Perfection

Dr Bruce Atkinson

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Jesus said:

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt 5:48 RSV

However, I’m always hearing people say that it is impossible to be perfect. Keeping in mind that the Lord helps us, is it that hard to repent of our sin?

"Perfection" is not place we are expected to be but rather a direction toward which Christians are pointed.
Like true north on your compass. Only Christ is truly perfect but, being "in Christ" keeps us moving in that direction. By the way, the Greek word here that has been translated as "perfect" means complete and mature rather than without sin.

Not sinning is not the same as being perfected, which is about maturity and spiritual growth as well. Even Jesus, who was certainly always without sin, had to grow up and mature physically, mentally, and spiritually. The two concepts (sinlessness and maturity) are easily confused. Sin is about rebelling when you know better, not about being ignorant or naive or immature. I am not fully mature, not yet perfected, I have more to learn. But it has indeed been a long time since I have knowingly rebelled and broken a commandment. I am a prodigal son, so I have a long history of grievous sinning in my past. I know the difference. But John (1 John 3) says I don't have to sin anymore, and Jesus said that if He sets me free from sin, I am free indeed. And I am immensely grateful for that! Being “in Christ,” it is His power that keeps me from sin, not my own power.

The distinction between sin and immaturity is very clear. Even Jesus had to "grow up in wisdom and stature before both God and man" (Luke 2:52) for 30 plus years. And to become mature and thus more helpful to us, Jesus had to suffer. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... and because He himself has suffered and been tempted, He is able to help those who are likewise afflicted." (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)

There is second important distinction. This distinction is between having placed Christ in us at the new birth (sealed by the Spirit) and having Christ formed in us over time as matter of spiritual maturity. Paul wrote: “I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Phil 3:2). Paul is exhorting born again Christians at Ephesus: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph 1:17).
Thus, it is a growth process, and we must always remember Who it is with the power to accomplish this perfecting of our faith and character: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter (KJV- “the author and finisher”) of our faith.” (Hebrews 12:2, NIV) We cannot make ourselves mature and perfect.

Sanctification and Sin
Because we are not fully grown does not mean that it is somehow normal for us to keep on sinning. In fact, it is NOT expected (again see 1 John 3). We are expected, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to have victory over sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) So “not sinning” is more about our spiritual birth than our physical death. At some point, the elect quit sinning and John never hints that we must wait until we die to stop sinning.

But I do believe that each of us will enter the heavenly state with different levels of maturity. Spiritual maturity is one of those "treasures of heaven" wherein some will have more and some less in eternity, even though everyone will be glad to be there and no one will sin.
 
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Neostarwcc

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I don't agree.

You're welcome to disagree with me of course. But, answer me this. Besides Jesus, have we seen a single person who is sinless and has achieved perfection in this life? There are people who claim to be sinless like Robert Lyte but they are far from sinless. Romans 3:23 says:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

It's a good verse to remember. We've all sinned and we will all continue to sin until we die.

It's not impossible to those that are born again. Jesus would not give us a command we could not follow.

It is impossible. Our sinful natures will ALWAYS be sinful. It wasn't a command, Jesus was telling us the requirements to get into heaven. To get into Heaven we have to be perfect and sinless. That's why when we are born again our spirits are made sinless and when Jesus resurrects our bodies during his second coming our bodies will finally be made sinless. But, during this life it is impossible to achieve sinless perfection. Not a single person besides Jesus (And he was God so it was easy for him to be sinless) has achieved sinless perfection in this life and never will.
 
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Wordkeeper

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"Perfection" is not place we are expected to be but rather a direction toward which Christians are pointed. Like true north on your compass. Only Christ is truly perfect but, being "in Christ" keeps us moving in that direction. By the way, the Greek word here that has been translated as "perfect" means complete and mature rather than without sin.

Not sinning is not the same as being perfected, which is about maturity and spiritual growth as well. Even Jesus, who was certainly always without sin, had to grow up and mature physically, mentally, and spiritually. The two concepts (sinlessness and maturity) are easily confused. Sin is about rebelling when you know better, not about being ignorant or naive or immature. I am not fully mature, not yet perfected, I have more to learn. But it has indeed been a long time since I have knowingly rebelled and broken a commandment. I am a prodigal son, so I have a long history of grievous sinning in my past. I know the difference. But John (1 John 3) says I don't have to sin anymore, and Jesus said that if He sets me free from sin, I am free indeed. And I am immensely grateful for that! Being “in Christ,” it is His power that keeps me from sin, not my own power.

The distinction between sin and immaturity is very clear. Even Jesus had to "grow up in wisdom and stature before both God and man" (Luke 2:52) for 30 plus years. And to become mature and thus more helpful to us, Jesus had to suffer. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... and because He himself has suffered and been tempted, He is able to help those who are likewise afflicted." (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)

There is second important distinction. This distinction is between having placed Christ in us at the new birth (sealed by the Spirit) and having Christ formed in us over time as matter of spiritual maturity. Paul wrote: “I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Phil 3:2). Paul is exhorting born again Christians at Ephesus: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph 1:17). Thus, it is a growth process.

Because we are not fully grown does not mean that it is somehow normal for us to keep on sinning. In fact, it is NOT expected (again see 1 John 3). We are expected, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to have victory over sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) So “not sinning” is more about our spiritual birth than our physical death. At some point, the elect quit sinning and John never hints that we must wait until we die to stop sinning.

But I do believe that each of us will enter the heavenly state with different levels of maturity. Spiritual maturity is one of those "treasures of heaven" wherein some will have more and some less in eternity, even though everyone will be glad to be there and no one will sin.

Actually, being in a correct place is being completed, just as reaching the destination you travelled towards is called completing the journey. And the correct place to be is to be in Christ.

Hebrews 11:16
16But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God; for He has prepared a city for them.

This information is revealed through out the text, being called Tabernacle, Promised Land, Rest, City, all of which are types of which the reality is Christ. It was and is very important to be in the Promised Land, because being there is where we can be blessings to the world.

To abide in the Promised Land, we must have God's instructions abiding in us:

2 Kings 17:24-28
24The king of Assyria brought men from Babylon and from Cuthah and from Avva and from Hamath and Sepharvaim, and settled them in the cities of Samaria in place of the sons of Israel. So they possessed Samaria and lived in its cities. 25At the beginning of their living there, they did not fear the LORD; therefore the LORD sent lions among them which killed some of them. 26So they spoke to the king of Assyria, saying, “The nations whom you have carried away into exile in the cities of Samaria do not know the custom of the god of the land; so he has sent lions among them, and behold, they kill them because they do not know the custom of the god of the land.”

27Then the king of Assyria commanded, saying, “Take there one of the priests whom you carried away into exile and let him go and live there; and let him teach them the custom of the god of the land.” 28So one of the priests whom they had carried away into exile from Samaria came and lived at Bethel, and taught them how they should fear the LORD.

If His instructions do not abide in us, then we will be vomited out of the Land:

Leviticus 18:28
28So do not defile the land and give it a reason to vomit you out, as it will vomit out the people who live there now.

Acts 5:7-11
7Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

Not that you have to be sinless, just that you have to be faithful, loyal, in order to be in God's good books, His grace. In order to be a blessing to the world.

2 Corinthians 12:9
9And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.

Don't ask me how we are to be a blessing to the world. You aren't ready for that information yet.
 
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dreadnought

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"Perfection" is not place we are expected to be but rather a direction toward which Christians are pointed. Like true north on your compass. Only Christ is truly perfect but, being "in Christ" keeps us moving in that direction. By the way, the Greek word here that has been translated as "perfect" means complete and mature rather than without sin.

Not sinning is not the same as being perfected, which is about maturity and spiritual growth as well. Even Jesus, who was certainly always without sin, had to grow up and mature physically, mentally, and spiritually. The two concepts (sinlessness and maturity) are easily confused. Sin is about rebelling when you know better, not about being ignorant or naive or immature. I am not fully mature, not yet perfected, I have more to learn. But it has indeed been a long time since I have knowingly rebelled and broken a commandment. I am a prodigal son, so I have a long history of grievous sinning in my past. I know the difference. But John (1 John 3) says I don't have to sin anymore, and Jesus said that if He sets me free from sin, I am free indeed. And I am immensely grateful for that! Being “in Christ,” it is His power that keeps me from sin, not my own power.

The distinction between sin and immaturity is very clear. Even Jesus had to "grow up in wisdom and stature before both God and man" (Luke 2:52) for 30 plus years. And to become mature and thus more helpful to us, Jesus had to suffer. "We do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses... and because He himself has suffered and been tempted, He is able to help those who are likewise afflicted." (Hebrews 4:15, 2:18)

There is second important distinction. This distinction is between having placed Christ in us at the new birth (sealed by the Spirit) and having Christ formed in us over time as matter of spiritual maturity. Paul wrote: “I don't mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me.” (Phil 3:2). Paul is exhorting born again Christians at Ephesus: “I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better” (Eph 1:17). Thus, it is a growth process.

Because we are not fully grown does not mean that it is somehow normal for us to keep on sinning. In fact, it is NOT expected (again see 1 John 3). We are expected, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to have victory over sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) So “not sinning” is more about our spiritual birth than our physical death. At some point, the elect quit sinning and John never hints that we must wait until we die to stop sinning.

But I do believe that each of us will enter the heavenly state with different levels of maturity. Spiritual maturity is one of those "treasures of heaven" wherein some will have more and some less in eternity, even though everyone will be glad to be there and no one will sin.
I think the Lord wants us to repent of our sin.
 
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dreadnought

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You're welcome to disagree with me of course. But, answer me this. Besides Jesus, have we seen a single person who is sinless and has achieved perfection in this life? There are people who claim to be sinless like Robert Lyte but they are far from sinless. Romans 3:23 says:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

It's a good verse to remember. We've all sinned and we will all continue to sin until we die.



It is impossible. Our sinful natures will ALWAYS be sinful. It wasn't a command, Jesus was telling us the requirements to get into heaven. To get into Heaven we have to be perfect and sinless. That's why when we are born again our spirits are made sinless and when Jesus resurrects our bodies during his second coming our bodies will finally be made sinless. But, during this life it is impossible to achieve sinless perfection. Not a single person besides Jesus (And he was God so it was easy for him to be sinless) has achieved sinless perfection in this life and never will.
We've all sinned, but I bet a lot of people succeed in repenting of their sin in this life.
 
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Neostarwcc

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We've all sinned, but I bet a lot of people succeed in repenting of their sin in this life.

I never said otherwise. It's good to repent of your sins and be sorry for them. When we confess our sins to God he cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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You're welcome to disagree with me of course. But, answer me this. Besides Jesus, have we seen a single person who is sinless and has achieved perfection in this life? There are people who claim to be sinless like Robert Lyte but they are far from sinless. Romans 3:23 says:

"for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,"

It's a good verse to remember. We've all sinned and we will all continue to sin until we die.



It is impossible. Our sinful natures will ALWAYS be sinful. It wasn't a command, Jesus was telling us the requirements to get into heaven. To get into Heaven we have to be perfect and sinless. That's why when we are born again our spirits are made sinless and when Jesus resurrects our bodies during his second coming our bodies will finally be made sinless. But, during this life it is impossible to achieve sinless perfection. Not a single person besides Jesus (And he was God so it was easy for him to be sinless) has achieved sinless perfection in this life and never will.

Where do you find the scriptures that say we must continue to sin until we die? Perhaps we continue to sin before we "die to self" here on earth, but you are totally ignoring what John wrote in his letters.

Because we are not fully grown spiritually does not mean that it is somehow normal for us to keep on sinning. In fact, it is NOT expected (see all of 1 John 3). We are expected, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to have victory over sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) So “not sinning” is more about our spiritual birth than our physical death. At some point, the elect quit sinning and John never hints that we must wait until we die to stop sinning.

To believe what you believe turns out to be only an excuse to keep on sinning. Are you even truly "born again"? You need to repent of your misbelief (that sin will continue to be inevitable) before you spiral down into the pit of rationalization of sin.
 
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Neostarwcc

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Where do you find the scriptures that say we must continue to sin until we die? Perhaps we continue to sin before we "die to self" here on earth, but you are totally ignoring what John wrote in his letters.

Because we are not fully grown spiritually does not mean that it is somehow normal for us to keep on sinning. In fact, it is NOT expected (see all of 1 John 3). We are expected, through the power of the Holy Spirit, to have victory over sin. “No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning.” (1 John 3:6) "No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in them; they cannot go on sinning, because they have been born of God.” (1 John 3:9) So “not sinning” is more about our spiritual birth than our physical death. At some point, the elect quit sinning and John never hints that we must wait until we die to stop sinning.

To believe what you believe turns out to be only an excuse to keep on sinning. Are you even truly "born again"? You need to repent of your misbelief (that sin will continue to be inevitable) before you spiral down into the pit of rationalization of sin.

Where in scripture does it say that it's not normal to "keep on sinning?" We are born with sinful natures and the Holy Spirit does not change that. The Holy Spirit changes our SPIRITS. Like I said, name a single person who stopped sinning after they were born again and I will shut up. You sin, I sin we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God.
 
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christopheralan88

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Jesus said:

“You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matt 5:48 RSV

However, I’m always hearing people say that it is impossible to be perfect. Keeping in mind that the Lord helps us, is it that hard to repent of our sin?

Great question! Consider these places in Scripture:

Psalms 19:7
"The instructions (Torah) of the LORD are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple.

Deuteronomy 30:11
1“In the future, when you experience all these blessings and curses I have listed for you, and when you are living among the nations to which the LORD your God has exiled you, take to heart all these instructions. 2If at that time you and your children return to the LORD your God, and if you obey with all your heart and all your soul all the commands I have given you today, 3then the LORD your God will restore your fortunes. He will have mercy on you and gather you back from all the nations where he has scattered you. 4Even though you are banished to the ends of the earth, the LORD your God will gather you from there and bring you back again. 5The LORD your God will return you to the land that belonged to your ancestors, and you will possess that land again. Then he will make you even more prosperous and numerous than your ancestors!

6“The LORD your God will change your heart (a reference to Jeremiah 31:33??) and the hearts of all your descendants, so that you will love him with all your heart and soul and so you may live! 7The LORD your God will inflict all these curses on your enemies and on those who hate and persecute you. 8Then you will again obey the LORD and keep all his commands that I am giving you today.

9“The LORD your God will then make you successful in everything you do. He will give you many children and numerous livestock, and he will cause your fields to produce abundant harvests, for the LORD will again delight in being good to you as he was to your ancestors. 10The LORD your God will delight in you if you obey his voice and keep the commands and decrees written in this Book of Instruction (Deuteronomy), and if you turn to the LORD your God with all your heart and soul (repentance).

11This command I am giving you today (to keep the Torah/Law/instructions of God) is not too difficult for you to understand, and it is not beyond your reach.12It is not kept in heaven, so distant that you must ask, ‘Who will go up to heaven and bring it down so we can hear it and obey?’ 13It is not kept beyond the sea, so far away that you must ask, ‘Who will cross the sea to bring it to us so we can hear it and obey?’ 14No, the message is very close at hand; it is on your lips and in your heart so that you can obey it.

15“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16For I command you this day to love the LORD your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the LORD your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy.

1 John 5:3
"Loving God means keeping his commandments, and his commandments are not burdensome."

Deuteronomy 30:1-9 is a prophesy of exactly where we...the Church - the 10 northern tribes and all Gentile believers that are grafted into Israel...are today. The Lord scattered Israel among the nations because of their disobedience, but He used that for good, because now we (Gentiles) have a chance to hear about the salvation of God (Jesus), repent, and be grafted into Israel/His Church. Now, the Lord promises that if we keep His instructions/commands (Torah) then He will bring us out of the nations and bless us. And He assures us that His instructions are not difficult or burdensome, but are perfect and revive our soul.
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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I think the Lord wants us to repent of our sin.
Of course. This is how the Lord perfects us: He convicts us of our sins, we repent and confess, He forgives us (washes us clean again), and we learn how to fight off temptations better so that we do not sin again. We sin less and less.
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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Where in scripture does it say that it's not normal to "keep on sinning?" We are born with sinful natures and the Holy Spirit does not change that. The Holy Spirit changes our SPIRITS. Like I said, name a single person who stopped sinning after they were born again and I will shut up. You sin, I sin we ALL sin and fall short of the glory of God.
Check out 1 John 3. John is very clear that we are expected to stop sinning altogether. You had better be "prayed up" and have fully repented when you die or else you will not like where you end up. No sinners get to heaven.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11
"Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God." [and thus no longer do these things]

Grace yields faith yields obedience. When we sin, we must repent and confess, and then we are again washed clean (forgiven). If we keep excusing our sins (instead of repenting our sins and amending our lives), then we will die in our sins and will lack the necessary faith to get in heaven's door.

By the way, there is not one shred of evidence that any of the Apostles sinned following Pentecost, including Paul. Paul did describe the struggles we have with temptations of the flesh in Romans 7, but he provides the answer: "So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!" In the same way that Jesus withstood temptations in the wilderness and in the garden of Gethsemane, we too are to use the Word and Spirit to have victory over the temptations that beset us. We are NOT expected to keep on sinning!
 
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dreadnought

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Of course. This is how the Lord perfects us: He convicts us of our sins, we repent and confess, He forgives us (washes us clean again), and we learn how to fight off temptations better so that we do not sin again. We sin less and less.
I don't know if I've ever heard it said any better.
 
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I think we know when we've sinned.
It does speak of sinning through ignorance, and Paul also speaks of his doing things in ignorance and unbelief, and elsewhere of sin coming to ones knowledge at one time or another, even willfully sinning. It also says, whatsoever is not of faith is sin when it come to doing something that one might be in doubt of such as in Romans 14:23
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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I don't know if I've ever heard it said any better.
Thanks!
It helps to know the scriptures well and to apply common sense principles. I've had some practice "boiling them down" to a few words for venues like this one.
 
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Sin, written as hamartia, can be moral failing, but not always. It literally means missing the mark, as in arrows not hitting the target.

So if a person's action does not suit a situation, he could be said to have missed the mark, did not deliver, failed to perform.

This can be very tricky.

During wartime, every person is required to serve their country. Imagine that there is a review at the end of the war and loyalty is being rewarded and disloyalty punished, respectively.

If a person was willing to fight, but because of physical disability could only turn up at the hospital, and roll bandages, would he be labelled a shirker, a coward? No! He did the maximum that he could, as well as he knew how. He did NOT miss the mark. You could say that he hit HIS mark.

Are there similarly different levels of expectations for different believers? Sure.

In the first place, both Jesus and Paul taught that marriage would distract believers from ministry, BUT it was okay to marry, to sacrifice according to the ability God gave an individual. It is better to marry than to burn, because if you burned, had lustful thoughts, it was because you did not obey God's instruction, have His word in you.

Another expectation was that believers would surrender dependency on worldly resources for life, be saints, separated ones, walk on water, like Peter, who left everything to follow Christ, but it was ALSO okay to remain in the boat, like the other disciples, to act according to the ability God gave an individual. In fact, it would be foolish to start building a house, step out in faith on a mission, if one had not received the resources to complete it, and be laughed at, or worse.

Acts 5:3, 4.
3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Numbers 14:39-45
39When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised.” 41But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed? 42“Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. 43“For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you.” 44But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah.


You can see that not missing the mark, being perfect, is not just avoiding the committing of an immoral act. It is also doing of a suitable act, responding correctly, in a particular situation. No one expects you to be a hero and give up all your possessions with great struggle and agony. God loves a cheerful giver, one who really believes He is able and willing to provide better than Mammon. Believing this, and waiting on the Lord to give you the ability to become a true disciple, go with you to fight Canaan, IS the loyal response.

Being loyal is what letting God's word abide in you means, and what keeps you abiding in Christ. You ARE perfect, completed, sufficient, have grace, when you are IN Christ. Through loyalty.

Repenting, having the right mind, meta noia, is believing God's instruction, even when you are not able to follow them then. Just as the person rolling bandages is believing that being loyal to the country is the right thing to do, even if he or she can't manifest the loyalty like the soldiers at the front do.
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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Sin, written as hamartia, can be moral failing, but not always. It literally means missing the mark, as in arrows not hitting the target.

So if a person's action does not suit a situation, he could be said to have missed the mark, did not deliver, failed to perform.

This can be very tricky.

During wartime, every person is required to serve their country. Imagine that there is a review at the end of the war and loyalty is being rewarded and disloyalty punished, respectively.

If a person was willing to fight, but because of physical disability could only turn up at the hospital, and roll bandages, would he be labelled a shirker, a coward? No! He did the maximum that he could, as well as he knew how. He did NOT miss the mark. You could say that he hit HIS mark.

Are there similarly different levels of expectations for different believers? Sure.

In the first place, both Jesus and Paul taught that marriage would distract believers from ministry, BUT it was okay to marry, to sacrifice according to the ability God gave an individual. It is better to marry than to burn, because if you burned, had lustful thoughts, it was because you did not obey God's instruction, have His word in you.

Another expectation was that believers would surrender dependency on worldly resources for life, be saints, separated ones, walk on water, like Peter, who left everything to follow Christ, but it was ALSO okay to remain in the boat, like the other disciples, to act according to the ability God gave an individual. In fact, it would be foolish to start building a house, step out in faith on a mission, if one had not received the resources to complete it, and be laughed at, or worse.

Acts 5:3, 4.
3Then Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit and have kept for yourself some of the money you received for the land? 4Didn’t it belong to you before it was sold? And after it was sold, wasn’t the money at your disposal? What made you think of doing such a thing? You have not lied just to human beings but to God.”

Numbers 14:39-45
39When Moses spoke these words to all the sons of Israel, the people mourned greatly. 40In the morning, however, they rose up early and went up to the ridge of the hill country, saying, “Here we are; we have indeed sinned, but we will go up to the place which the LORD has promised.” 41But Moses said, “Why then are you transgressing the commandment of the LORD, when it will not succeed? 42“Do not go up, or you will be struck down before your enemies, for the LORD is not among you. 43“For the Amalekites and the Canaanites will be there in front of you, and you will fall by the sword, inasmuch as you have turned back from following the LORD. And the LORD will not be with you.” 44But they went up heedlessly to the ridge of the hill country; neither the ark of the covenant of the LORD nor Moses left the camp. 45Then the Amalekites and the Canaanites who lived in that hill country came down, and struck them and beat them down as far as Hormah.


You can see that not missing the mark, being perfect, is not just avoiding the committing of an immoral act. It is also doing of a suitable act, responding correctly, in a particular situation. No one expects you to be a hero and give up all your possessions with great struggle and agony. God loves a cheerful giver, one who really believes He is able and willing to provide better than Mammon. Believing this, and waiting on the Lord to give you the ability to become a true disciple, go with you to fight Canaan, IS the loyal response.

Being loyal is what letting God's word abide in you means, and what keeps you abiding in Christ. You ARE perfect, completed, sufficient, have grace, when you are IN Christ. Through loyalty.

Repenting, having the right mind, meta noia, is believing God's instruction, even when you are not able to follow them then. Just as the person rolling bandages is believing that being loyal to the country is the right thing to do, even if he or she can't manifest the loyalty like the soldiers at the front do.

Regarding the first part of your comment:
All of the evil and suffering we see in human history and current world events are the result of sin. Satan really exists and human beings are slaves to his sinful leadership.

In my perspective (and that many theologians who have shown the biblical revelation of human depravity), any attempt to minimize the evil inherent in sin (like comparing it favorably to human weakness or accidents of “missing the mark”) is deceptive and is itself terribly missing the mark. It smacks of the heresy of Pelagianism. Note Romans 1:28-32, 3:10-23, Genesis 6:5-6, John 8:34-47, etc.
 
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Wordkeeper

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Regarding the first part of your comment:
All of the evil and suffering we see in human history and current world events are the result of sin. Satan really exists and human beings are slaves to his sinful leadership.

In my perspective (and that many theologians who have shown the biblical revelation of human depravity), any attempt to minimize the evil inherent in sin (like comparing it favorably to human weakness or accidents of “missing the mark”) is deceptive and is itself terribly missing the mark. It smacks of the heresy of Pelagianism. Note Romans 1:28-32, 3:10-23, Genesis 6:5-6, John 8:34-47, etc.

God made the world and all things in it and called them all good. Satan wasn't part of creation?
 
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dreadnought

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It does speak of sinning through ignorance, and Paul also speaks of his doing things in ignorance and unbelief, and elsewhere of sin coming to ones knowledge at one time or another, even willfully sinning. It also says, whatsoever is not of faith is sin when it come to doing something that one might be in doubt of such as in Romans 14:23
I'm trying to remember in what context I made this statement. Anyway, I suppose as a young person I committed sin, perhaps not knowing I was committing sin, and then the Lord brought the deed to my attention and showed me why it was a sin. I didn't always learn from my mistake, though.
 
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Dr Bruce Atkinson

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God made the world and all things in it and called them all good. Satan wasn't part of creation?
Just because everything was created to be good does not mean it all remained good. The Garden of Eden story makes that point abundantly clear. Freewill creatures can go wrong and turn totally evil.

Of course Satan was not part of Creation, at least not as Satan (the enemy, the father of lies). He was created good, an Archangel with free choice; Lucifer (or whatever his name was) made himself into "the evil one." It is the primary reason for the Lake of Fire-- Satan is immortal, but irredeemably evil and has caused immeasurable suffering; he must be separated out from all that is good and "reap what he has sowed." Many humans have become "children of the devil" and will never accept Christ or His redemption. See John 8:42-44, Matthew 13:37-42, John 6:70, echoed by 1 John 3:10 and Paul in Acts 13:10. If they are actually children of Satan, then it makes perfect sense that that they would accompany him to his eternal destiny in the divine incinerator, while the Children of God will accompany Christ in the heavenly Kingdom (where they all will be without sin, without temptation, and without suffering of any kind).
 
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AnticipateHisComing

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God made the world and all things in it and called them all good. Satan wasn't part of creation?
Here is the paradox.

Creation was good, but not perfect.
In Christ we are told to be perfect and we are even made perfect, but we sin.

Does this challenge you?
 
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