Is sinless perfection possible in this life?

Sinless perfection is the concept of living a life completely free from sin. Sinless perfection implies that a person can be morally and spiritually flawless whilst living in this fallen world.
Therefore people who believe in sinless perfection claim that it is possible after a person becomes a Christian for a Christian to become completely obedient to God’s will and law at all times.
Sinless perfection implies that a Christian can be perfect in thought, action and motive all times and never sin despite living in a fallen and sinful world.

However, is sinless perfection achievable in this life? Does the Bible teach that Christians will totally be incapable of sinning after they become born again? Should Christians thrive to achieve sinless perfection?

What does the Bible say about Sinless Perfection?

The Bible itself highlights that when we become Christians, we will continue to have an ongoing struggle with sin in this current life.
Paul who is one of the writers of the New Testament wrote about his own personal struggles with sin even though he was a Christian and apostle of Christ.
In Romans 7:14-25 Paul describes his ongoing struggle with sin and the law of sin that dwells within him.

In Romans 7:14-20 NLT Paul writes: So the trouble is not with the law, for it is spiritual and good. The trouble is with me, for I am all too human, a slave to sin. 15 I don’t really understand myself, for I want to do what is right, but I don’t do it. Instead, I do what I hate. 16 But if I know that what I am doing is wrong, this shows that I agree that the law is good. 17 So I am not the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it. 18 And I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. I want to do what is right, but I can’t. 19 I want to do what is good, but I don’t. I don’t want to do what is wrong, but I do it anyway. 20 But if I do what I don’t want to do, I am not really the one doing wrong; it is sin living in me that does it.

So Paul openly admits to his own flaws and struggle with sin even though he is a Christian. He confesses to his readers that he struggles with sin.

In Galatians 5:16-17 Paul also speaks about the conflict between our sin nature / flesh and the Spirit.
Paul explains that the desires of our sinful nature is constantly at war with the Spirit and that we must choose to walk in the Spirit.
Galatians 5:16-17 says: So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. 17 For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with each other, so that you do not do what you want.

1 John 1:8-10 requires us to openly admit that we are flawed and have sinned. If we claim that we have not sinned or cannot sin, then “we deceive ourselves”. So by claiming that we do not sin, we basically become liars because achieving sinless perfection is not possible in a fallen world.
1 John 1:8-10 says: If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar and His word has no place in our lives.

1 John 1:8-10 reveals the following
a) Claiming that we have not sinned is wrong and reveals that we are deceived (vs 8)
b) Claiming that we have not sinned reveals that we are liars or hypocrites because the truth is not in us (vs 8)
c) People who admit that they sin and confess their sins to God will be forgiven and purified by God (vs 9). It takes humility to admit that you can be wrong. It takes humility to confess our sins before God. Only flawed people can confess their sins. There was only one flawless Person who walked the earth and it was Jesus Christ.
d) If we claim that we have not sinned, we make God to be a liar and it is impossible for God to tell a lie (vs 10).

Should Christians Aim for Sinless Perfection?

The Christian life is a journey of learning. Sometimes we will fall but when we fall, God will forgive us.
From the moment we became born again through faith in Jesus Christ, we became justified and we have assurance of salvation and heaven when we die.
Our sanctification whilst on earth is a process. During our Christian life on earth we will learn, make mistakes and still struggle with sin. However, the difference is that Christ and the Spirit of God will help us to overcome sin as we yield to God and His word.

The Bible teaches that we should hate sin and aim to become more like Jesus Christ in our daily living. Therefore we must always aim to please God and avoid sinning. We are called to walk in the Spirit so that we do not live in accordance with the flesh or sin nature.
However, whenever we do commit sin, we must confess our sins (1 John 1:9) and continue to move forward in our relationship with God.

In Philippians 3:12-14 Paul acknowledges his own imperfections and strives for perfection, but recognizes that it’s a lifelong pursuit.
In Philippians 3:12-14 NLT Paul writes: I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

We will only become perfect and incapable of sinning when we are separated from this fallen world and are in the presence of God in heaven.