Re: [TruthTalk] Christian Perfection

[Terry Clifton]

Lance Muir wrote: In an earlier post I referred to words(language) as a blunt instrument. They(words) don't possess the level of exactitude that say, mathematics possesses. Pattern and its signification is useful. Hatred, when used of sin in the life of this believer (yikes! am I revealing too much?) seems a touch unrealistic. As you cannot picture in a picture how a picture pictures what it pictures so that which is certain is not true and that which is true is not certain. What you find in dictionary definitions are references to further definitions.Most truth is better felt than telt. Blessings, Lance Based on what I read in the Bible, I believe that once a person has committed him/her self to follow Christ, sin will no longer be the PATTERN of their life.  If they are in Christ, they will hate sin as He does.  If they are filled with the Holy Spirit, they will have the ability to never sin again.  Still, hating sin and having the ability to live a perfect life does not guarantee a sinless life; as most of us can testify.  That is why we need a Savior.  If you hate sin and still screw up on occasion, you have an advocate to plead your case, and mercy and grace are available.  If sin is the pattern of your life, to me that is an indication that you are not right with your creator and you are very likely bound for Hell. Terry ====================================================================================== It would probably be best if I gave you examples so that the picture you picture will be a true picture as well as certain.  1.When you turn on the computer each and every morning and click on favorites or bookmarks, multiple porno sites pop up and you spend hours lusting over the tender young maidens pictured thereon. 2. When you divorce for reasons other than adultery, then remarry and live day after day in an adulterous relationship. 3.  When you scheme and lie and manipulate daily to get to the top in your chosen field. Those are three instances in which sin is the pattern of the persons life.  They are doing what they want to do with no regard for what the Lord would have them do.  4. when you turn on the 'puter and a porno ad pops up unexpectedly, and you study it a few seconds longer than it takes to determine that it is ungodly filth. 5. You have a dollar.  You also have a neighbor in need, and at the same time, you have a desire to buy a lotto ticket.  You decide to buy the ticket and if you win you will help your neighbor. 6. You eat lunch at the same burger barn every day.  There is a dope dealer there every day also and you see him actually give small packets of some substance to students in exchange for lunch money, but you mind your own business and do not report this to anyone. These are not admirable actions.  They are sins, but they are not the pattern of your life. The Bible plainly teaches that there are degrees of sin.  None are good, but some are worse than others. Get the Picture? :-) We all sin, some worse than others.  No golfer hits a hole in one off every tee.  No pitcher throws nothing but called strikes.  No doctor cures every patient.  No Christian is perfect..  We all come up a little short, and we hate that. Terry