Righteousness

[Shempster]

Indeed and what does the very last verse of Matthew 5 say?

It says be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. So how does that compare to the mantra that I have been fed for decades that we are all just "sinners saved by grace"?

 

[redleghunter]

It says be perfect as your father in heaven is perfect. So how does that compare to the mantra that I have been fed for decades that we are all just "sinners saved by grace"?

How do we obtain the perfection required by our Heavenly Father?

 

[Shempster]

How do we obtain the perfection required by our Heavenly Father?

.

 

[Shempster]

How do we obtain the perfection required by our Heavenly Father?

.

 

[Shempster]

How do we obtain the perfection required by our Heavenly Father?

Simple.
We think and act in like manner of Jesus who modeled the nature and character of the Creator Himself.

Check out this video. Not sure who the guy is but he really explains it well.

 

[redleghunter]

Simple.
We think and act in like manner of Jesus who modeled the nature and character of the Creator Himself

Like or "as" is still missing perfection.

How do we obtain this perfection within our life span?

Or is imitation 'good enough?'

 

[Shempster]

Like or "as" is still missing perfection.

How do we obtain this perfection within our life span?

Or is imitation 'good enough?'

You know, the way it worked for me was to "imitate" the character profile in Matthew 5 at first simply because it appeared to be a sort of a command, it just sounded like a way we were expected to be.
I think you can tell that over time there is a change where that type of character comes from the way you think naturally.

 

[redleghunter]

You know, the way it worked for me was to "imitate" the character profile in Matthew 5 at first simply because it appeared to be a sort of a command, it just sounded like a way we were expected to be.
I think you can tell that over time there is a change where that type of character comes from the way you think naturally.

Is the above 'perfect enough' to gain entry into the Kingdom of God?

 

[Shempster]

Is the above 'perfect enough' to gain entry into the Kingdom of God?

Well Jesus basically said that if you obey his law of loving God and loving others as yourself, then yes because that covers all the law and the prophets.
But also keep in mind Matthew chapter 5. If you only love those who love you, then that isn't worth anything. How you love your opponent or enemy really determines if you are obeying that law or not.
And like he said about lusting. Its really about what one thinks of in their mind that matters.

 

[redleghunter]

Well Jesus basically said that if you obey his law of loving God and loving others as yourself, then yes because that covers all the law and the prophets.
But also keep in mind Matthew chapter 5. If you only love those who love you, then that isn't worth anything. How you love your opponent or enemy really determines if you are obeying that law or not.
And like he said about lusting. Its really about what one thinks of in their mind that matters.

Let's back up the truck a bit. Matthew 5 ends with a call to be perfect like our Heavenly Father is perfect. How do we achieve this?