I agree with what you said with exception to the bold. I'm going to make a general post which isn't directed at you exclusively.
Someone else has probably already addressed what I'm about to say, but...if we agree we are no longer alone or powerless (exclusively because of the Holy Spirit of Christ in us), that it's indeed He who does the work of obedience in us, then how or why is it
still true that perfection is unattainable? I can't honestly follow the reasoning...maybe someone from the other side of the argument can explain it.
This is the reasoning I follow:
Christ is Creator of all...
Master of reality...
With all authority in heaven and earth...
He was Placed inside Adam's flesh...
He was tempted constantly by that flesh, and yet was perfectly sinless; perfectly resisted its temptation.
.......and now - through the grace/power of God - he's inside *this* flesh (points to you, me & the members here)
...same flesh from Adam...
...same Christ from the beginning...
...same Creator of all...
...same Master of reality...
...same authority in heaven and earth...
...same temptations from this flesh...
...same strength to resist sin...
...same strength to achieve perfection...
......and yet somehow he can't do it again in *this* flesh?? Which is *still* supposed to be his body (i.e. "Body of Christ")?? I honestly don't understand. Can someone explain to me the difference between the Christ walking in Adam's flesh 2000 years ago and the Christ walking in this flesh now? What's the difference between then and now? Or please explain to me where my reasoning breaks down.
Somehow *this* flesh is greater than he who is now inside it??
Somehow we are still slaves to this flesh and its temptations, even though we're supposed to be dead to sin??
Somehow we are still alone & powerless whenever we try to obey God's law out of love for him, love that only Christ's Spirit can give us??
This is what doesn't make sense to me...honesty. I can't follow the reasoning. I don't understand how perfection is not possible if the mystery of God has been fulfilled. The mystery hidden from man for ages is "
Christ *IN* you" which is our only hope for the glory we are meant to achieve...the only hope
. If it's not possible to achieve perfect obedience to God's law exclusively with/because/on account of Christ inside of us...then what hope is there? It's the whole point he's there in the first place isn't it; to "move us" to obey (check my signature), otherwise what's the point of him even being inside of us? The fruit of faith in Christ is an obedient person; i.e. one who perfectly follows God's commandments, the process of which is Ezekiel 36:27 - his Spirit
moving us to (ourselves) follow those laws, like his Son did: *wanting* to and knowing how.
I don't understand...
It's why the only reasonable conclusion I can come up with for someone who continues believes that - even with Christ inside them - they're still alone and still unable to perfectly obey God's law if they try to, is either Christ isn't inside of them yet urging/empowering them to do it; meaning they have not really given over their lives and died on the cross so that Christ lives in them instead...or...they don't really understand the gospel of Christ and the gospel of the Kingdom.
Nothing is instantaneous and only children think in absolutes (all or nothing terms), but we are adults. We know everything takes time. There's a process; a journey; a walk to *eventually* achieve it...and that process is to move from "sinner/doomed" to "righteous/perfect". Nothing's instantaneous. But to say perfection is not achievable robs us of the only hope that scripture says is ours "in Christ".
Where does my reasoning break down?