Sinful housework

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

This is the very thing I feel makes this topic so serious. Most DO NOT understand that anyone who is not without spot and blameless is going to be cast into Hell!

So if one KNOWS they DO have some sin in their life or groups of sins should they not be fully focused on repenting and overcoming them? I mean I see this is NOT optional.

Jesus is coming for a Church like this:

25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:25-27

Isnt it right for us to exhort and admonish each other to walk this way?

MTD, what is your definition of perfection? Since... questions are being asked

BTW... I agree with what you said above. I think we are on the same page, albeit with perhaps some different terminology.

We must not think too carelessly that once we have the spirit of Christ within us that we are automatically perfected. No, it is a progressive work in motion, and something that we continue to work on.

I don't see perfection as something that happens one day, and then you never have to face any sin, temptations, struggles, or battles again. I just don't see that in scripture.

I do see admonishment to continue the fight of faith though. I do see the overwhelming majority of NT scriptures admonishing believers how to pull off the sin holds in their lives. That is why, I don't believe perfection is a one-time event that happens that we never have to worry about it again. It is an ongoing thing that will not be completed until we attain our glorified bodies.

[Michael The Disciple]

Originally Posted by KeptByTheWord

MTD, what is your definition of perfection? Since... questions are being asked

BTW... I agree with what you said above. I think we are on the same page, albeit with perhaps some different terminology.

We must not think too carelessly that once we have the spirit of Christ within us that we are automatically perfected. No, it is a progressive work in motion, and something that we continue to work on.

I don't see perfection as something that happens one day, and then you never have to face any sin, temptations, struggles, or battles again. I just don't see that in scripture.

I do see admonishment to continue the fight of faith though. I do see the overwhelming majority of NT scriptures admonishing believers how to pull off the sin holds in their lives. That is why, I don't believe perfection is a one-time event that happens that we never have to worry about it again. It is an ongoing thing that will not be completed until we attain our glorified bodies.

I would define perfection very simply as those who walk with heart purity before the Lord.

If we put this few verses under examination I think it gives us a picture of how Christ sees perfection.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:24-27

Believe me Sister I agree with you its not once attained always possessed. Its our life day to day. There are seasons when it seems easy. And yet there are seasons when we must suffer in the flesh, denying the temptations that come our way. Surely if it were not for the fact that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD......we would give in.

Jesus said it would be better for us to gouge out our eyes than use them to sin. He said we must take the cross and deny self daily. So I don't teach it once settled for all time.

In the garden Jesus was sorely tempted but prayed through unto the victory "not my will but thine be done".

As with him so with us. Even in our last hours we may have to battle great temptations. We can find strength in the hope of our reward! That it will be greater than our sufferings.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:11-13

When he comes we will be rewarded with the magnificent blessing of immortality, even eternal life! We will rule the nations with him! Peter said the thought of it was joy unspeakable and full of glory! Peace, Mike

[renee819]

Amen, to you both, Mike and Kept. It is an ongoing battle.

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by renee819

Amen, to you both, Mike and Kept. It is an ongoing battle.

Yes, Sis. Renee... it is. But we have a great promise awaiting us if we continue the good fight of faith!

[KeptByTheWord]

Originally Posted by Michael The Disciple

I would define perfection very simply as those who walk with heart purity before the Lord.

If we put this few verses under examination I think it gives us a picture of how Christ sees perfection.

24 Therefore as the church is subject unto Christ, so let the wives be to their own husbands in every thing. 25 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; 26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 27 That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish. Eph. 5:24-27

Believe me Sister I agree with you its not once attained always possessed. Its our life day to day. There are seasons when it seems easy. And yet there are seasons when we must suffer in the flesh, denying the temptations that come our way. Surely if it were not for the fact that GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN YOU THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD......we would give in.

Jesus said it would be better for us to gouge out our eyes than use them to sin. He said we must take the cross and deny self daily. So I don't teach it once settled for all time.

In the garden Jesus was sorely tempted but prayed through unto the victory "not my will but thine be done".

As with him so with us. Even in our last hours we may have to battle great temptations. We can find strength in the hope of our reward! That it will be greater than our sufferings.

11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, 12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Titus 2:11-13

When he comes we will be rewarded with the magnificent blessing of immortality, even eternal life! We will rule the nations with him! Peter said the thought of it was joy unspeakable and full of glory! Peace, Mike

Thank you for defining perfection as best you know how to....

I too think that the church world as a whole does not understand this battle. Once we submit our lives to Christ, we no longer are the *servants* of sin. That means we no longer are under the authority of the laws of sin.

Yet, that does not mean that we won't have attacks from our flesh nature. However, because we are now servants of God, we can allow the spirit of God to help us lead overcoming lives, in spite of the attacks from the enemy we may face, and we CAN overcome!

Romans 6 is a wonderful chapter that describes this concept so very well. It would do all of us well to read this chapter again in light of the ongoing discussion here.

But the last two verses of the chapter I would like to highlight:

Romans 6:22-23 "But now being made free from sin and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life. For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Another scripture pertinent to this discussion:

Romans 8:13 "For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit mortify the deeds of the body, YE SHALL LIVE."

We are made free from the LAW of sin, the bondage of sin, as we become servants to God, and through His power we can overcome, and cast off the works of the flesh as they would seek to oppose us, and in the end, have our fruit unto holiness, and everlasting life. It is a work in progress, not to be completed until glorification of these earthly bodies, but our hope is eternal life, of which glory we cannot even comprehend.

The struggles, trials, and things we go through in life, as we continue to cast off the attacks of the enemy and walk overcoming in holiness, and love to the Lord will be worth it all...

Romans 8:18 "For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."