Be Perfect Be Pure

[Esaias]

Originally Posted by Chris the Quaker Universalist

Okay, I think I understand you.

In the context of "sinless perfection", how does one know they aren't sinning? For example... I had a ham and swiss sandwich last night. Have I sinned?

Yes.

Occasionally I wear poly-knit clothing, am I in sin?

Poly-knit? What is that? The law forbids linsey-woolsey to the general population, because of its connection to the priesthood.

I don't really keep any "holy days", I might give a nod to their cultural significance, but that's it. I believe that everyday is holy unto the Lord. So, I don't keep the OT sabbaths, feast days, or festivals. I've entertained sabbath keeping, but the Holy Spirit kept pushing me into deeper waters and convicting me that the rest of the sabbath was symbolic type and shadow of our rest in Christ. So, I look at keeping any day as a "holiday" of sorts as merely a cultural thing wherein I can take it or leave it. Would this be "sin"?

Yes. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. One of the "Big Ten".

If I had a brother, and he died without having a child to continue his name, must I marry his wife and raise children up in his name? Because in the OT, it was a rather serious sin not to. God struck Onan dead for refusing to sire a child in his brother's name. If one wishes to really "think" about this... there could be dozens, if not hundreds, of questions like these.

Levirate marriage is an interesting issue, and there has been a 2500 year old debate about the built in torah contradiction concerning it. As for "dozens... hundreds of questions like these" followers of Jesus are "disciples" which means "students". There is no end to study of God's Word, it is our lifelong profession. But, most dont want to study, they want cut and dried simple answers that do not require prayer and thought.

I'm thinking that with a doctrine as exacting as sinless perfection, we need what is and what is not "sin" firmly established. Can you list exactly what is sin for a NT believer?

Sin is transgression of the law (1 John 3:4).

I ask this because it is one thing to say "one must be perfect" and have a bunch of people grunting along in agreement with you while sitting aside a campfire. It's entirely another to define it for practical application that can be readily understood and lived out. This is because everyone grunting in agreement might have different views on what is meant when you say "sinless perfection". And without it specified clearly, I imagine your view would see many souls lost due to people simply not knowing what is and is not sin under the New Covenant.

Unless there's Cheerios at the campfire?