Christians, time and again I hear many of you say "man was born into sin and is not perfect"...?

Question

But why would your own god, as Jesus, then command you to be perfect?

Matthew 8Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect

Surely, he had to know this was impossible?

Answer 1

Forgive me for putting this in plain English and not using scripture references.

"The Law" or The Ten Commandments were given to Moses for God's people. This was our avenue of holiness. Obeying all these commands. When we screwed up (the Israelites) would have to sacrifice burnt offerings (and I don't mean your wifes cooking) as "atonement" for their sins.

Obviously, things were not working so well. So God through a series of covenants with different patriarchs through the ages (Moses, Abraham, Noah, David) began to build on a foundation of grace and not Law. Jesus, HAD to come because otherwise we were all literally screwed. Because as Romans says following a Law can never impart life. So it had to come in another form.

Jesus was perfect, He fulfilled the law perfectly, the only one who ever has. And then He died, as a sacrifice for our sins, so that, we could live by the spirit. If you are saved, it is no longer your job to beat yourself up and conform to the law but you are obligated to live by the spirit. I'm not saying you can run go do whatever you want, what I am saying is your focus changes. Your focus is no longer the Ten commandments its the great commandment we now focus on. Love your God with all your heart, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. The perfect law of love.

In that there is grace, Romans says focusing on the law "produced all manner of sinful desires within me" so by trying to focus on the law and obey everything it says, you are making it 20 times harder for yourself to obtain perfection, remember only one man ever did it that way and it was Jesus. This isn't anything new, this is what God had in mind from the beginning, the Ten Commandments were supposed to be used as a school master, in other words, to teach us how far we actually fall short of perfection. Romans says “I would have never known sin unless there was a law against it” but once you are saved this is no longer your focus. We are now set free from the law because of what Jesus did.

Now to answer your question.

Galatians 5:16-18 says "So I say, live by the spirit, and you will not gratify the sinful nature. For the sinful nature desires what is contrary to the spirit, and the spirit desires what is contrary to the sinful nature. They are in conflict with one another so that you do not do what you want. But if you are led by the spirit you are no longer under law"

Jesus says it was better that He go, instead of staying on earth because He was going to send another, the Holy Spirit to be with us. If you are saved then you have accepted the Holy Spirit within you to "live by the spirit".

What does this practically mean? It means that God likes you. That your sin, no longer separates you from Him. It means that you "count yourself dead to sin" because your sinful nature was “crucified with Christ”, and that you can "approach the throne room of God with confidence and freedom" anytime you want because Jesus can "sympathize" with what we go through.

Which means, He wants perfection for you, the same way you want your kid to go to college, and get a good career, and a good life, because you care about him. But that doesn't mean you're going to abandon him when he gets his first speeding ticket, or gets in to drugs or crime. Will you try to love them through their problems and mistakes? Absolutely you would, but what if that meant running intervention for your son and putting him in rehab, would he appreciate it? Probably not. Would he hate you for it, likely. Were you as a father or mother still motivated by love to do that for him? Of course.

We so mis interpret what God is really up to in our lives. Maybe the hardship, maybe the bad marriage, maybe the stressful job is a way of God trying to expose you to something in your life, so that he can give you something better?

If life is all about following a set of rules I'll never be able to be perfect at anyways then I want nothing of it. Letting God make us perfect is for our own joy, for our own happiness and for the happiness of others. But believe or not, God does not NEED you to be a perfect person. He can and will love you, and use you simply because He's just that way.

And all the Christians pointed and cried "HERETIC!"

hehe,
-Red

Answer 2

Sometimes, people get frustrated with Christians for taking the Bible too literally. What amuses me about this, and other exegetical situations (such as the Jesus Seminar,) is that when atheists start studying the Bible, they do the same thing! Here is the verse, in context, which comes from Mattew 5, not Matthew 8:

"43"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' 44But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."

Clearly, Jesus' point is that, to be like God, you have to go "above and beyond" the call of duty. It's not enough just to be a nice person, and to take care of your family, and love your friends--pretty much everybody does that. You have to do that for everyone, even people who hate you! That is what God does: He gives the blessings of rain, and abundant food, and romantic love, and nature, and beautiful children, and music, and every other good thing to *everyone,* not just the Christians (and others) who love Him. That is what Jesus means by "perfect," to be perfectly loving to everyone, not just one's friends and family.

Answer 3

Because Jesus didn't speak English. Neither did He translate any of the many Bibles that we have.

G5046
teleios -- pronounced: tel'-i-os

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

See Greek No. 5056

See Greek No. 3588

It doesn't mean:
perfect
- adjective
1. conforming absolutely to the description or definition of an ideal type: a perfect sphere; a perfect gentleman.
2. excellent or complete beyond practical or theoretical improvement: There is no perfect legal code. The proportions of this temple are almost perfect.
3. exactly fitting the need in a certain situation or for a certain purpose: a perfect actor to play Mr. Micawber; a perfect saw for cutting out keyholes.
4. entirely without any flaws, defects, or shortcomings: a perfect apple; the perfect crime.
5. accurate, exact, or correct in every detail: a perfect copy.

Answer 4

We are not born into sin, because God has told us that the sins of our fathers are not passed on to the sons. Also, the responsibility of each of us will be at judgment. But, that being said, we are born with the nature to sin, or in other words, it is easier to do wrong than to do right. Nobody has to teach a child to lie or steal or hide what he has done. Since we are born with that nature (and this is extremely important!) no one can live a sin-free life. But Christ did! That is the reason! It makes His life the perfect sacrifice. It is how we are able to become sinless, again. God did not set us up to fail, we choose to. Christ chose to not fail. It is simply easier to fail.

Answer 5

Of course, but He had to give us a goal. And if you've been saved, that is, accepted Jesus as your Lord and Savior, then your sins are washed away. Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice to the earth. Jesus forgives, and therefore, makes us perfect in the end.

I hope this helps you.

Answer 6

Gen 6:9 --- Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God.

"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

2King 20:3 I beseech thee, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight."

I have sited just a few examples of men who were considered to be "Perfect" in their walk with God....Yet the Bible clearly states that all have sinned and come short of the Glory of God....Perfection does not mean that one has never sinned or will not sin in the future,our sin is covered by repentance and faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross...However,to be perfect in the eyes of God,is to live holy and in walk in faith and obedience..and to strive for the high calling of God in our lives...We will never be perfect...nor attain Godhood.

Very Good Question!! Some of this stuff can be confusing,but it does all fit together. It takes a lot of time both experiencially and in the word of God,to really understand it.
(By the way,I am not saying that I personally have arrived...not even close)...but I am plugged into the source of all truth..

Answer 7

He is giving us the standard to attain to. For we should al be conformed to the image of our Lord and Savior.

What he asks for is impossible, yes. But he sent his Son as a sacrifice for us since we can not attain what he requires. So he provides the means by which we can still have a right relationship with him.

I could not follow a God for which his standard would be so low as for me to be able to attain on my own. For that would not be God but a man.

For His ways are as differnt from ours as the heavens are from the earth.

Answer 8

God dreated you to be in his image, Perfect.

Adam and Eve sinned by their own will, and we all were born into sin after.

God wants you to live sinless because Jesus lived on our same earth and lived his life perfect and free of sin!

He proved it can be done, so why is it impossible?

Answer 9

The Bible also says "The spirit is willing but the flesh is weak" The expectation is that we continue to grow and learn to become as much perfect as we can be. "For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory or God." Taken out of context anyone can attack any portion of the Bible to serve their purpose for an argument. One guy tried to have sex with me saying "Well the Bible says be fruitful and multiply." lol

Answer 10

Perfect is not flawless it means: Lacking nothing essential to the whole; complete of its nature or kind. Thoroughly skilled or talented in a certain field or area; proficient. Excellent and delightful in all respects. To bring to full development

Answer 11

the bible said be perfect like him. we all fall short of the glory.we live in a world full of send where have you Ben . look on the TV look across the street sin is everywhere. that why we pray for others an our self .