Quote:
Originally Posted by mizpeh
We are to walk as Christ walked. He is our example in all things. We have the same baptism Christ had, we are filled with the Holy Spirit just as He was. My question has to do with, as you said, "striving against sin" and can we live an overcoming life just as Christ did....a life above sin empowered by the Spirit Is it possible?
Or did Christ succeed in living a sinless life because He was God? If that is true, then it would be impossible for us to live an overcoming life because we are not God. I don't think Christ relied on His divine powers to overcome the temptations of the flesh and of the eyes, etc. but fully trusted in His Father in all things.
I'm not trying to compare us to God the Father and the purity of God but God in his manifestion as a man in which He calls us, brethren. In which, though still pure because He was without sin, He has set an example to which we strive to be like.
I haven't used the word, perfection, at all. Are you equating perfection with lack of sin? I'm speaking to a life that is overcoming, overcoming our faults, overcoming the struggles of the flesh and mind, overcoming the enemy of our souls..etc. A life in which we are attempting to be Spiritually minded and not carnally minded. I just finished reading a good analogy of different stages in our growth in Christ being compared to fruit. The fruit is perfect at each stage in development. Well, I'm sure you've heard it all before.... How do you interpret what is meant by being perfect? complete? mature?
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To set the life of Christ as our goal and example is laudable. To set our expectations to be Jesus Himself is merely setting oneself up for failure.
In his life He walked on water and we are called to "follow in his steps" (
1 Peter 2:21), but I would hope that you also know how to swim if you take this one literally.
We are expected to overcome and to progress in our journey and to "grow up in Him..." (
Ephesians 4:13-15). However, that final goal of "perfection" is afar off (
1 John 3:2). In the meantime we are called to manifest that "perfection" by living righteously and showing love to one another (
1 John 2:7-11 and
1 John 3:1-12).
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