Post by LDM on Sept 13, 2010 9:20:31 GMT -5
knowgodsword.wordpress.com/2010/09/12/train-strive-run-toward-perfection/
Friends,
I have wondered, “Is it prideful to desire to be perfect in God’s sight?”
I have concluded that it is not prideful, and is in fact a desire from God Himself.
God created us to be perfect. –Perfect in His sight. That means holy. Which means to be set apart for God, consecrated to Him, and dedicated to please Him. It means to be morally and spiritually excellent. To be excellent means to be extremely good; and to be at the top of this, is to be flawless, blameless, and thus sinless.
Most people say this is unattainable, and so they shrug off their responsibility to strive for holy perfection. Yet in doing so they disrespect God’s Word. For God’s Word clearly and consistently tells us to be holy, perfect, blameless, pure, faultless, and sinless. Here’s a few Scriptures that confirm this:
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15,16) By verse 15 saying “just as” we can read that we are being commanded to be holy in the same way that God is holy –which means perfect. And verse 16 is quoting God’s words in Lev. 11;44,45 & 19:2 & 20:7.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) This is a command, not a suggestion, from the mouth of Jesus. He is saying that we are to be perfect just as the Father is perfect.
“Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him.” (2 Peter 3:14b) To “make every effort” means just that –every effort. Shrugs and apathy are not allowed.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…” (Phil. 2:14,15) We are to shine without fault –totally separate and different from the depravity in the world.
“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning… he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:6,9) When we’ve been born from above (John 3:3-8), we have His life in us, for our old self has died. (Col. 3:3)
To desire to be perfect in God’s sight is to desire to be all that He created us to be. This is not pride. It is being consumed with what God wants. He wants separated, holy children who offer their bodies as living sacrifices, perfect and pleasing to Him. (Rom. 12:1,2)
Please click the link to read the rest of the article.
Friends,
I have wondered, “Is it prideful to desire to be perfect in God’s sight?”
I have concluded that it is not prideful, and is in fact a desire from God Himself.
God created us to be perfect. –Perfect in His sight. That means holy. Which means to be set apart for God, consecrated to Him, and dedicated to please Him. It means to be morally and spiritually excellent. To be excellent means to be extremely good; and to be at the top of this, is to be flawless, blameless, and thus sinless.
Most people say this is unattainable, and so they shrug off their responsibility to strive for holy perfection. Yet in doing so they disrespect God’s Word. For God’s Word clearly and consistently tells us to be holy, perfect, blameless, pure, faultless, and sinless. Here’s a few Scriptures that confirm this:
“But just as He who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: ‘Be holy, because I am holy.’” (1 Peter 1:15,16) By verse 15 saying “just as” we can read that we are being commanded to be holy in the same way that God is holy –which means perfect. And verse 16 is quoting God’s words in Lev. 11;44,45 & 19:2 & 20:7.
“Be perfect, therefore, as your Heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt. 5:48) This is a command, not a suggestion, from the mouth of Jesus. He is saying that we are to be perfect just as the Father is perfect.
“Make every effort to be found spotless, blameless, and at peace with Him.” (2 Peter 3:14b) To “make every effort” means just that –every effort. Shrugs and apathy are not allowed.
“Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe…” (Phil. 2:14,15) We are to shine without fault –totally separate and different from the depravity in the world.
“No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning… he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.” (1 John 3:6,9) When we’ve been born from above (John 3:3-8), we have His life in us, for our old self has died. (Col. 3:3)
To desire to be perfect in God’s sight is to desire to be all that He created us to be. This is not pride. It is being consumed with what God wants. He wants separated, holy children who offer their bodies as living sacrifices, perfect and pleasing to Him. (Rom. 12:1,2)
Please click the link to read the rest of the article.