Be Perfect As Your Heavenly Father Is Perfect.

[Charlie24]

So, as sin comes in from the outside, it is immediately cleansed out of the person's life.

Does this not indicate that, because the person is continually being cleansed from all sin, that sin does not have the opportunity to take permanent residence in the person's life?

For it is immediately cleansed out of the person's life the moment that it begins to come in.

This is the result of walking in the light as He is in the light.

The fact that the Blood must remain available for man should tell you something.

John 1:8

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"

 

[justbyfaith]

The fact that the Blood must remain available for man should tell you something.

John 1:8

"If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us"

1 John 1:8 is qualified by Job 9:21, John 9:41, Isaiah 42:19, and 1 Corinthians 4:3-4.

 

[Charlie24]

1 John 1:8 is qualified by Job 9:21, John 9:41, Isaiah 42:19, and 1 Corinthians 4:3-4.

We are not sinners because we sin! We sin because we are sinners!

We are born sinners! It will not be possible for you to stop sinning in this life!

If God could bring us to sinless perfection in this life there would be no reason for the resurrection of life where we are made perfect from this body of sin.

Of course I know you will go on believing you can, the danger in that is you trying of your own efforts to achieve this.

But when you accept that you are deceiving yourself in believing you can't, that's when you rest by faith in Christ.

If you continue to believe you can become perfect there is a very good chance you will become dependent on self!

That is an ever present danger!

 

[justbyfaith]

We are not sinners because we sin! We sin because we are sinners!

We are born sinners! It will not be possible for you to stop sinning in this life!

If God could bring us to sinless perfection in this life there would be no reason for the resurrection of life where we are made perfect from this body of sin.

Of course I know you will go on believing you can, the danger in that is you trying of your own efforts to achieve this.

But when you accept that you are deceiving yourself in believing you can't, that's when you rest by faith in Christ.

If you continue to believe you can become perfect there is a very good chance you will become dependent on self!

That is an ever present danger!

No; because I am secure in knowing that my justification is in the blood of Jesus Christ and by faith alone in Him; not in any way dependent on my performance.

I believe that you are mistaken and are not taking certain scriptures into account.

Keep reading your King James Version of the Bible and I believe that you will eventually see things my way.

 

[Blik]

We are not sinners because we sin! We sin because we are sinners!

We are born sinners! It will not be possible for you to stop sinning in this life!

If God could bring us to sinless perfection in this life there would be no reason for the resurrection of life where we are made perfect from this body of sin.

Of course I know you will go on believing you can, the danger in that is you trying of your own efforts to achieve this.

But when you accept that you are deceiving yourself in believing you can't, that's when you rest by faith in Christ.

If you continue to believe you can become perfect there is a very good chance you will become dependent on self!

That is an ever present danger!

Instead of all this reasoning with the fleshly mind, wouldn't it be better and more truthful to just listen to the Lord?

We are told to repent for the kingdom of God is within us. If we repent then we do not want any sin in our life, that is what repentance is. That means that we give our will to the Lord, and the Lord is perfect. We are told that we are cleansed completely of all sin depending on our faith in the Lord, and that gets us back to repentance. Repentance leads us to the will to be perfect.

You way of understanding leads, as you say, to self instead of the Lord. Give up this self and accept the Lord in your life.

 

[NOV25]

If no human being can be perfect, why did Jesus tell His disciples to be perfect?

We’re commanded to do many things in the Bible we cannot do. Why? The simple answer is two fold.
1. The natural man hears the command realizes he cannot comply of his own strength causing a turning to God.

2. The spiritual man, the Christian: one born of Spirit, hears the command and sees compliance, sees the work of the Spirit in sanctification and glorifies God who is doing the work.

Think 1st John, I write these things unto you that you know you are saved. In other words, upon reading the words of John the reader is given confirmation. Why? Because the work is already present, has already begun by the Spirit.

The natural man hears commands, hears that he should be doing, while the spiritual man hears confirmation and glorifies the doer.

All good gifts are from above, including sanctification. All glory be to only He who has the power to change the nature of man.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

You are misrepresenting the word "perfect" as it was being used *in context.* You are using it as though it is used in English, which does not easily translate into the context of human sinners, which we are discussing.

Yes, "perfect" would normally be used in English for something unblemished. But in the context of human sin, "perfect" cannot mean sinless, as you agree. So what is the sense of the word "perfect" in the context of human sin?

"Perfect" with respect to flawed human beings refers to someone who is living a life of obedience. And even more than that, it means someone who has completely transferred over to a life of righteousness from a life of intermittent obedience. It is living a born again lifestyle--not a sinless lifestyle.

So perfect conveys the idea of a complete change in nature, rather than going from imperfection to perfection with respect to sin. It has to do with completely abandoning a life dominated by sin to living a life still tarnished by the sin nature, and yet characterized by overcoming that sin.

The reason you don't get this is because it's difficult to transition from the English "perfect" to the biblical sense of a sinner living a life of righteousness. It sounds like a contradiction to have a sinner live a life of righteousness. But nevertheless, that is the life of one whose nature has been changed, and is living a life led by the spirit of grace.

To be "perfect" in the biblical sense, and as Jesus used the word, is to live in a new nature, inspired by God's grace. It is not being sinless, but rather, committing completely to Christ's righteousness.

But this is not what Jesus said.

He just spent a whole message trying to show the people how the law could not make them perfect. and even though the jews believed they were perfect according to the law. They still were not perfect.

He told them flat out. If you want to get to heaven by your own power in being obedient.

Be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.

Thats the only way in plan A.

 

[eternally-gratefull]

Instead of all this reasoning with the fleshly mind, wouldn't it be better and more truthful to just listen to the Lord?

We are told to repent for the kingdom of God is within us. If we repent then we do not want any sin in our life, that is what repentance is. That means that we give our will to the Lord, and the Lord is perfect. We are told that we are cleansed completely of all sin depending on our faith in the Lord, and that gets us back to repentance. Repentance leads us to the will to be perfect.

You way of understanding leads, as you say, to self instead of the Lord. Give up this self and accept the Lord in your life.

yet you will still sin.

And still fall short of Gods standard.

 

[Charlie24]

Instead of all this reasoning with the fleshly mind, wouldn't it be better and more truthful to just listen to the Lord?

We are told to repent for the kingdom of God is within us. If we repent then we do not want any sin in our life, that is what repentance is. That means that we give our will to the Lord, and the Lord is perfect. We are told that we are cleansed completely of all sin depending on our faith in the Lord, and that gets us back to repentance. Repentance leads us to the will to be perfect.

You way of understanding leads, as you say, to self instead of the Lord. Give up this self and accept the Lord in your life.

"Fleshy mind" or just the truth! It's one thing to say "give our will to the Lord" and another to actually do it.

How many of us turn and repent every time?

 

[justbyfaith]

yet you will still sin.

And still fall short of Gods standard.

If you walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit, the righteousness of the law will be fulfilled in you (Romans 8:4).

That means that you will not sin (1 John 3:4-9).

 

[justbyfaith]

But this is not what Jesus said.

He just spent a whole message trying to show the people how the law could not make them perfect. and even though the jews believed they were perfect according to the law. They still were not perfect.

He told them flat out. If you want to get to heaven by your own power in being obedient.

Be perfect, as your father in heaven is perfect.

Thats the only way in plan A.

Jesus did say that if your righteousness doesn't exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you will in no wise enter in to the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 5:20).

So, the question arises, can a person have such a righteousness in the practical sense?

If we can, then Jesus requires it of us.

There is a righteousness which is according to the law; and there is a righteousness which is of God by faith (Philippians 3:9).

The righteousness of the law is merely outward and does not cleanse the inside of the cup and platter.

The righteousness which is of God by faith cleanses the inside of the cup and platter and also results in the righteousness of the law being fulfilled in a person (Romans 8:4) from the inside out.

The righteousness which is of God by faith is clearly superior; it exceeds the righteousness of the law (of the scribes and Pharisees) because it deals with iniquity on the inside and doesn't just clean up a person on the outside. For the latter is hypocrisy.

But Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:20 that your righteousness on the inside must exceed the outward impeccability that was characteristic of the Pharisees and scribes.

For the scribes and Pharisees were outwardly impeccable; blameless on the outside.

 

[Blik]

yet you will still sin.

And still fall short of Gods standard.

That is why God gave us Christ. That is why we are to repent, and repentance does not mean to do this once and be done with it, but to live in a state of wanting not to sin.

God tells us to be perfect, and we know and God knows that is impossible. But God does not say, not once, to be imperfect! It is our will God is speaking of.

 

[FlyingDove]

If no human being can be perfect, why did Jesus tell His disciples to be perfect?

Matt 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
we are said to be perfect, as he is perfect

Thayer's Greek Definition #5046 Perfect , [ teleioi ], or 'complete,'

Strong's Definition #5049 Perfect: teleios "having reached its end" (telos), "finished, complete, perfect

Mounce's Definition perfect: mature, finished

Vines dictionary Definition PERFECT: It is used thus of God in Matthew 5:48; (II) of "things, complete, perfect,

KJV Dictionary Definition PER'FECT, a. L. perfectus, perficio, to complete; per and facio, to do or make through, to carry to the end.
1. Finished; complete;

Col 2:10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Acknowledge God "IS" & you have sinned against His sovereign rule deserving heavens sin payment "DEATH'. Then place your faith in Christ's sin atoning death, burial & resurrection.

Then Christ imputes His righteousness onto you. Whereby you become complete/Perfect.

Jesus trusted the Father, trust Jesus

 

[ankagirl]

Being in Christ Jesus is also defined by the fact that we walk not after the flesh but after the Spirit.

Gal 5:18, But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law.

Gal 5:22, But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Gal 5:23, Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.

Galatians 5:22-23 describes 'fruits' of the Spirit, not works that we do after we get saved. Fruits are something taht will naturally come with being born into the kingdom of God, because when we are born into the kingdom of God, we are no longer led by our own flesh, but we are led by the Holy Spirit.