Paul is recounting his struggle in trying to keep the Old Law as a Pharisee before he became a Christian in Romans 7:14-24. How so? Romans 7:14-24 is summed up with the words "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh" in Romans 8:3.
For Romans 8:3-4 says,
3 "For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:3-4).
So which Law did God send His Son for so as to condemn sin in the flesh?
It was the Old Covenant Law.
For when Jesus died on the cross, the temple veil was ripped from top to bottom letting us know that the Old Testament laws were no longer valid because the Old Laws on the animal sacrifices and the priesthood were no longer acceptable.
Jesus Christ was now our Passover Lamb.
Jesus Christ was soon be our Heavenly High Priest (after He ascended to His father after His resurrection 3 days later) so He can be our mediator between God the Father and man.
Romans 8:4 says, "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."
This is saying that the righteous part or aspect of the Old Law can be fulfilled in us.
Paul says elsewhere,
8 "Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.
9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
10 Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law."
(Romans 13:8-10).
So loving your neighbor is the righteousness (i.e. the righteous part or aspect) of the Old Law!
We fulfill this law by walking after the Spirit and not after the flesh (i.e. sin). For one of the major fruits of the Spirit is love (Galatians 5:22).
So we see a consistent theme here. The word "law" used in general (with no actual description attached to it) is in reference to the Old Law in Romans 7 and Romans 8. This helps us to understand that Paul is telling us his past experience or life as a Pharisee in struggling to keep the Old Law unsuccessfully because he did not have Jesus Christ yet (in verses 14-24).
In addition, in Romans 8:2, we see the mention of how there are TWO laws. We also learn from this verse that keeping one of these Laws helps us to be set FREE from the other one.
In Romans 8:2, we see:
Law #1. - Law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.
This is a New Covenant Law that we are still under. What is this Law?
It is fulfilling the righteousness of the Law (i.e. to love your neighbor - Romans 13:8-10) by walking after the Spirit (See Romans 8:3-4).
Law #2. Sin and Death.
This is in reference to the Old Covenant Law as a whole (i.e. the 613 Old Testament Commands within the Torah). It is called the Law of Sin and Death because you could physically be put to death by not obeying this Law.
What is the relationship of these two laws in Romans 8:2?
Keeping the New Law helps us to be free of the Old Law.
For there is no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus who WALK not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. (Romans 8:1).
Romans 13:14 says,
"But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof."
The Bible disagrees with you.
Jesus says, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” (
Matthew 5:48).
Jesus says, “The disciple is not above his master: but every one that is perfect shall be as his master.” (
Luke 6:40).
GOD says, “Be ye holy as I am holy” (
1 Peter 1:16 cf.
Leviticus 11:45).
Jesus said to two people to, "sin no more." (
John 5:14) (
John 8:11). In fact, Jesus said to the man that Jesus healed that if he were to sin again, a worse thing would come upon him. For Jesus said, “sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (
John 5:14).
The author of Hebrews says, “Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen” (
Hebrews 13:20-21).
Paul says, “Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.” (
Colossians 4:12).
Paul says, “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (
2 Corinthians 7:1).
Paul says, “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” (
2 Timothy 3:16-17).
Are you one of those who don't believe the word "perfect" means "perfect" even though Jesus compared perfection to the Father and Himself? The Bible also uses the word "blameless", as well.
Paul says, “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all men, even as we do for you. To this end may He establish your hearts to be blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” (
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 MEV).
Paul says, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (
1 Thessalonians 5:23).
Paul says, “That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world.” (
Philippians 2:15).
Jason, my dear friend, To put it bluntly, perfectionism is a hoax. We cannot be perfect! Yet many well-meaning people continue to strive for this unattainable goal. Perfectionism often involves raising the bar to absurd heights and striving in our own efforts for something that only God can do.
The point of the gospel is that we are unable to save ourselves.
Lets consider Mathhew 5:48 that you used shall we.
The Greek word for “perfect” here is
telios. It means “brought to its end, completed, or perfect.” So, to be “perfect” in this sense is not how perfectionists so often imagine it. Rather, it is to be completed in Christ.
Philippians 1:6 says that completion is the work of God. He created us, saved us, and is faithful to perfect us. So As I have said to you, the Bible does not teach sinless perfection and this verse does not apply.
Then you used
Luke 6:40. The word in that verse rendered "is perfect" means to repair or mend, and is thus applied to mending fishing nets. It is the same word used in Matthew 4:21 and Mark 1:19. Hence, it means to repair or amend in a moral sense, or to make whole or complete. Here it means, evidently, "thoroughly instructed" or "informed." The Christian should be like his Master - holy, harmless, and undefiled, and separate from sinners and DOES NOT MEAN OR EEN SUGGEST "SINLESS PERFECTION" which you are trying to make it say.
So once again we see that the Bible verse you used does not apply when studied correctly.
Then you used 1 Peter 1:16.
Matthew 5:28...........
"but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart."
Matthew 22:37.........
"And He said to him, “‘YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, AND WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, AND WITH ALL YOUR MIND.’"
Matthew 22:39.........
"'The second is like it, ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’"
We see in those verses that Jesus taught that the intention of the heart is important to God. This is because God's heart is perfect. He is holy which is why He says in
1 Peter 1:16, "Be holy, for I am holy."
God is the standard of holiness, and Jesus reveals the necessity of the perfect standard.
Can any Christian say that his heart is perfect and that he never falters? That he never looks upon a woman with impure thoughts? That he loves the Lord God with all of his heart, and that he loves his neighbor as himself, all with a perfect state of mind? The standard is absolute purity. None of us can claim that reason and I am including YOU.
So again we see that 1 Peter 1:16 does not validate SINLESS PERFECTION.
Then you used
John 5:14.
At a very simple level, even asking this question is presuming that everything Jesus said must be taken to its logical extreme.
Imagine, your doctor says, "Cut the beef out of your diet!" What he is saying is both clear (eat less red meat) and fully "doable." And yet, if you're at a wedding where the only entree is steak, do you think the doctor would never see you again if you partook?
Indeed, what the doctor is saying is what Jesus is saying: This is hurting you. It is not good for you. Endeavor to reduce it! If you fall off the wagon, even the attempt to reduce the behavior in question will benefit you.
The notion of perfection- telos-(as in Matt 5 when Jesus says "Be ye perfect even as I am perfect") does not demand a state but rather a direction. It is pointed to an end- in this case being like Christ- but it does not demand that all fullness be achieved.
After all, if the sick were no longer sick, they would have no need of the Physic
Then we have Hebrews 13:20-21.
The word “PERFECT ” does not mean what YOU want it to mean. YOU are picking out verses that have the word PERFECT in them in order to promote what you think of when we talk about something being perfect.
The word literally means to “repair” or “to adjust.” It speaks of something being prepared as I have already explained to you about the fishing nets.
When the writer of Hebrews spoke of God making us perfect, He is talking about God preparing or equipping us to do His will. It has been well said that where God guides He provides. God equips us to do His will. Or to put it another way, God gives us the ability to do His will.
So once again we see that YOUR understanding is flawed and the verse IS NOT suggesting sinless PERFECTION.
Then we have Colossians 4:12.
The correct exegesis here is Manifestation of stability
. Epaphras prayed that the stability desired for his people might manifest itself in their lives in Christian maturity and assurance: “that ye may stand perfect and fully assured.” The word translated “
perfect” does not imply sinlessness but rather means
spiritual maturity. Epaphras desired that the Colossians become full-grown as contrasted to spiritual babes. The believer becomes “perfect” or complete as he attains to the divine goal for his life. Such
maturity of character comes only through abiding
union with Christ.
So as with all the other verses, this one does not suggest sinless perfection either.
Then 2 Corinthians 7:1.
This word YOU are focused on "PERFECTUBG" in the Greek here is ( ἐπιτελοῦντες epitelountes) and it means properly to bring to an end, to finish, complete. The idea here is, that of carrying it out to the completion. Holiness had been commenced in the heart, and the exhortation of the apostle is, that they should make every effort that it might be complete in all its parts. He does not say that this work of perfection had ever been accomplished or even could be while we are in this body of flesh.
And again, we see that you are incorrect in your understanding of the what the Scriptures actullay say.
Then 2 Timothy 3:17.
Well, as has been proven now 3 times for YOU, the word “perfect” is a word that actually means “complete,” and in come contexts, it can simply mean “fresh” – at the peak of its development (like a well-formed peach, ripened on the tree to the point of being perfectly complete – fresh fruit).
Well, that’s what happens to a person who turns his or her life over to the Lord and lets the Word of God perform its transforming work day after day. That person becomes complete as a man or woman of God. He or she becomes spiritually mature.
Remember perfect doesn’t mean you’re really perfect.
It just means you don’t act like a kid anymore.
1 Thees. 5:23.
Nope. This one will not work for you either my friend.
Paul is talking about SANCTIFICATION!
Sanctification has to do with setting our lives or bodies aside or apart for God. It comes from the Old Testament as the priest sanctified or set the utensils of the temple apart for service to God. Paul is asking us to sanctify our lives.
So again we see that correct teaching removes the false thesis that we can achieve sinless perfection in this body of flesh.
Then finally we have Philippians 2:15.
That verse simply means That you may give no occasion for others to accuse you of having done wrong.
So Jason, I have addressed each verse you posted and have shown that your understanding is incorrect.
There are NO Scriptures which state that a man can achieve sinless perfection in this body we have now.