Does God Accept Imperfect Obedience?

Rick Otto

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Oh, yes, you've run into this with me before, haven't you...?

I'll try, OK...?

Peace,

God Bless!
Lol, thanks.
Yeah, I really don't sweat the small stuff.
Getting in is big. Compared to that, the size of my mansion is of little consequence, unless it's too small to hold the parties.
;)
 
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AarontheStudent

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The justified will accept the law, but fall short in keeping it. God's judgement is meant to hand justice, and it wouldn't be 'justice' punishing the reconciled for being only human.
 
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Neogaia777

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The justified will accept the law, but fall short in keeping it. God's judgement is meant to hand justice, and it wouldn't be 'justice' punishing the reconciled for being only human.
Accepting the judgment of law is a very important necessary step, before being able to go on further beyond that with God, with what Christ accomplished pertaining to this judgement, which is good news and not bad news...

God Bless!
 
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LovebirdsFlying

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I've been to a number of churches in my day. Some of them act as if their belief is, "We're saved by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ--but after He saves us, we have to work to keep our salvation. If we're not good enough, He'll un-save us."

That's not the Jesus Christ I know.
 
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GingerBeer

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Does God Accept Imperfect Obedience?

"Can anyone be righteous in the sight of God or be pure before his Creator? God does not trust his heavenly servants; he finds fault even with his angels. Do you think he will trust a creature of clay, a thing of dust that can be crushed like a moth? We may be alive in the morning, but die unnoticed before evening comes. All that we have is taken away; we die, still lacking wisdom." Job 4:17-21
That's what Eliphaz said to Job. His vision of God was of utter perfection unwilling to accept anything less than himself. And since Jesus said "there is no one good except God alone" some have decided to add their voice to Eliphaz'. Yet God says of himself, "I, the LORD, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents." Exodus 34:6-7 And Samuel says of God, "Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you as king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23. So what conclusion shall we draw? That obedience is possible and acceptable to God and that perfection of the kind Eliphaz envisioned is an idol of error.
 
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Neogaia777

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Does God Accept Imperfect Obedience?

"Can anyone be righteous in the sight of God or be pure before his Creator? God does not trust his heavenly servants; he finds fault even with his angels. Do you think he will trust a creature of clay, a thing of dust that can be crushed like a moth? We may be alive in the morning, but die unnoticed before evening comes. All that we have is taken away; we die, still lacking wisdom." Job 4:17-21
That's what Eliphaz said to Job. His vision of God was of utter perfection unwilling to accept anything less than himself. And since Jesus said "there is no one good except God alone" some have decided to add their voice to Eliphaz'. Yet God says of himself, "I, the LORD, am a God who is full of compassion and pity, who is not easily angered and who shows great love and faithfulness. I keep my promise for thousands of generations and forgive evil and sin; but I will not fail to punish children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation for the sins of their parents." Exodus 34:6-7 And Samuel says of God, "Which does the LORD prefer: obedience or offerings and sacrifices? It is better to obey him than to sacrifice the best sheep to him. Rebellion against him is as bad as witchcraft, and arrogance is as sinful as idolatry. Because you rejected the LORD's command, he has rejected you as king." 1 Samuel 15:22-23. So what conclusion shall we draw? That obedience is possible and acceptable to God and that perfection of the kind Eliphaz envisioned is an idol of error.
"That's what Eliphaz said to Job. His vision of God was of utter perfection unwilling to accept anything less than himself."

First part right and not wrong view of the perfection of God, but, not the second part, "unwilling to accept anything less than him" is not correct, especially after the cross...

That's the way all false ones work also, half truth with half lie...

God Bless!
 
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the old scribe

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NO! God does not accept imperfect obedience.
The LORD substitutes the death of the LORD Jesus for our imperfect obedience.

It is why the law was temporary. The law could not accomplish the work of Christ.
 
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Neogaia777

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I've been to a number of churches in my day. Some of them act as if their belief is, "We're saved by grace alone, through faith in Jesus Christ--but after He saves us, we have to work to keep our salvation. If we're not good enough, He'll un-save us."

That's not the Jesus Christ I know.
Only God can know or judge if there are any requirements in the way of works for or by an individual, on an individual by individual basis...

Also most work is about rewards most of the time anyhow... But not always, depends on the individual that only God knows (about) fully...

God Bless!
 
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Neogaia777

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NO! God does not accept imperfect obedience.
The LORD substitutes the death of the LORD Jesus for our imperfect obedience.

It is why the law was temporary. The law could not accomplish the work of Christ.
That would be very good if that was our profession at the Judgement, I think...

But God could, if he chooses to, hold you accountable to some things, the fact that he could if he wants or chooses to, is where the right kind of fear of him (Not the unhealthy kind but reverential awe) should come from that would keep us in check...

God Bless!
 
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AarontheStudent

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NO! God does not accept imperfect obedience.
The LORD substitutes the death of the LORD Jesus for our imperfect obedience.

It is why the law was temporary. The law could not accomplish the work of Christ.
I would argue the law of Moses was temporary because it only pertained to Israel. Thus the need for a 'better covenant', one for all.
 
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Neogaia777

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That would be very good if that was our profession at the Judgement, I think...

But God could, if he chooses to, hold you accountable to some things, the fact that he could if he wants or chooses to, is where the right kind of fear of him (Not the unhealthy kind but reverential awe) should come from that would keep us in check...

God Bless!
The "perfect judge" that's gotta be a little intimidating and awe inspiring, don't you think...?

God Bless!
 
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aiki

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there is no such animal as imperfect obedience.

Oh? How so?

Does God accept "imperfect obedience"?

He accepts our obedience (when it arises for a love for Him) but does not accept our disobedience. Can a person be both obedient and disobedient at the same time? No. But one can be inconsistent in one's obedience. That is, one may fully obey in one instance but not in another.

Does Christ save only those who obey the law?

No. Salvation is apart from our works - good or bad.
 
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RisenInJesus

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Lately, the sheer number of posts which explicitly and implicitly state that Jesus saves only those who keep the law has been astounding. Most of those claiming such don't claim moral perfection, but quite frankly, I would have less of a problem with them if they did, because there is no such animal as imperfect obedience.

Does God accept "imperfect obedience"?

Does Christ save only those who obey the law?
I believe God only accepts perfect obedience and perfect obedience is found only in Christ.
 
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ladodgers6

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Please quote one that says that someone, anyone , is saved only by keeping the whole law.

Sure, in Galatians 3:10........“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”
 
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ladodgers6

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Please quote one that says that someone, anyone , is saved only by keeping the whole law.

5So you shall keep My statutes and My judgments, by which a man may live if he does them; I am the LORD. (Lev. 18:5)

Romans 5:19For as by the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so by the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous.

And I left the best for last, Christ himself.

Christ Came to Fulfill the Law

17“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished.
 
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AarontheStudent

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Sure, in Galatians 3:10........“Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”

Let's expand that a bit.

7Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: “All nations will be blessed through you.”d 9So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.


10For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: “Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law.”e 11Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because “the righteous will live by faith.”f 12The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, “The person who does these things will live by them.”g 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: “Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole.”h 14He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit." (Galatians 3:7-14)
 
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