Why Does the Bible Tell Us to Behave In Ways We Can’t? How Can Anyone Be Saved?

[Mercy Shown]

I don't see why you feel 'accused', it was a statement for people in general.
Because the bible says don't be deceived those who do evil are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.

To, “do evil“ it’s not talking about a struggle against our flesh because we love God, but still at times we fail. It means to practice evil and approve of it.

Most people who teach that we can become perfect here on this earth before the second coming, are reductionist who reduce their definition of sin to something they can manage and claim to be sinless. But of course, that would be a sin. For whoever claims to be without sin is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

 

[NBB]

To, “do evil“ it’s not talking about a struggle against our flesh because we love God, but still at times we fail. It means to practice evil and approve of it.

Most people who teach that we can become perfect here on this earth before the second coming, are reductionist who reduce their definition of sin to something they can manage and claim to be sinless. But of course, that would be a sin. For whoever claims to be without sin is a liar, and the truth is not in him.

"if you love me keep my commandments", "if you do what i say i call you my friend."
it's not impossible, i am not saying a person would be totally perfect clean but obviously can do God commandments, he doesn't ask for us impossible things.

 

[Fervent]

The Greek word translated "perfect" can also mean "complete" and typically didn't refer to a sinless perfection but to having integrity in respect to morality. The law wasn't given as some unattainable standard, otherwise God would have been practicing deception in conditioning the covenental promises on obedience. The teaching that the law was always unattainable is nothing more than a pretense for defending total depravity by pretending God is an inflexible judge who is angrily condemning the world, rather than a loving father who is patiently waiting for His children to stop destroying themselves and listen to His guidance.

 

[fhansen]

Certainly it is the path we set our feet on while walking after the Spirit but are you claiming that you obey God perfectly. That you never sin and stand as an example of a sinless person? Are you now as perfect as God in heaven?

Of course not. Like you say, it’s a path, a journey, a journey to the perfection that God has made us for (and He created no one to be a sinner), a journey to Him that begins in this life and is only completed in the next. And it’s a path we must be on. Because the alternative would be that we remain in our sins, that wanton, egregious imperfection would be allowable for entrance into heaven which would be both absurd and unbiblical.

 

[bling]

I don't see why you feel 'accused', it was a statement for people in general.
Because the bible says don't be deceived those who do evil are not going to inherit the kingdom of God.

I was being sarcastic. Sins displease God and doing righteous stuff pleases God, so allow the Spirit within you to do righteous stuff.

 

[bling]

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Can a person believe in God's promise. I do not see why they believe in all other kind of junk that is not true. Why not simply believe in God's promise, which is 100+% true.

I will say satan has been very successful throughout churches, in making belief in God's promise of Eternal Life to all who will believe in Jesus for Eternal Life. Out to be a lie or some kind of crazy Un-Biblical theological teaching.

We have been given the indwelling Holy Spirit as our personal guarantee that God will fulfill His promises.

 

[Mercy Shown]

Of course not. Like you say, it’s a path, a journey, a journey to the perfection that God has made us for (and He created no one to be a sinner), a journey to Him that begins in this life and is only completed in the next. And it’s a path we must be on. Because the alternative would be that we remain in our sins, that wanton, egregious imperfection would be allowable for entrance into heaven which would be both absurd and unbiblical.

Ok, that clarifies it. I think we are on the same page here.

 

[Mercy Shown]

"if you love me keep my commandments", "if you do what i say i call you my friend."
it's not impossible, i am not saying a person would be totally perfect clean but obviously can do God commandments, he doesn't ask for us impossible things.

Well, yes and no. To the natural man, it is impossible. To the spiritual man, it is still impossible to be perfect. In fact, if one makes such a claim, it is a sin. The closer we come to God, the more we will recognize our deficits, and the greater our awareness of these deficits, the more we will realize our need for Him every hour. I am sure that you do not intend to claim perfection, but rather that we set our feet on the path to perfect obedience by following the Spirit, and when we stumble or mess up, we flee to Him. It is this relationship that God desires for if it were perfect obedience, He could snap his fingers and we'd become perfect obeyers of his law.

God's commandments are the mirror into which we gaze to see our deficits, blemishes, and brokenness so that we might seek him with all our hearts.

 

[NBB]

Well, yes and no. To the natural man, it is impossible. To the spiritual man, it is still impossible to be perfect. In fact, if one makes such a claim, it is a sin. The closer we come to God, the more we will recognize our deficits, and the greater our awareness of these deficits, the more we will realize our need for Him every hour. I am sure that you do not intend to claim perfection, but rather that we set our feet on the path to perfect obedience by following the Spirit, and when we stumble or mess up, we flee to Him. It is this relationship that God desires for if it were perfect obedience, He could snap his fingers and we'd become perfect obeyers of his law.

God's commandments are the mirror into which we gaze to see our deficits, blemishes, and brokenness so that we might seek him with all our hearts.

God doesn't ask impossible things, also i believe what the bible calls perfect is not perfection like people think, is just doing what God ask of humans. Which shouldn't be impossible, if you can maintain your communion with God that is good enough without quenching the Holy spirit, look at David, after he sinned, he felt dry and was afraid the Holy spirit may leave him, he suffered and needed to repent etc.

 

[d taylor]

We have been given the indwelling Holy Spirit as our personal guarantee that God will fulfill His promises.

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Well that leaves only two options.

People are not actually born again children of God
Or people are not listing to the guidance of The Holy Spirit.

Because there are too many different and opposed beliefs in the Christianity religion.

 

[ARBITER01]

I’ve often wondered why the Bible gives us so many commands that seem impossible to follow — things like be holy, love your enemies, be perfect, and do not sin. If no one can actually live up to that standard, how can anyone possibly be saved? I want to be perfect, God' wants me to be perfect, so why am I not perfect?

Was Peter plague with sin? Was John?

"THEREFORE, leaving behind the teaching of the beginning of Christ, let us press onward unto perfection,.."

Perfection in this regard is pointing to Jesus and His example for us. If the first century Apostles were able to do it, why can't we?

 

[bling]

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​

Well that leaves only two options.

People are not actually born again children of God
Or people are not listing to the guidance of The Holy Spirit.

Because there are too many different and opposed beliefs in the Christianity religion.

OK

 

[Guojing]

I’ve often wondered why the Bible gives us so many commands that seem impossible to follow — things like be holy, love your enemies, be perfect, and do not sin. If no one can actually live up to that standard, how can anyone possibly be saved? I want to be perfect, God' wants me to be perfect, so why am I not perfect?

As I’ve thought and prayed about it, I’ve come to see that the commands themselves aren’t meant to show how strong we are, but how much we need God. In Romans 3:20, Paul says, “Through the law comes knowledge of sin.” God’s law works like a mirror — it shows us His holiness and reveals how far we fall short. But a mirror can’t clean you; it can only show you what’s wrong. The law exposes our need, but it doesn’t provide the cure.

When the disciples asked Jesus, “Who then can be saved?” He answered, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:25–26). The impossibility of keeping God’s commands is meant to drive us away from self-reliance and toward dependence on Him. God never expected us to fix ourselves; He intended for us to turn to the One who could.

That’s where Christ comes in. Romans 8:3–4 explains that “what the law could not do, because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending His own Son.” Jesus didn’t just die to take away our sins; He also lived the perfect life we could never live. Through faith, His obedience becomes our righteousness.

In the end, salvation isn’t about performing well enough — it’s about trusting the One who did. Ephesians 2:8–9 says it best: “By grace you have been saved through faith... not of works, so that no one may boast.” God’s impossible commands point us to the only possible Savior. Once we belong to Christ, those same commands are no longer heavy burdens. Instead, they become invitations to live out His life within us through the power of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 2:20).

I fact, it is not primarily obedience God is seeking in us. He is seeking relationship. Just as the shepheard who sought the one in 99 God seeks us even while we are wandering away fron him. Maybe my obsession with being perfect has suplanted my relatiosnship with God.

I wonder whether any Christians really believe in obeying Luke 12:33 literally today.

 

[Abraham1st]

THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS SHOWS NO IMPERFECTION COMING, AND THE LAW AND THE PROPHETS ARE TO DO PDRFECTLY UNTO YOURSELF, IF YOU SEE IT IN REVERSE YOU MAY SEE YOU ARE ONLY DEBATING/ARGUING AGAINST YOURSELVES IN THIS THREAD.

BUT IF YOU WANT A BETTER THING TO OCCUPY YOUR TIME, YOU CAN READ THE NEW THREAD I JUST POSTED, REGARDING BEING JUST.

 

[Mercy Shown]

I wonder whether any Christians really believe in obeying Luke 12:33 literally today.

I doubt very many do.

 

[Mercy Shown]

Was Peter plague with sin? Was John?

"THEREFORE, leaving behind the teaching of the beginning of Christ, let us press onward unto perfection,.."

Perfection in this regard is pointing to Jesus and His example for us. If the first century Apostles were able to do it, why can't we?

In Hebrews 6:1, the Greek wording offers helpful nuance regarding whether the verse should be understood as “unto perfection” or “toward perfection.” The key phrase is ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα. The preposition ἐπὶ with the accusative most often expresses movement toward a goal. The noun τελειότητα refers to fullness, maturity, or completeness, not an already-achieved state of flawless perfection. The verb φερώμεθα is a subjunctive form meaning “let us be carried” or “let us move,” which emphasizes the process of progressing forward.


When these elements are taken together, the Greek suggests a journey of spiritual growth rather than a state of perfection already obtained. Many English translations reflect this by rendering the phrase as “let us go on to maturity” or “let us press on toward perfection.” The context reinforces this sense of ongoing development, since the author urges his readers to leave behind elementary teachings and advance into deeper understanding.


Therefore, while the traditional wording “unto perfection” is not wrong, the Greek grammar and context most naturally support the idea of pressing forward toward maturity or perfection, highlighting direction and growth rather than arrival. This is probably why Paul gave this mea culpa in Romans 7

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature, for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

 

[Mercy Shown]

God doesn't ask impossible things, also i believe what the bible calls perfect is not perfection like people think, is just doing what God ask of humans. Which shouldn't be impossible, if you can maintain your communion with God that is good enough without quenching the Holy spirit, look at David, after he sinned, he felt dry and was afraid the Holy spirit may leave him, he suffered and needed to repent etc.

Yes, it is the same with us. Whenever we need to repent, it is because we have failed to do what God wants us to do. God does not want us to have even a single impure thought or selfish motive, yet in our fallen nature that is impossible. Scripture teaches that if someone claims to be without sin, they are a liar and the truth is not in them. At the same time, God commands us to be holy, even as He is holy. I have never met a human being who is as holy as God Himself, and those who have claimed such holiness have usually been a poor testimony to it. It is this deficit in us that will drive us as it did David to repentance and growth.

 

[ARBITER01]

In Hebrews 6:1, the Greek wording offers helpful nuance regarding whether the verse should be understood as “unto perfection” or “toward perfection.” The key phrase is ἐπὶ τὴν τελειότητα φερώμεθα. The preposition ἐπὶ with the accusative most often expresses movement toward a goal. The noun τελειότητα refers to fullness, maturity, or completeness, not an already-achieved state of flawless perfection. The verb φερώμεθα is a subjunctive form meaning “let us be carried” or “let us move,” which emphasizes the process of progressing forward.


When these elements are taken together, the Greek suggests a journey of spiritual growth rather than a state of perfection already obtained. Many English translations reflect this by rendering the phrase as “let us go on to maturity” or “let us press on toward perfection.” The context reinforces this sense of ongoing development, since the author urges his readers to leave behind elementary teachings and advance into deeper understanding.


Therefore, while the traditional wording “unto perfection” is not wrong, the Greek grammar and context most naturally support the idea of pressing forward toward maturity or perfection, highlighting direction and growth rather than arrival. This is probably why Paul gave this mea culpa in Romans 7

We know that the law is spiritual; but I am unspiritual, sold as a slave to sin. I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do. And if I do what I do not want to do, I agree that the law is good. As it is, it is no longer I myself who do it, but it is sin living in me. For I know that good itself does not dwell in me, that is, in my sinful nature, for I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do, this I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it.

It's nice that you gave a Greek grammar lesson for us, but you didn't answer the question.

 

[Mercy Shown]

It's nice that you gave a Greek grammar lesson for us, but you didn't answer the question.

I thought I did. The question starts with the assumption that the the apostle achieved the perfection required by God, but this is an unproven premise. Do you have evidence that they were Holy as God is Holy? I gave you the very confession of Paul. Since the question is based an an assumption it is not possible to answer unless we can establish the assumpton as fact.

 

[ARBITER01]

I thought I did. The question starts with the assumption that the the apostle achieved the perfection required by God, but this is an unproven premise.

Is it?.....

Joh 14:12 Indeed, I tell you truly, the-one believing upon Me, the works which I do, shall that-one do also, and greater than these shall he do, because I go unto My Father.

That's the standard that Jesus gave all of us, not just the apostles,... but it looks like the apostles did reach that standard by their recorded actions.


I do get the feeling that you are somewhat against the idea that a Christian can walk free of sin, but to reach this standard that Jesus gave us, we have to.

Most Christians nowadays become defeatist about such a notion. They see themselves caught up in sinful activities and eventually give up after so long a time, and think that everyone else around them must also be caught up in their sins. That's not always the case.