Holy Christians??

[kross]

Pe 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

I assume that when Peter asked us to be a holy nation, i assume he asked us to be seperated and dedicated for God's use and not to be perfect.. Is perfection possible or is sanctification possible in this life? If so how?? I am far from being sanctified.

If GOD wanted you to be sinless and perfect, you would be. HE would see to that. Can you be sinless and perfect in this world? If GOD intends that to be what you are to be. We are HIS creations.

[givennewname]

No doubt that Christ alone saves us and there is nothing we can do to create or improve on that our works don't cut it.

I think we should not be ashamed to strive to be Holy. We are told so often that indeed we are sinful and cannot free ourselves (which is very true), that sometimes we are almost embarrassed to say that we even want to be holy. But this is a desire that we must have as believers we are told to be holy for I am holy.

Why did Peter tell us to strive for perfection and holiness when he knows its not possible to achieve until we are dead?

because striving for that perfection and holiness makes us better Christians day by day.

What else would he tell us? Would it make sense for him to tell us to just try and be 50% holy?

If non of us achieve perfection, isn't it cruel to set a target that is impossible to acheive?? we are bound to fail...

[kross]

Pe 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

I assume that when Peter asked us to be a holy nation, i assume he asked us to be seperated and dedicated for God's use and not to be perfect.. Is perfection possible or is sanctification possible in this life? If so how?? I am far from being sanctified.

If GOD wanted you to be sinless and perfect, you would be. HE would see to that. Can you be sinless and perfect in this world? If GOD intends that to be what you are to be. We are HIS creations.

Are you saying God wants us to be sinful?

Sinful is something we do on our own. Sanctification is something GOD does. HE will sanctify you to what ever level HE wants to. HE will give you victory over what HE wants and HE will not give you victory over what HE doesnt want. Now, for those who feel it is possible, that is not saying HE will not allow us victory in our own strength. HE will not keep us from cleaning ourselves up (if it were possible). So please do not take the idea of GOD doing the cleaning to the point that HE also does the dirtying.

There is a difference between GOD's spoken/revealed preferences and HIS absolute perfect will. HE would like for us to strive for perfection and righteousness, but it is HIS doing if we actually get a victory over sin.

[kross]

No doubt that Christ alone saves us and there is nothing we can do to create or improve on that our works don't cut it.

I think we should not be ashamed to strive to be Holy. We are told so often that indeed we are sinful and cannot free ourselves (which is very true), that sometimes we are almost embarrassed to say that we even want to be holy. But this is a desire that we must have as believers we are told to be holy for I am holy.

Why did Peter tell us to strive for perfection and holiness when he knows its not possible to achieve until we are dead?

because striving for that perfection and holiness makes us better Christians day by day.

What else would he tell us? Would it make sense for him to tell us to just try and be 50% holy?

If non of us achieve perfection, isn't it cruel to set a target that is impossible to acheive?? we are bound to fail...

It is the joy of our walk to try and to fail. It is in the effort that we see our desire to please HIM and in the failures that we are reminded we need a savior and we have one who saves with absolute perfection.

I boast all the more in my weakness for in my weakness HE is manifest perfection.

Aint grace grand

[Jeremiah Joel]

Just because you are not perfect does not mean you cannot obtain sinlessness in this life time. The Bile not only tells us we can, but that we are supposed to.

How about a couple of passages to back this up please.

And then if you could, a couple of examples of sinless people from the Bible. I mean if we are supposed to, then surly God would have given us a couple of examples to follow.

Hello RunningGator

If I may take the liberty to direct you to Ezekial33 post # 7. You will find many references to your request.

Jeremiah

Edited February 20, 2009 by Jeremiah Joel

[Smalcald]

No doubt that Christ alone saves us and there is nothing we can do to create or improve on that our works don't cut it.

I think we should not be ashamed to strive to be Holy. We are told so often that indeed we are sinful and cannot free ourselves (which is very true), that sometimes we are almost embarrassed to say that we even want to be holy. But this is a desire that we must have as believers we are told to be holy for I am holy.

Why did Peter tell us to strive for perfection and holiness when he knows its not possible to achieve until we are dead?

Because that is what God wants of us, St.Paul says it is our "reasonable service". Christians should be moving toward holiness, we have the Holy Spirit inside of us, and if we do not have the Holy Spirit we do not and cannot move toward holiness, as Christ says by their fruits you will know them. How can people with the Holy Spirit inside of them seek out sin and revel in sin?

Once again though look where we have gone, even the mention of holy living brings out the concerns. I think this is a problem in the evangelical churches; if we aim for sin we will achieve sin. I think it is one of the reasons that Ted Haggard could lay there with another man doing Meth; and still say to himself, its fine I am still saved, this is just something I do a little problem; which is what he has said he was thinking in the interviews he has done since he got caught.

Christ said narrow is the gate and DIFFICULT the path to heaven and FEW find it. We are told our life will be a lifelong struggle against the flesh and Satan.

I just think we need to start helping people battle sin and move toward holiness, instead of simply saying don't worry be happy.

Peace

[Fraught]

No doubt that Christ alone saves us and there is nothing we can do to create or improve on that our works don't cut it.

I think we should not be ashamed to strive to be Holy. We are told so often that indeed we are sinful and cannot free ourselves (which is very true), that sometimes we are almost embarrassed to say that we even want to be holy. But this is a desire that we must have as believers we are told to be holy for I am holy.

Why did Peter tell us to strive for perfection and holiness when he knows its not possible to achieve until we are dead?

because striving for that perfection and holiness makes us better Christians day by day.

What else would he tell us? Would it make sense for him to tell us to just try and be 50% holy?

If non of us achieve perfection, isn't it cruel to set a target that is impossible to acheive?? we are bound to fail...

Luckily, God is not looking at your actions as much as at your motives. Even that is not quite right. I would venture to say that God ONLY looks at your motives, the intent of your heart. I can't even say that without taking it a step further. Jesus the Son sees the intent of your heart; God the Father, when He looks at you, sees Jesus.

[givennewname]

how do get perfection.. been striving for it for years... Holy Spirit can prompt the conscience but that can be over ruled. Jesus sayd to bear fuit , one has to stay in the vine, but i don't know how that works either.

[Massorite]

Pe 2:9 But ye are an elect race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, that ye may show forth the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:

I assume that when Peter asked us to be a holy nation, i assume he asked us to be seperated and dedicated for God's use and not to be perfect.. Is perfection possible or is sanctification possible in this life? If so how?? I am far from being sanctified.

So am I my brother but I stand for God no matter what. In spite of my sins.

[Jeremiah Joel]

Hello Everyone:

If I may take sometime to make a few points on this subject. From what I have read, I see Ezekial33 as saying that he is without sin. If God where to reveal anything to him that he is doing that is sin, that God would give him the power to stop that also. As in his post #40:

Didn't say I was without sin, what I said it that we can become sinless, and we should strive to, and that I will allow God to purge me, while you wallow in you endless sinfulness.

Please correct me on this Ezekial33 if I am incorrect.

In Job 34:31-32 it speaks: "For has any said to God, 'I am guilty, but I will not offend any more.Teach me that which I don't see. If I have done iniquity, I will do it no more'?

We are either delivered from sin or not. If we are dead to sin how can we live any longer therein? When a man is dead (actually dead), he does not get back up and live his life for a little while, then go back into death.

Runninggator: You had said in your post #37

John tells us If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.

There is more to what John wrote though. It is not only I John 1:8 which is what you were speaking from. It is about 1 John 1:7-10 & 2:1. Which says:

I John 18-10 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us [our] sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

I John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

The reason then that John wrote these things is that we sin not. Yes we have this body of sin and death. And understanding this I buffet my body (daily) to bring it into subjection.

I would think that none of us, would think that a pedophile can continue in that sin. I would think that we would all agree that that sin must stop.... no more slip ups. I would also think that all of us would agree that a homosexual must stop that sin.... no more slip ups. It would be very hypocritical for us to say to these things mentioned (or any others) have to stop, and that we though would continue in our own sin(s).

The situation though: is that under our own power we cannot stop from sin. It is ONLY by the power of the Holy Ghost that we can cease from sin.

Yes I am free from sin.. the sins that are particular to my own life. If there be any other thing, I trust that God will revel this to me, and it also shall stop.

This is not about being as a Pharisee... to look down on others because of their sin, and still living in our own. This is simple of what Christ came to do. It is about taking the law out of the way... nailing it to his cross. Where no law is there is no transgression.

Jeremiah