Bill wrote: > You don't really expect to be functionally perfect > on this side of death, do you?
Yes, I do. The law expects perfection. Deut. 18:13 says, "Thou shalt be perfect with the LORD thy God." (Deut. 18:13 KJV) Jesus said he came to fulfill the law. "Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 5:17-20 KJV) This passage indicates that some will keep the law and teach others to do so also. Jesus also taught that those who walk in love fulfill the law. Romans 8:4 says that the righteousness of the law is to be fulfilled in us: "That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit." (Romans 8:4 KJV) And besides the promises of Scripture, we have the fact that there were men who were called perfect in Scripture, such as Job: Job 1:1 There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. Job 1:8 And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? So, yes, I do expect Christ to have a perfect work in me and cause me to walk perfectly in his ways. There are many ways in which I do not expect to be perfect. I do not expect to be perfect in knowledge this side of the resurrection. I do not expect to be perfect in athletic and mechanical abilities of this body. For example, I will probably continue to drop my car keys from time to time and make mistakes when I write, maybe typo's to this list, etc. However, in regards to morality and holiness, I can trust the Lord to work in me to make me holy and blameless. This is the promise of the gospel as I understand it and experience it. Peace be with you. David Miller, Beverly Hills, Florida. ---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org If you do not want to receive posts from this list, send an email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and you will be unsubscribed. If you have a friend who wants to join, tell him to send an e-mail to [EMAIL PROTECTED] and he will be subscribed.
