Be perfect (Matthew 5:43-48)
- Thread starter MikkoAinasoja
- Start date
-
Christian Chat is a moderated online Christian community allowing Christians around the world to fellowship with each other in real time chat via webcam, voice, and text, with the Christian Chat app. You can also start or participate in a Bible-based discussion here in the Christian Chat Forums, where members can also share with each other their own videos, pictures, or favorite Christian music.
If you are a Christian and need encouragement and fellowship, we're here for you! If you are not a Christian but interested in knowing more about Jesus our Lord, you're also welcome! Want to know what the Bible says, and how you can apply it to your life? Join us!
To make new Christian friends now around the world, click here to join Christian Chat.
I have just heard a message in Church on 1John 3 and the minister made the statement "Perfection is possible". I personally believe that we are to strive for absolute perfection, but that it is not attainable until we are Glorified at the very end.
Near the beginning of the thread, someone said that the word "perfect" had roots that include the prefix "tele-". I wonder if that might signify a reaching out for, Like a tele-scope reaches out for the stars. We are to "press toward the mark" as Philippians 3:14 puts it.
Near the beginning of the thread, someone said that the word "perfect" had roots that include the prefix "tele-". I wonder if that might signify a reaching out for, Like a tele-scope reaches out for the stars. We are to "press toward the mark" as Philippians 3:14 puts it.
I think this sounds very much like the message of Romans 7:17 - 8:17....
Rom 7:17-8:17
17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6) For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
7) Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10) And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.
11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13) 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.
14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
Rom 7:17-8:17
17) Now then it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
18) For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but [how] to perform that which is good I find not.
19) For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
20) Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
21) I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
22) For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
23) But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
24) O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
25) I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.
1) [There is] therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
2) For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.
3) For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4) That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5) For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6) For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded [is] life and peace.
7) Because the carnal mind [is] enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8) So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
9) But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
10) And if Christ [be] in you, the body [is] dead because of sin; but the Spirit [is] life because of righteousness.
11) But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
12) Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.
13) 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.
14) For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.
15) For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.
16) The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:
17) And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with [him], that we may be also glorified together.
Do these verses apply to the NT Believer?.....
1John 1:9 (KJV)
9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1John 2:1-2 (KJV)
1) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Luke 11:3-4 (KJV)
3) Give us day by day our daily bread.
4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We know that all Scripture harmonizes. This knowledge should be a help. Every piece of good information shall lead us one step closer to the solution. We need to seek the Holy Spirit's aid. The Spirit is waiting for us to do so.
1John 1:9 (KJV)
9) If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1John 2:1-2 (KJV)
1) My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
2) And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for [the sins of] the whole world.
Luke 11:3-4 (KJV)
3) Give us day by day our daily bread.
4) And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
We know that all Scripture harmonizes. This knowledge should be a help. Every piece of good information shall lead us one step closer to the solution. We need to seek the Holy Spirit's aid. The Spirit is waiting for us to do so.
Heb 12:22-23 (KJV)
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,
I love this inspiring Word picture.
"...made perfect" causes me to think the meaning might be "become perfect", or better, "allow yourself to be made perfect by God."
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,
I love this inspiring Word picture.
"...made perfect" causes me to think the meaning might be "become perfect", or better, "allow yourself to be made perfect by God."
J
Yes the beauty of the scriptures. What I think is perfect, is that no matter how I try to be perfect, how do we become perfect, when were all uniquely made, and have our own personality from the Lord, the new we. However to me what I think perfect, would be is not what we are capable of doing, but being able to be in his perfection of his perfect peace. NO matter how we slice the cake, we mess up, and to me, any how is the only thing perfect is the peace of Jesus. "Though will keep him in perfect peace, when our mind is stayed on him." scripture. So within him, we are able, aside him, we are not.