Perfection, a Christian Fact!

rocknanchor

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And if ye call on the Father,
who without respect of persons
judgeth according to every man's work,
pass the time of your sojourning here in fear


(1 Peter 1:17)​

What a beautiful adaptation to the biblical score of ‘running the race’! A race that is known not to be run by perfection (Philippians 3:13), but buy running it, perfectly strong (Ephesians 6:10).
 

rocknanchor

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Glory to God the Father and lover of our souls, Jesus Christ and that strong tower of relief, the Holy Spirit. A fully ground level, God is so good! Amen!
 
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rocknanchor

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I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consulation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.


Chorus

Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.
 
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ZNP

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James told us about doing a perfect work that is lacking nothing. But you have to define what you mean by "perfect" otherwise everyone claims they are doing a perfect work, even Hitler makes this claim.

I think Paul does a great job on elaborating what a "perfect work" is in the book of Colossians. That book lays out the definition for a perfect Christian work.
 
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dqhall

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And if ye call on the Father,
who without respect of persons
judgeth according to every man's work,
pass the time of your sojourning here in fear


(1 Peter 1:17)​

What a beautiful adaptation to the biblical score of ‘running the race’! A race that is known not to be run by perfection (Philippians 3:13), but buy running it, perfectly strong (Ephesians 6:10).
I have been having dreams and visions about things that were in my past that only God could know about. My memory is not to accurate, God makes it more truthful. If you call on God, you may ask him what you should do to help.
 
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musicalpilgrim

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There is always that inward striving to change, to grow more more like Jesus, to have more of him in your life.
Oh how I love Jesus,
 
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CharismaticLady

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And if ye call on the Father,
who without respect of persons
judgeth according to every man's work,
pass the time of your sojourning here in fear


(1 Peter 1:17)​

What a beautiful adaptation to the biblical score of ‘running the race’! A race that is known not to be run by perfection (Philippians 3:13), but buy running it, perfectly strong (Ephesians 6:10).

I love Peter's letters. I especially love 2 Peter 1. Talk about a step by step instruction book to perfection!

2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.

10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
 
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rocknanchor

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James told us about doing a perfect work that is lacking nothing. But you have to define what you mean by "perfect" otherwise everyone claims they are doing a perfect work, even Hitler makes this claim.

I think Paul does a great job on elaborating what a "perfect work" is in the book of Colossians. That book lays out the definition for a perfect Christian work.
Redeeming time,
Wrestling in prayer,
Waiting through patience,
Enduring another’s burden,

Not to mention following and exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit. How many of us, I’m sure could build up and encourage each other as a result of yet, another perfecting work found yes, in Colossians?

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom (Col 3:16)
 
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rocknanchor

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But you have to define what you mean by "perfect" otherwise everyone claims they are doing a perfect work, even Hitler makes this claim.
A valid concern 'ZNP'! For thinking back in my earlier days as a new believer, how easily it was for me to keep thinking 'I' had to be better, rather than given due credit to my Helper and friend.

I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without
Me you can do nothing.
"

(John 15:5)
 
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ZNP

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A valid concern 'ZNP'! For thinking back in my earlier days as a new believer, how easily it was for me to keep thinking 'I' had to be better, rather than given due credit to my Helper and friend.

I am the vine, you are the branches.
He who abides in Me, and I in him,
bears much fruit; for without
Me you can do nothing.
"

(John 15:5)
Jesus work on the cross is the standard of a perfect work that is lacking nothing. Instead of comparing ourselves with ourselves we need to measure our work against Jesus work. Only then can we see that "only God is good" and "apart from the Lord we can do nothing".
 
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rocknanchor

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Jesus work on the cross is the standard of a perfect work that is lacking nothing. Instead of comparing ourselves with ourselves we need to measure our work against Jesus work. Only then can we see that "only God is good" and "apart from the Lord we can do nothing".
Hopefully, I have kept all such comparisons to a minimum. But wasn't it said further, for us and that both Paul and Jesus excelled to perfection through sufferings?

most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


2Cor 12:9, Heb 2:10
 
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CharismaticLady

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Hopefully, I have kept all such comparisons to a minimum. But wasn't it said further, for us and that both Paul and Jesus excelled to perfection through sufferings?

most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me

For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings.


2Cor 12:9, Heb 2:10

I can really relate to that. For a week or so before I got married in 1990, I kept getting checks in my Spirit. I thought they were just wedding jitters, but now I realize they were from God. One of my biggest faults is being impulsive. Our engagement was way too short to really know someone. But he was a "Christian" so like me and my family, I thought he was normal. Six months later I got socked in the jaw for the first time in my life. I was so shocked I jumped on his back and pounded on it, "Don't...you...ever...hit...me...again" as all 6' 4" of him cowered. I had to do that on a few different occasions. Instead of throwing him out, I sent him to Christian counseling for three years where he learned to keep his fists to his sides, and just shove me with his chest. It came out that he was the son of an alcoholic, though he didn't drink, and was beaten severely by his father from a young age until he was 16 when he returned the blows and almost killed his father with a chair. Also, every weekend his parents had a wife-swapping party with their best friends, a couple in which the other woman molested him from age 5-14. In his formative years he never learned how to truly love because he never saw it. He was a 'single' man in a 'married' mans body. When he wasn't being physically abusive, he was emotionally sadistic. But all that suffering made my relationship with God rock solid, I would obey Him completely, and not leave my husband even if he killed me. I wasn't afraid of death; in fact, I longed for it just to be with my true Husband who loved me completely. The closer I got to God, the farther away my husband got from him, refusing to even go to church with me anymore. He even started taking me to parties at his best friend's house where I would leave early, but he would stay and come home and I would find him passed out with his head in the toilet! He finally divorced me for the wife of his best friend, having seduced her with talk of Jesus. (Oy vey!)

2 Timothy 3:2-7
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
 
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rocknanchor

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I can really relate to that. For a week or so before I got married in 1990, I kept getting checks in my Spirit. I thought they were just wedding jitters, but now I realize they were from God. One of my biggest faults is being impulsive. Our engagement was way too short to really know someone. But he was a "Christian" so like me and my family, I thought he was normal. Six months later I got socked in the jaw for the first time in my life. I was so shocked I jumped on his back and pounded on it, "Don't...you...ever...hit...me...again" as all 6' 4" of him cowered. I had to do that on a few different occasions. Instead of throwing him out, I sent him to Christian counseling for three years where he learned to keep his fists to his sides, and just shove me with his chest. It came out that he was the son of an alcoholic, though he didn't drink, and was beaten severely by his father from a young age until he was 16 when he returned the blows and almost killed his father with a chair. Also, every weekend his parents had a wife-swapping party with their best friends, a couple in which the other woman molested him from age 5-14. In his formative years he never learned how to truly love because he never saw it. He was a 'single' man in a 'married' mans body. When he wasn't being physically abusive, he was emotionally sadistic. But all that suffering made my relationship with God rock solid, I would obey Him completely, and not leave my husband even if he killed me. I wasn't afraid of death; in fact, I longed for it just to be with my true Husband who loved me completely. The closer I got to God, the farther away my husband got from him, refusing to even go to church with me anymore. He even started taking me to parties at his best friend's house where I would leave early, but he would stay and come home and I would find him passed out with his head in the toilet! He finally divorced me for the wife of his best friend, having seduced her with talk of Jesus. (Oy vey!)

2 Timothy 3:2-7
2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! 6 For of this sort are those who creep into households and make captives of gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, 7 always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
You certainly ran the figurative "depart" (1 Corinthians 7:15) into the literal with that encounter, as in staying power. God bless your faithfulness!
 
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CharismaticLady

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You certainly ran the figurative "depart" (1 Corinthians 7:15) into the literal with that encounter, as in staying power. God bless your faithfulness!

I learned to err on the side of complete obedience. As you know I love Peter's letters. Unfortunately, the chapter breaks broke up one thought in 1 Peter 2 at the end which continued in 1 Peter 3. Read it this way without the break and tell me what you see.

18 Servants, be submissive to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and gentle, but also to the harsh. 19 For this is commendable, if because of conscience toward God one endures grief, suffering wrongfully. 20 For what credit is it if, when you are beaten for your faults, you take it patiently? But when you do good and suffer, if you take it patiently, this is commendable before God. 21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

22 “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

23 who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; 24 who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.

Wives, likewise, be submissive to your own husbands, that even if some do not obey the word, they, without a word, may be won by the conduct of their wives, 2 when they observe your chaste conduct accompanied by fear. 3 Do not let your adornment be merely outward—arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel— 4 rather let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God. 5 For in this manner, in former times, the holy women who trusted in God also adorned themselves, being submissive to their own husbands, 6 as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord, whose daughters you are if you do good and are not afraid with any terror.
 
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rocknanchor

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Read it this way without the break and tell me what you see.
For me? The hallmarks of a glorious Bride, to bring to the forefront that which our foe works so diligently to beset, that same committed resolve to continue, not justify towards any distraction (though that is what natural marriage is said to contain).

This introduces a need to treat supporting the brethren in prayer as though it were as essential as receiving Christ, only because – it is! For the ‘slow-drip’ fuming from the many faces stumbling can be found if left un-attended ignores the care of burden share, of “leading of a brother or sister”. It simply wasn’t intended to be shelved according to our fast-paced culture we have become accustomed to.
 
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quietbloke

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I've had many tears and sorrows,
I've had questions for tomorrow,
there's been times I didn't know right from wrong.
But in every situation,
God gave me blessed consulation,
that my trials come to only make me strong.


Chorus

Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to trust in Jesus,
I've learned to trust in God.
Through it all,
through it all,
I've learned to depend upon His Word.
This song has spoken to me over many years ,'Through it all,I have learned to trust in Jesus..'
 
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rocknanchor

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Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months.

Matthew 5:48, James 5:17​

Press vs Resist

Just as I pointed out in the OP, we aren’t designated as representations of perfection, but that doesn’t entitle us as watchmen to make a mockery of Matthew 5:48 either.

What is it that rubs people the wrong way when considering this initiative Jesus gave? I suppose it’s partly due because again, we never were authorized to count ourselves perfect, therefore we can’t be. But the response in error is commonplace, that there is something else that rises here, such as we shouldn’t even try His initiative!
 
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