Whether the world is good or bad, we should be perfect and perfect as perfect God.
we should understand we aren’t perfect
And pursue Christ in the gospel well according to Paul anyways
“Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the
excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and
do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.
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. 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, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
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.”
Philippians 3:8-15
We’re simply not perfect we’ve already proven it . it’s a pursuit of Christ knowing we aren’t perfect but aiming for the high calling in Christ
when he says “ be perfect “ look at what he’s talking about
“But I say unto you,
Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven:
for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
For
if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? And if ye salute
your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so?
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”
Matthew 5:44-48 KJV
if you look at the contemporary verse in luke it helps focus in on what he’s saying
“For
if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them. And
if ye do good to them which do good to you, what thank have ye? for sinners also do even the same.
But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and
your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.
Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful.
Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall be given into your bosom.
For
with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.”
Luke 6:32-33, 35-38 KJV
we need to be perfect in Mercy towards others the reason is we’re all In the same boat as sinners and lack the perfection required he’s given us a better word “be merciful and receive mercy “which is the law we should live by
“So
speak ye, and so do, as they that shall be judged by the law of liberty. For
he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment.”
James 2:12-13 KJV
in other words James is saying
“
Blessed are the merciful: for
they shall obtain mercy.”
Matthew 5:7 KJV
If we’ve sinned once sinless perfection is off the table
“For whosoever shall
keep the whole law, and
yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all.”
James 2:10 KJV
one sin violates Gods law and breaks it all making us guilty like everyone else so what are we to do ? It’s now about mercy , true Godly love
active love that covers multitudes of sin
“But
the end of all things is at hand: be ye therefore sober, and watch unto prayer. And
above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.”
1 Peter 4:7-8 KJV
It’s not about sin anymore it’s about repentance from sin and belief in the new things of the gospel
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