="Budman, post: 3799447, member: 190749"]Glad to see you admit you still sin.
Does one become perfect at the moment of salvation, or does one have to "work" for that perfection?
1 Cor. 3:
8 Now he that planteth and he that watereth are one: and every man shall receive his own reward according to his own labour.
9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry,
ye are God's building.
2 Cor. 7:
1 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.
Eph. 4:
11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry,
for the edifying of the body of Christ:
13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God,
unto a perfect man,
unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:
14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine,
by the sleight of men,
and cunning craftiness,
whereby they lie in wait to deceive;
15 But speaking the truth in love,
may grow up into him in all things, which is the head,
even Christ:
Ph. 3:
11 If by any means
I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
12 Not as though I had already attained,
either were already perfect:
but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.
13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but
this one thing
I do,
forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before,
14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
15 Let us therefore,
as many as be perfect,
be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.
1 Thess. 3:
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all
men, even as we
do toward you:
13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Heb. 12:
22 But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all,
and to the spirits of just men made perfect,
Heb. 13:
20 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,
21 Make you perfect in every good work to do his will,
working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
James 1:
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; (sufferings of Christ)
3 Knowing
this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
1 Peter 5:
7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
8 Be sober,
be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus,
after that ye have suffered a while,
make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
1 John 2:
5 But whoso keepeth his word, in him verily is the love of God perfected: hereby know we that we are in him.
6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk,
even as he walked. (suffer with Him)
I don't think there can be any question what the Bible teaches. That those who "put their hands to the plow" are on a journey. "Strangers in a foreign land". That we are on a "PATH" which leads to life that we "Walk in". That we are in a race. And that those who "endure to the end" shall receive a Promise from God that He gave to Abraham and his children. That we are "Growing" in the Lord, unto the perfect man.
But there is also another "path", a great broad path, that "many" who call Him Lord, Lord are on. In this path men are not made perfect, Jesus is perfect for them. Men don't walk in the path, Jesus walks for them. Men don't suffer with the Christ, or Labor together with Him. Christ does all the suffering, and all the labor. Men don't run any race, Jesus runs the race for them, They do stuff in His name and honor Him with their lips, but they practice things Jesus would never, ever do..
Personally, although it is certainly not popular with religious men of the world, I believe in the Christ and His Words. I have Faith that if I let His Word's guide my footsteps, the end with be salvation.
