Perfection

[dreadnought]

The word ''repent'' means to change your mind. Repentance is changing your actions to follow and obey God's commands. When Christ told us to be perfect, he meant through his spirit, that God's grace dwells in us, so we have imputed righteousness. We are saved by Faith alone, but it's repentance that comes after. We are unable to live perfect because we still have the flesh, that's why Paul told us in Romans to focus on the spirit. Our works will not justify us, it's only faith that will justify.

In practical application, I believe "repent" means to stop committing sin.

 

[dreadnought]

Just a quick unofficial reminder that the rules of a General Theology do not allow the promotion of sinless perfection. I'm not sure if he opinions here go to the point of sinless perfection, but I recommend keeping this rule in mind.

What is "sinless perfection"? I believe we should repent of our sin, as Jesus commanded, and strive for perfection, as Jesus commanded. I believe perfection is attainable, with the Lord's help. Does that make me an enemy of this site?

 

[faroukfarouk]

Thank-you! Was waiting for someone to give a perfect explanation of repentance is. And here it is!

Here's a good verse:

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7.10)

 

[RaymondG]

What is "sinless perfection"? I believe we should repent of our sin, as Jesus commanded, and strive for perfection, as Jesus commanded. I believe perfection is attainable, with the Lord's help. Does that make me an enemy of this site?

Shall we continue in sin that Grace may abound? It is against the rules to say what comes next..

 

[-Luca]

Here's a good verse:

"For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death." (2 Corinthians 7.10)

What if I do not feel Godly sorrow?

 

[faroukfarouk]

What if I do not feel Godly sorrow?

As we search the Scriptures and as we look at our own wicked hearts and consider the holiness of God, the Spirit is likely to give us a sense of that Godly sorrow. He also points us to the Saviour and His Cross, where the Lord Jesus died for sinners.

 

[-Luca]

As we search the Scriptures and as we look at our own wicked hearts and consider the holiness of God, the Spirit is likely to give us a sense of that Godly sorrow. He also points us to the Saviour and His Cross, where the Lord Jesus died for sinners.

And what does it mean by worldly sorrow? That you miss sinning or something?

 

[faroukfarouk]

And what does it mean by worldly sorrow? That you miss sinning or something?

If someone repents and believes, this is Godly sorrow; it has had a Godly, constructive purpose with value for eternity.

People in the world are very sorrowful also, sometimes, but, unlike the repentant Christian, their sorrow does not serve a good purpose for eternity, because it is not mixed also with saving faith.

 

[LittleLambofJesus]

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?

I suppose that as long as we are in this fleshly body and remain carnal, there is the chance of backsliding, but those that are "born again" strive to achieve perfection by living as Christ did and following His words of life and not conforming to this world.

Perhaps it may be good idea to study on the word greek word used for "perfection" in the NT......

Strong's Greek: 5046. τέλειος (teleios) -- having reached its end, i.e. complete, by ext. perfect
Short Definition: perfect, full-grown
Definition: perfect, (a) complete in all its parts, (b) full grown, of full age, (c) specially of the completeness of Christian character.
Genesis 1:1 (YLT)

Strong's Number G5046 matches the Greek τέλειος (teleios), which occurs 19 times in 17 verses

Mat 5:48
Be ye therefore perfect/G5046 even as your Father which is in *heaven/s is perfect/G5046
Rom 12:2
And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect/G5046 will of God.
Eph 4:13
Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect/G5046 man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

Now this is interesting. In Revelation 21:17, it shows the measurement of the NJ as the measure of a man, which is an angel.
[I may do a study on this].........

Reve 21:
16
The City is laid out as a square; its length is as great as its breadth.
And he measured the City with the reed: twelve thousand furlongs. Its length, breadth, and height are equal. [Ephesian 3:18]
17
Then he measured its wall: one hundred and forty-four cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of an angel.

Ephesian 3:
17 To dwell the Christ thru the Faith in the hearts of ye in Love, having been rooted and having been founded,
18 That ye should be being strong to be apprehending together to all the Saints what the breadth and length and height and depth,
19 To know the transcending of the knowledge love of the Christ , that ye may be being filled into all filling of the God.

 

[W2L]

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?

I once heard a person say tha5t biblical perfection means maturity. Can a mature Christian sin? Yes i believe so. Will they repent? Yes, surely.

 

[psif]

Everything in the Bible is in context of something else in the Bible. When Jesus told us we need to be perfect, I believe he meant it. There are consequences to what we do, including sin. When we resist the temptation to sin, we don't have to deal with those consequences.

I agree. It's a difficult thing to explain. Indeed as you said, a "context of another context", though even this is within limitation, because some things are absolute. As you've said yourself and take it on absolute that "we should be perfect". I can only hope brother, that we can achieve such a state. Even so, there is hope, with God "rewarding" the faithful with a "glorified body". One that is incorruptible from sin.

1 Corinthian 15:53
"For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality."

Thank you for your zeal, God Bless.

 

[Winken]

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?

No.

 

[Winken]

Pretending that we do not continue sinning is a human construct using cherry picked scriptures as support. While ignoring the truth of our common history.

Fighting against our sins daily is Christian.

Giving continual lifetime confessions is Christian.

How could this be if we don't sin anymore after we are "saved"?

Falling from salvation is a real possibility, so much so, that a great deal of scripture is devoted to warning us.

Forgive me...

You're forgiven. A great deal of scripture points to eternal salvation. Forgiveness for sin/sins is readily available in scripture. An authentic Christian cannot become "lost" again.

 

[Winken]

I once heard a person say tha5t biblical perfection means maturity. Can a mature Christian sin? Yes i believe so. Will they repent? Yes, surely.

"Biblical perfection" is entirely Spiritual. One who has confessed Jesus as Savior is "mature," although I don't like to use that word. One is saved, secure.

A person can be mature without being saved.

 

[W2L]

"Biblical perfection" is entirely Spiritual. One who has confessed Jesus as Savior is "mature," although I don't like to use that word. One is saved, secure.

A person can be mature without being saved.

The scriptures teach us to grow. What else would we grow into except maturity?

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

Once saved, always saved is a tradition of men. It is a construct designed by the devil to relax us, thinking we do not need to attend our prayers etc.

Repent of this heresy is my advice.

Forgive me...

 

[W2L]

Once saved, always saved is a tradition of men. It is a construct designed by the devil to relax us thinking we do not need to attend our prayers etc.

Repent of this heresy is my advice.

Forgive me...

So is condemning a believer to hell. We live by hope no matter how bad we screwed up, no matter what we lose, or how foolish we are. We are saved by hope, not by theology. Hope is within, no man can preach it there, it is a gift from God.

 

[Winken]

Once saved, always saved is a tradition of men. It is a construct designed by the devil to relax us thinking we do not need to attend our prayers etc.

Repent of this heresy is my advice.

Forgive me...

That's not Biblical.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

That's not Biblical.

So? Is that a limitation for you?

Forgive me...

 

[Winken]

The scriptures teach us to grow. What else would we grow into except maturity?

Yes, we grow into mature adults, insofar as secularism is concerned. That is progressive. My post concerns our Spiritual birth, born-again experience. We are "at once made whole" in Him.