Wrestling With Faith
What is Christian Perfection?
I had someone send me this question. I think this a good question. Let me start by explaining what it means and then what people often think of it.
Christian Perfection is sanctifying grace that draws us toward "Christian perfection, John Wesley described, this as "a heart habitually filled with the love for God and neighbor and having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked." In this statement some may ask what does it mean to be sanctified? Being sanctified is setting something or someone apart and make it holy, or to commandeer something or someone for special use by God.
Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 1:16, "for it is written: be holy because I am holy."
Leviticus 20:7, "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God."
These are the verses that talk about Christian Perfection. The simplest explanation is that we are fulfilling what God has designed us to be. For example, if you have a pen or a pencil and you are able to write with it, then it is perfect because it does what it was created to do. This does not mean that it is without fault or imperfections but that it does what it was created to do. People who fulfill what John Wesley described as having a heart that is habitually filled with the love for God and our neighbor and having the mind of Christ and walking it that mindset is perfect because this is what God created us and desires us to do.
When people hear the term Christian Perfection, people think of someone who is better than everyone else or is without fault or failure. Or someone who never does anything wrong. Although, many people think this to be the case. This is not the meaning of Christian perfection. These people still have faults and make mistakes. They may even sin from time to time but they are committed to living for God in every part of their lives and this is their greatest desire. They desire to become more and more like God and draw closer to God continually.
I had someone send me this question. I think this a good question. Let me start by explaining what it means and then what people often think of it.
Christian Perfection is sanctifying grace that draws us toward "Christian perfection, John Wesley described, this as "a heart habitually filled with the love for God and neighbor and having the mind of Christ and walking as he walked." In this statement some may ask what does it mean to be sanctified? Being sanctified is setting something or someone apart and make it holy, or to commandeer something or someone for special use by God.
Matthew 5:48, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.
1 Peter 1:16, "for it is written: be holy because I am holy."
Leviticus 20:7, "Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God."
These are the verses that talk about Christian Perfection. The simplest explanation is that we are fulfilling what God has designed us to be. For example, if you have a pen or a pencil and you are able to write with it, then it is perfect because it does what it was created to do. This does not mean that it is without fault or imperfections but that it does what it was created to do. People who fulfill what John Wesley described as having a heart that is habitually filled with the love for God and our neighbor and having the mind of Christ and walking it that mindset is perfect because this is what God created us and desires us to do.
When people hear the term Christian Perfection, people think of someone who is better than everyone else or is without fault or failure. Or someone who never does anything wrong. Although, many people think this to be the case. This is not the meaning of Christian perfection. These people still have faults and make mistakes. They may even sin from time to time but they are committed to living for God in every part of their lives and this is their greatest desire. They desire to become more and more like God and draw closer to God continually.
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