The Heresy of Perfectionism
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That is why Jesus said we have to be born of the Spirit. Are you? If so then do righteousness, but those who walk after the flesh and lusts of the flesh are not righteous.
You have no future resurrection, at least one that will help you get to heaven, if you don't have THE Resurrection.
May Jesus bless
You have no future resurrection, at least one that will help you get to heaven, if you don't have THE Resurrection.
May Jesus bless
If we have a desire to be perfect we should be occupied and have a single eye focused upon Christ, who is perfect. The more we get to know Him and how He walked and lived and the way He loved and had compassion on people, the more we will learn to be like Him in thought, word and deed. He is the perfect one we are to follow and turn to when we are in need. The more we receive from Him through His mercy and grace the more we have of Him to give to others that need Him. I believe in my heart that we really get to know Him when we walk by faith in the light of what He has spoken to us through His word. In that walk of faith, we have fellowship with Him and we trust Him and acknowledge Him in all things and find Him to be faithful. We believe the promises that He has given us and we know that He dwells in those that He has redeemed with His blood. When we have fellowship with them we are fellowshipping with Christ who dwells in them. This the mystery of fellowship (Eph 3:9) that we continue to have with Christ who has set us apart and perfected us forever in Him (Heb 10:14).
Phil 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Phil 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Wesleyan perfectionism
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Wesleyan perfectionism, sometimes called entire sanctification, is a view held by John Wesley that taught that Christians could to some degree attain perfection in this life. Wesley described it as,
"...that habitual disposition of the soul which, in the sacred writings, is termed holiness; and which directly implies being cleansed from sin, 'from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit'; and, by consequence, being endued with those virtues which were in Christ Jesus; being so 'renewed in the image of our mind,' as to be 'perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect' (A Plain Account of Christian Perfectionism, p. 12).
Furthermore,
"In this is perfection, and glory, and happiness: the royal law of heaven and earth is this, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' The one perfect good shall be your one ultimate end" (ibid.). Lastly, perfection is "deliverance from inward as well as from outward sin" (ibid., p. 26) and "a Christian is so far perfect as not to commit sin" (ibid., p. 25).
How one attains perfection
Wesley says that perfection is "spoken of as receivable by mere faith, and as hindered only by unbelief." Moreover, "this faith, and consequently the salvation which it brings, is spoken of as a given in an instant... It is supposed that instant may be now" (ibid., p. 34).
What perfection is not
Wesley was clear what perfection doesn't mean,
"They are not perfect knowledge. They are not free from ignorance, no, nor from mistake. We are no more to expect any living man to be infallible, than to be omniscient. They are not free from infirmities, such as weakness or slowness of understanding, irregular quickness or heaviness of imagination... (ibid., p. 23). He later clarified that,
"We willingly allow and continually declare, there is no such perfection in this life, as implies either a dispensation from doing good, and attending all ordinances of God, or a freedom from ignorance, mistake, temptation, and a thousand infirmities necessarily connected with flesh and blood (ibid., p. 35).
Important Issues
Sin
Sin is that which is contrary to the nature and character of God. The word sin, as understood by Wesley, refers to:
There are also sins of rebellion (blatant defiance of God), and sins of omission, in which we neglect to do that which is right.
Sin and death have been conquered by the LORD.
Perfection
Scripture is clear that perfection is commanded of us (see passages below), however, it is important to understand what this really means. The Greek word teleioi, found in Matthew 5:48, does not mean "flawless" or "spotless". Rather, it means "complete". It becomes possible, then, to be "perfect" without being entirely free from sin. "That is, we can possess the fullness of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:13) and the full fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) without possessing them completely" (Erickson, p. 985).
http://www.theopedia.com/Wesleyan_perfectionism
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side note on the subject of PERFECT:
The Greek word teleioi, found in Matthew 5:48, does not mean "flawless" or "spotless". Rather, it means "complete".
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 13
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
From Theopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Wesleyan perfectionism, sometimes called entire sanctification, is a view held by John Wesley that taught that Christians could to some degree attain perfection in this life. Wesley described it as,
"...that habitual disposition of the soul which, in the sacred writings, is termed holiness; and which directly implies being cleansed from sin, 'from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit'; and, by consequence, being endued with those virtues which were in Christ Jesus; being so 'renewed in the image of our mind,' as to be 'perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect' (A Plain Account of Christian Perfectionism, p. 12).
Furthermore,
"In this is perfection, and glory, and happiness: the royal law of heaven and earth is this, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' The one perfect good shall be your one ultimate end" (ibid.). Lastly, perfection is "deliverance from inward as well as from outward sin" (ibid., p. 26) and "a Christian is so far perfect as not to commit sin" (ibid., p. 25).
How one attains perfection
Wesley says that perfection is "spoken of as receivable by mere faith, and as hindered only by unbelief." Moreover, "this faith, and consequently the salvation which it brings, is spoken of as a given in an instant... It is supposed that instant may be now" (ibid., p. 34).
What perfection is not
Wesley was clear what perfection doesn't mean,
"They are not perfect knowledge. They are not free from ignorance, no, nor from mistake. We are no more to expect any living man to be infallible, than to be omniscient. They are not free from infirmities, such as weakness or slowness of understanding, irregular quickness or heaviness of imagination... (ibid., p. 23). He later clarified that,
"We willingly allow and continually declare, there is no such perfection in this life, as implies either a dispensation from doing good, and attending all ordinances of God, or a freedom from ignorance, mistake, temptation, and a thousand infirmities necessarily connected with flesh and blood (ibid., p. 35).
Important Issues
Sin
Sin is that which is contrary to the nature and character of God. The word sin, as understood by Wesley, refers to:
- ...thoughts, intentions, and acts contrary to God, wherein the offender is a sentient, morally accountable being (e.g. angels, human beings/mankind-the children of Adam).
- ...the nature posessed by fallen beings. This nature, also called the flesh is a product of the fall and is imputed to the children of Adam - every man, woman, and child. It is a nature with which we are born and is present in every descendant of Adam and Eve, except the virgin born Jesus Christ. The flesh is at war with God's Spirit, compelling men and women to do that which is contrary God.
- ...an oblation (i.e. a sacrifice offering). The Old Testament animal sacrifices represent the one ultimate sin offering of the Messiah. Customarily, in recognition of the sin nature with which every man is born, and in recognition of personal, individual sins, the transgressor would put his hands of the head of the offering. This was a solemn moment, in which the offerer of the oblation acknowledged that an innocent victim was to suffer and shed its blood for the sinner. Laying the hands on the head represented the sin being transfered to the sacrifice, so that the oblation would die for the sin comitted. This was ultimately fulfilled in the Lamb of God, Jesus. Thus, because of the identification with the sin of the transgressor, and the oblation, the offering became known of as, :sin." "He who knew no sin was made sin for us, that we might be made the righteousness of God.
There are also sins of rebellion (blatant defiance of God), and sins of omission, in which we neglect to do that which is right.
Sin and death have been conquered by the LORD.
Perfection
Scripture is clear that perfection is commanded of us (see passages below), however, it is important to understand what this really means. The Greek word teleioi, found in Matthew 5:48, does not mean "flawless" or "spotless". Rather, it means "complete". It becomes possible, then, to be "perfect" without being entirely free from sin. "That is, we can possess the fullness of Jesus Christ (Eph. 4:13) and the full fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22-23) without possessing them completely" (Erickson, p. 985).
http://www.theopedia.com/Wesleyan_perfectionism
~
side note on the subject of PERFECT:
The Greek word teleioi, found in Matthew 5:48, does not mean "flawless" or "spotless". Rather, it means "complete".
Ephesians 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
Colossians 1:28
Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus:
1 Corinthians 13
8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away. 9 For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10 but when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away. 11 When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I gave up childish ways. 12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
13So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
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Thanks zone, that explains it well 
How I sum it up, is that I strive for holiness, not perfection. And I dont pretend to fool myself into thinking Ill ever be perfect in an imperfect body, with a deceitful heart and sin stained soul. But one day ill be a shining new creation and will worship Yahweh, Yeshua and Ruach HaKodesh forever
How I sum it up, is that I strive for holiness, not perfection. And I dont pretend to fool myself into thinking Ill ever be perfect in an imperfect body, with a deceitful heart and sin stained soul. But one day ill be a shining new creation and will worship Yahweh, Yeshua and Ruach HaKodesh forever
Thanks zone, that explains it well
How I sum it up, is that I strive for holiness, not perfection. And I dont pretend to fool myself into thinking Ill ever be perfect in an imperfect body, with a deceitful heart and sin stained soul. But one day ill be a shining new creation and will worship Yahweh, Yeshua and Ruach HaKodesh forever
How I sum it up, is that I strive for holiness, not perfection. And I dont pretend to fool myself into thinking Ill ever be perfect in an imperfect body, with a deceitful heart and sin stained soul. But one day ill be a shining new creation and will worship Yahweh, Yeshua and Ruach HaKodesh forever
Good stuff!
Maybe Sproul needs to read and refer to Saul the Pharisee's condition as in a Pharisaical,
Temple Worshiping, Animal Sacrificing CLIQUE and his regeneration as Paul the
semi-enlightened in Philippians chapter 3. It is probably going to be VERY DIFFICULT for a
preacher or theologian (or many of us) to maintain an office and also see righteousness
to say nothing of perfection. Woe to you scribes and pharisees, teachers of the Law ...
Interesting Bible research and exposition is one thing, addressing the personal and
societal ills that lead us to lose salvation is another. Living in a cave or a monastery
rejects the notion that we have ceded our salvation to Religions and the Government,
who under Supreme Court Law has ruled that corporations are people.
Maybe Sproul needs to read and refer to Saul the Pharisee's condition as in a Pharisaical,
Temple Worshiping, Animal Sacrificing CLIQUE and his regeneration as Paul the
semi-enlightened in Philippians chapter 3. It is probably going to be VERY DIFFICULT for a
preacher or theologian (or many of us) to maintain an office and also see righteousness
to say nothing of perfection. Woe to you scribes and pharisees, teachers of the Law ...
Interesting Bible research and exposition is one thing, addressing the personal and
societal ills that lead us to lose salvation is another. Living in a cave or a monastery
rejects the notion that we have ceded our salvation to Religions and the Government,
who under Supreme Court Law has ruled that corporations are people.
if we're going to use commentators, then lets look back to the early church...
i like the quote that Clement of Alexandria (c. 195AD) made concerning Christian perfection:
"abstinence from sins is not sufficient for perfection, unless a person also assumes the work of righteousness- activity in doing good."
and sinlessness:
"Christ alone in sinless. However, as far as we are able, let us try to sin as little as possible"
i like the quote that Clement of Alexandria (c. 195AD) made concerning Christian perfection:
"abstinence from sins is not sufficient for perfection, unless a person also assumes the work of righteousness- activity in doing good."
and sinlessness:
"Christ alone in sinless. However, as far as we are able, let us try to sin as little as possible"
Hyper Calvinism is what classical Calvinism is. John Calvin held the opinion that whoever did not hold to absolute predestination(double predestination) was not a true Calvinist.
when you have a God that not only predestines a man to heaven, but to hell, that God then pre-ordains all sin in one's life, and therefore becomes the Author of sin. Even john Calvin himself said that God sends people to hell for His own good pleasure... apparently John never read 2 Peter 3
when you have a God that not only predestines a man to heaven, but to hell, that God then pre-ordains all sin in one's life, and therefore becomes the Author of sin. Even john Calvin himself said that God sends people to hell for His own good pleasure... apparently John never read 2 Peter 3