Originally posted by godrulz
We are to be pure as He is pure. 3:4-6 Sin is breaking the law (lawlessness). He takes away our sins. No one who lives in Him keeps on sinning (present, continuous, habitual tense).
Here are some of the different ways I have heard this term described...
"Sin is... breaking the 10 commandments"
"Sin is... not loving God, or your neighbor"
"Sin is... missing the mark"
"Sin is... is a state of existence"
"Sin is... life apart from God"
"Sin is... lawlessness"
"Sin is... unrighteosness" and so on...
God is perfect, and we humans, have vague ideas what perfection entails, and so we may speculate, but it cannot be fully understood. Perfection is foreign to our way of thinking. It is well above our perception, because we live in a world where nothing is perfect. Only God, and his kingdom possess the true reality of absolute perfection. It's scope is mind boggling! The best we can do is simply admit that God is perfect, whatever that is, and we are not.
In Genesis 17:1 God confronts Abram
"And when Abram was ninety years old and nine, the Lord appeared to Abram, and said unto him, I am the Almighty God; walk before me, and be thou perfect"
And Jesus related this same message in Matthew 5:48
"Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect"
"God demands me to be as perfect as He is?" Yes, this is exactly what God demands, not only of Abram or those within earshot of Jesus at the time He spoke, but God demands absolute perfection of everyone, in every area of their life at all times. Anything short of this, is sin.
In relation to the Law given by God, James writes:
"For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles in one point, he has become guilty of all."
In other words, James makes it clear that, if you are perfect in every way, except one, you are guilty of being imperfect in all ways!
Fairly stringent, wouldn't you say? I think it even goes much deeper than we can comprehend. First of all, perfection belongs solely to God. We have no absolute idea what it is, and that makes it very hard to attain.
Not only can we do nothing wrong in order to be perfect, we must also perform every possible good to be perfect. And both of these must be in word, thought, and deed.
Jesus touched on not only the demand to obey God's Laws in our actions, but also in our thoughts.
In Matthew Jesus tells us:
"…that everyone who looks on a woman to lust for her has committed adultery with her already in his heart."
Also...
"…whoever shall say, 'You fool,' shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell."
Jesus went as far as to tell one man:
"…go and sell all you possess, and give to the poor"
and another...
"Give to him who asks of you, and do not turn away from him who wants to borrow from you."
Paul himself wrote as he quoted David:
"There is none who does good, There is not even one."
It amazes me that godrulz actually thinks that he has the ability to compare himself to God's standard of perfection, and then to make judgements as to whether or not he or us are falling short!
The fact is... No one comes remotely close to perfection in any area of their life, and according to our thoughts, actions, words, deeds, we do nothing but sin. However, those who are in Christ, have been set free from sin!
...quit saying I believe in works salvation
But, YOU keep saying that YOU do...
Those believers who 'fall' are expected to repent, make restitution, renew obedience, etc.