Be Perfect Be Pure

[Costeon]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

Did you watch my videos?

So I watched two of your videos, Be Perfect in God's Will, parts 1 and 2. I'm still not entirely clear what you believe.

Here is your definition: "Being perfect means having no sin in our lives." But what does that really mean? What happens when you have a sin in your life? Are you lost right then? If not, when? If not one, how many sins would cause you to be lost?

I note that you say nothing about the glorious good news that Jesus Christ's righteousness has been imputed to us and that is why we stand perfect and holy in God's sight--because of our justification--and not because we have managed to perfectly obey God's will. Again, Mike, every day are you loving your neighbor as yourself?

The beautiful truth is that when we are justified we are as righteous in God's eyes as Jesus is. No sin is held against us. That's how we start this journey (and continue it). Then we seek to become in reality what he has already said we are. Yes the goal is sinless perfection, but none of us attain that in this life. Yes our lives should be characterized by obedience, but none of us will be perfectly obedient. But, praise God, one day we will be perfect when the Lord comes again and we are glorified. Until that day, you won't be saved because you have managed to be perfect. You will be saved because Christ's righteousness has been imputed to you as you remain in relationship with him--which is what abiding in his love means, enjoying and being blessed by his love in close relationship with him.

You say, "If we have sin in our lives God will withdraw. This doesn’t mean we’ll be lost, at least not right away perhaps."

I'm not really sure you're being consistent here. You said Jesus doesn't love us when we are not perfect. We have to be perfect to remain in his love. You said God withdraws from us if we are not perfect. So how can we be saved if Jesus doesn't love us and God has withdrawn at those moments when we have, say, failed to love our neighbor as ourselves?

It was disturbing to watch you with such a pleasant look on your face tell everyone Jesus doesn't love them if they have not abided in perfection, that is, sinless perfection. I thought God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son. How could he do anything in love for anyone if he only loves those who are perfect? I assume you'll say that this is not what you mean, so, you need to clarify what you mean by you only abide in Jesus's love when you're perfect.

What weakens your presentation, in my opinion, is that you are working within this extreme dichotomy of those who say, "There’s nothing you can do to get closer to God” and we just believe and it doesn't matter how we live, and you who say you must never sin or Jesus won't love you. Those aren't the only options.

Finally, without first rooting your teaching in the truth that our salvation is God's free gift of righteousness that we receive by faith, your view can't help but sound like you're ultimately saving yourself.