To be or not to be.....godlike...

OneOfTheMany said:

Mary could you please elaborate on what you mean by growing in Christ?

As a Christian I want to do all I can to be my best, so lets hear what you have to say.

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StoryPort said:

I am perplexed about the scripture you chose to make your point. This passage actual makes the contrary point. Note verse 5"Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:" Namely, To consider others greater than ourselves, this is what Christ has done, to do that is to emulate Christ. Christ did nothing out of vain conceit, but laid down His life for others, Christ looked not to His own interests but became a ransom for many. The very thing we are called to be in this Phillipian passage is Christ-like! Because none of us without Him and the Spirit are. Be like God Himself, the second person of the Trinity, who did not think of His own interests, even God who became a servant of all. Who among us would have such an attitude if a humble Christ not had it first? Who would be selfless like Christ? None. The passage screams "Be Like Jesus Christ!" Therefore put on the mind of Christ, put on the attitude of Christ, remember the righteousness of God that Paul says in Romans One is given to us freely. Be like Christ. What does it mean to take up your cross daily and follow Him? It means to put off the lie that we are the center of the universe and put on the selfless life of Christ, and live for others, be Christ like.

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LightDancer said:

Because I want you to try to read the whole verse in context and listen to what Peter is writing to you.

Do you have a Bible? You can also look up several Bible versions online for free.

The books or the Gospels are not meant to be taken scripture for scripture... there is a whole story there. Keep reading... you'll get it brother. Why not make it a goal to read all of 1 Peter in it's entire context as a book? It never hurts to try to step out of your religious box and read the scriptures a different way. Be led by the Spirit into truth through prayer and fasting and reading scripture.

You are being made holy by the power of The Holy Spirit, and you have been baptized, and you are loving the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and Spirit. You are there bro, don't worry too much.

I will pray to our Heavenly Father that you will be comforted and made strong in Jesus' name.

Also read Matthew 5 in it's entirity... there is a connection between the two scriptures from Matthew 5 and 1 Peter.

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Mary of Bethany said:

I agree with your points. Being god-like or Christ-like, if you prefer, *is* being completely humble, just as Christ humbled Himself. That's the point - it's not exalting ourselves, it's allowing ourselves to be emptied completely and filled with Christ. Complete humility! That is Christ-likeness.

Mary

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Chacci said:

LightDancer,


Thank you for your prayers. Do you really think I don't read the Bible?

I ask you again, where did I take scripture out of context? Please be clear and keep your personal assumptions about me to yourself.

Asking for your prayers,
Chacci

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LightDancer said:

Okay, let's look at Matthew 5 and 1 Peter together in regards to the verses about being "perfect" and "holy".

Matthew 5

Love for Enemies

43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

1 Peter

5But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; 16for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." 17Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear. 18For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, 19but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. 20He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. 21Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.
22Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply, from the heart.

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If you'll notice in both, the scriptures speak about love.

Now how does love relate to being perfect and holy?

It's very simple really... Love God with all your heart...love your neighbor as yourself and love IS the fulfillment of the law.

Now Jesus also said, the following were the two greatest commandments: Love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbor as thyself -- all the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.

And then the scriptures say that LOVE is the fulfillment of the law.

Now, for us to be perfect and/or holy, I believe is based around this "love" Jesus is speaking about. Because love is the fulfillment of the love, which means if you have enough love in your heart everyday to walk in His love, you will not be breaking the law because love is now the fulfillment of the law.

Now let me put it another way:

Let's pretend we are having a conversation and I ask you Chacci...

LightDancer: You love God right?

Chacci: Of course!

LightDancer: Well you don't want to willfully sin against God or deliberately hurt anyone do you?

Chacci: Of course not.

LightDancer: Then you are walking in this love. Love keeps us holy as we fill the "love commandments" of Jesus Christ.

This is why Christians also say our walk with The Lord is called a "love walk"... it's loving others even when it hurts... even if they may have hurt you. That's a Jesus kind of love. It has no bounderies and love is not only for those who love us. It is even for those who do not. This love is even for those who do not love God. This love is even for those who deliberately hurt us. This love is for our enemies. This kind of love makes us "perfect" in Christ's eyes. (I can get you the scripture reference where it says "love IS the fulfillment of the law"... if you need it.)

However, further in 1 Peter it also speaks about Christ's blood. Remember we are washed and sanctified by the atoning blood of Jesus Christ. His blood cleanses us. His blood is the only atonement and we receive His sacrifice for us with thankfulness and joy.

See Chacci, I think some Christians set some "holy" and "perfect" kind of standard for themselves they don't understand. Jesus gave us this tool to perfection... it's called love, loving even when it hurts. With all the fighting I see on this board, I am beginning to wonder what happened to that "love message"? Especially in light of that forgiving our brothers and sisters in Christ that 77 x 7 thing. Love is also about forgiveness even when it hurts to forgive someone who has hurt you. That's what Christ did for us, he forgave us while he even suffered for us. This is the love we need to learn.

Also in 1 Peter, it is also referring to the other scriptures where God shows no partiality, is no respector of persons, etc... But that is another subject. We are all ONE in Christ Jesus.

I'm still praying for the Chacci on the Christian Forums!

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I think you may have taken my post out of context.

StoryPort said:

Please, interpret this text.
(There is a way to understand it, and I will eventually explain my point.)

"If you love me, keep my commandments."

Thanks.

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Chacci said:

Thanks again for your prayers.

I think you may have taken my post out of context.

Let us review. The question I am answering by using this scripture, which very well may not have been the question asked, is: are we called to grow in the image of God? That is, are we called to become more godly or godlike?

My simple response is absolutely. Be Ye Holy; for I am Holy. What you have described in your sermon above is the “how” you become holy and perfect. In both verses you’ve quoted, you seem to want to overlook the fact that the “standard” is God. Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

Another verse that might help: But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, [even] as by the Spirit of the Lord.

As Christians, by the Grace of God and the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, not of our doing, but by the Grace of God, are being changed into the image of God. That is more Godly, more holy.

Now you very well might come back with the point that we are called to be Christ like not God like (I think you already may have).

Paul's response in Hebrews is:
Hath in these last days spoken unto us by [his] Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of [his] glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

Christ is the image of God the Father and we have as Christians (literally little Christs) have access to growing into that image.

Asking for your prayers,
Chacci

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