, pg 84)

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (Romans 6: 11)

Every man and woman who believes on the Lord Jesus Christ is taken from death to life:

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3: 16)

Then

"We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love each other. Anyone who does not love remains in death." (1 John3: 14)

No one should read the verse from 1 John with a sense of fear or dread, because any love in our lives begins with God's love for us:

"Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins." (1 John 4:10)

The English implies causation, the He came to be our mercy seat, but then no longer. The truth is that Jesus remains forever more our mercy seat, our justification before God the Father:

"Who [Jesus] was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification." (Romans 4: 25)

then

"Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth." (Romans 8: 33)

If you believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, that He died for your sins, and that He is your representative, your justification at the right hand of God the Father, then you are a new creation in Christ (2 Corinthians 5: 17)

We are no longer alive in our flesh, but instead we walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5: 16), and we identify with who we are in Christ:

"Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. " (Romans 6: 11)

and

"For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. " (Romans 8: 13)

Now,before anyone falls for the falsehood that walking in the Spirit is a work which we must work for, Paul then explains:

14For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father." (Romans 8: 14-15)

We have been adopted into God's new family, with Jesus as the first born of many brethren (Romans 8: 29), including you and me. This Spirit of adoption has sealed us forever with redemption (Ephesians 1: 13, 4: 30).

While AA tells us "We claim progress, not perfection,", in Christ we are perfected because of the Holy Spirit::

"14For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. 15Whereof the Holy Ghost also is a witness to us: for after that he had said before,

16This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, saith the Lord, I will put my laws into their hearts, and in their minds will I write them; 17And their sins and iniquities will I remember no more. 18Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." (Hebrews 10: 14-18)

Instead of trying to be who you are in Christ, labor into the rest of righteousness (Hebrews 4: 8-11)which God grants to every person who believes on His Son and receives His Holy Spirit.