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Be Ye Holy, For I Am Holy!

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
So why ask people to be perfect...that makes no sense
Nobody is asked or commanded to be perfect. We are told to be holy. Holy and perfect are not the same thing. Holy means to be set apart for a specific task. We are no longer our own, we have been bought with a price.

We must understand that when we see the word "perfect" in the bible it does not mean "sinless perfection" as modern day English speakers understand it. The word means "complete, mature, nothing lacking necessary to the whole." We are commanded to be perfect, to be mature, to grow up, spiritually, in Christ.

But when God tells us to be Holy He is saying that He has set us aside for a specific purpose and that purpose should be the focus of our lives. It does not mean sinlessness.
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
???

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mt 5
What is your question? I made it very clear. I even referenced the verse.
We must understand that when we see the word "perfect" in the bible it does not mean "sinless perfection" as modern day English speakers understand it. The word means "complete, mature, nothing lacking necessary to the whole." We are commanded to be perfect, to be mature, to grow up, spiritually, in Christ.
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
Yes. You clearly stated:



And Christ clearly commanded:

48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Mt 5
What part of "We must understand that when we see the word "perfect" in the bible it does not mean "sinless perfection" as modern day English speakers understand it. The word means "complete, mature, nothing lacking necessary to the whole." We are commanded to be perfect, to be mature, to grow up, spiritually, in Christ" didn't you understand?
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
What is your question? I made it very clear. I even referenced the verse.
Since I don’t consider Jesus to be irrational and idealistic then I’m ok with this. But I Did not ask for this type of life... always trying and always failing to measure up, I would prefer to choose my own life, calmly and carefully the way I see fit. I am over 60 and I have to provide for my family, I don’t want to be incumbered by others who want to judge me, projecting their morality on me..let’s face it the religious are always judging and projecting and it plays out continuously on BB. So if you want to shake your fingers at me go right ahead, knock yourself out it has no effect on me. I honestly find it funny because my God doesn’t do that.
 
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Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Yes. It is brilliant. The law serves as a harsh schoolmaster to drive us to Christ.
if the law and the Christian God are harsh school masters why would anyone want to be a Christian? Why not just ignore Christianity altogether? Better yet, embrace evil, embrace sin ... heck you are being told to do something everyone knows is impossible...that’s insane.
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
I don’t want to be incumbered by others who want to judge me, projecting their morality on me.
I don't recall having done that.

So if you want to shake your fingers at me go right ahead,
I don't recall having done that, nor wanting to do that.

knock yourself out it has no effect on me.
If whoever is doing that doesn't affect you, why do you bring it up?

I honestly find it funny because my God doesn’t do that.
Do what. Shake His finger at you? I don't recall saying He did. Nor anyone else, for that matter.

All I said was the contemporary understanding of "Holy" and "perfect" are not what the words actually mean.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
I don't recall having done that.

I don't recall having done that, nor wanting to do that.

If whoever is doing that doesn't affect you, why do you bring it up?

Do what. Shake His finger at you? I don't recall saying He did. Nor anyone else, for that matter.

All I said was the contemporary understanding of "Holy" and "perfect" are not what the words actually mean.
I know that, I did not say you ... I won’t mention any names here, that’s against my way.
 

TCassidy

Late-Administator Emeritus
Administrator
(I)f the law and the Christian God are harsh school masters why would anyone want to be a Christian?
He is not and they don't.

Why not just ignore Christianity altogether?
That is the default position for most of humanity.

Better yet, embrace evil, embrace sin .
Most do.

(H)eck you are being told to do something everyone knows is impossible.
But you're not. Being told to be "perfect" is not a command to be perfectly sinless. It is a command to grow in grace.

(T)hat’s insane.
It would be if it were true. It's not. :)
 

kyredneck

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
"We must understand that when we see the word "perfect" in the bible it does not mean "sinless perfection"

If you pay any attention at all to the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT, "sinless perfection" is precisely what's intended.

The word means "complete, mature, nothing lacking necessary to the whole."

No. That's the meaning that you are cherry picking in order to force the passage to conform to your view.

Word: teleioj

Pronounce: tel'-i-os

Strongs Number: G5046

Orig: from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect. G5056

Use: TDNT-8:67,1161 Adjective

Heb Strong: H8002 H8003 H8503 H8549


  1. 1) brought to its end, finished
    2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
    3) perfect
    4) that which is perfect
    4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
    4b) of men
    4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
4a fits very well with the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT.

We are commanded to be perfect, to be mature, to grow up, spiritually, in Christ" didn't you understand?

In the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT our righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. We must be 'perfect' even to the point of controlling our emotions, thoughts, and lusts. The Sermon on the Mount is an exposition of the law given by the Author of the law showing the spirituality of the law addressed to those to whom the law was given. It requires every whit of "sinless perfection" to literally fulfill it.
 

Earth Wind and Fire

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
If you pay any attention at all to the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT, "sinless perfection" is precisely what's intended.



No. That's the meaning that you are cherry picking in order to force the passage to conform to your view.

Word: teleioj

Pronounce: tel'-i-os

Strongs Number: G5046

Orig: from 5056; complete (in various applications of labor, growth, mental and moral character, etc.); neuter (as noun, with 3588) completeness:--of full age, man, perfect. G5056

Use: TDNT-8:67,1161 Adjective

Heb Strong: H8002 H8003 H8503 H8549


  1. 1) brought to its end, finished
    2) wanting nothing necessary to completeness
    3) perfect
    4) that which is perfect
    4a) consummate human integrity and virtue
    4b) of men
    4b1) full grown, adult, of full age, mature
4a fits very well with the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT.



In the CONTEXT CONTEXT CONTEXT our righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees. We must be 'perfect' even to the point of controlling our emotions, thoughts, and lusts. The Sermon on the Mount is an exposition of the law given by the Author of the law showing the spirituality of the law addressed to those to whom the law was given. It requires every whit of "sinless perfection" to literally fulfill it.
Larry... but you can’t.
 

HankD

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
To me part of "perfection" includes maintenance of my relationship with the Triune God.

Mortification of the flesh, acknowledgement of know sin, self-judgement (at the Lord's Table), etc...

HankD
 
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