meaning we must live by the word of God. we have to try. God knows that we are not perfect. but by living and breathing by the word of God we will have eternal life. then we will be perfect.
What an excellent question. How? By being sinless. Why? Because God is Perfect and only by perfection will one be able to truly meet Him.
Since we sin more than we breathe that sounds impossible. But Jesus also says "what's impossible to men is possible with God". Jesus left us the 7 sacraments. Especially the ones of Reconciliation (Confession) and of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). When one confesses all the sins in their heart, Jesus, truly forgives all those sins and thus the person is brought closer to perfection. The through Holy Communion, the person holds The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ within their own body and thus are united and Jesus is sinless and as such, He brings us again much closer to perfection.
If one practices a life of avoidance of sins, of confession, of Communion and of prayer, then that's the best that the person can do and Jesus will do the rest to bring us to perfection when the moment will come to meet Our Father in Heaven who is Perfect.
I believe the word " perfect is to be translated as mature , spiritually speaking . The Strong's concordance # 998 =s , understanding, knowledge, PERFECT (ly) understand. So what Jesus was saying is that we should be mature in the understanding and knowledge and to perfectly ( as well as you can) understand the word of God. We are to serve God , not the other way around. It is a lot EASIER for God to use you if from scripture you know what has happened and why, what is happening and why, and what is going to happen and why. This also facilitates turning you life into and example of Christianity. This is important, especially if you realize that it is God's M.O. to take "losers" and make "users" out of them . Examples , Paul, the woman at the well etc, you get the picture. God can use anybody if they will just try, ie study Gods word.
We must keep in mind that not every word Jesus spoke was to or for the Church. With that in mind, this chapter is the sermon on the mount. The key passages which relate to this verse are verses 20 - 48. Here Jesus expands the law. It was basically a shot at all the Jewish leaders who believed they would gain salvation by keeping the law, in their eyes, perfectly. The verse you are referring to, is a bracket verse with this one:
Mat 5:20 For I say to you, If your righteousness shall not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of God, never!
So, what Jesus was saying to these Jews is simply, if you think you can obtain eternal life through your own efforts and keeping the law, you must do so perfectly, without sin.
This is one of the beautiful lines that show that Jesus thought that God was perfect and without faults. I guess that blows to hell people's assumptions of an imperfect angry God that demands worship and will sent people to hell if they disobey (all imperfect qualities).
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meaning we must live by the word of God. we have to try. God knows that we are not perfect. but by living and breathing by the word of God we will have eternal life. then we will be perfect.
What an excellent question. How? By being sinless. Why? Because God is Perfect and only by perfection will one be able to truly meet Him.
Since we sin more than we breathe that sounds impossible. But Jesus also says "what's impossible to men is possible with God". Jesus left us the 7 sacraments. Especially the ones of Reconciliation (Confession) and of the Eucharist (Holy Communion). When one confesses all the sins in their heart, Jesus, truly forgives all those sins and thus the person is brought closer to perfection. The through Holy Communion, the person holds The Body and Blood of Jesus Christ within their own body and thus are united and Jesus is sinless and as such, He brings us again much closer to perfection.
If one practices a life of avoidance of sins, of confession, of Communion and of prayer, then that's the best that the person can do and Jesus will do the rest to bring us to perfection when the moment will come to meet Our Father in Heaven who is Perfect.
God bless you
I believe the word " perfect is to be translated as mature , spiritually speaking . The Strong's concordance # 998 =s , understanding, knowledge, PERFECT (ly) understand. So what Jesus was saying is that we should be mature in the understanding and knowledge and to perfectly ( as well as you can) understand the word of God. We are to serve God , not the other way around. It is a lot EASIER for God to use you if from scripture you know what has happened and why, what is happening and why, and what is going to happen and why. This also facilitates turning you life into and example of Christianity. This is important, especially if you realize that it is God's M.O. to take "losers" and make "users" out of them . Examples , Paul, the woman at the well etc, you get the picture. God can use anybody if they will just try, ie study Gods word.
We must keep in mind that not every word Jesus spoke was to or for the Church. With that in mind, this chapter is the sermon on the mount. The key passages which relate to this verse are verses 20 - 48. Here Jesus expands the law. It was basically a shot at all the Jewish leaders who believed they would gain salvation by keeping the law, in their eyes, perfectly. The verse you are referring to, is a bracket verse with this one:
Mat 5:20 For I say to you, If your righteousness shall not exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter into the kingdom of God, never!
So, what Jesus was saying to these Jews is simply, if you think you can obtain eternal life through your own efforts and keeping the law, you must do so perfectly, without sin.
how? through the attoning blood of Jesus Christ which was shed on the cross for you
why? because God is sinless, and cannot look upon it or suffer it's presence.
This is one of the beautiful lines that show that Jesus thought that God was perfect and without faults. I guess that blows to hell people's assumptions of an imperfect angry God that demands worship and will sent people to hell if they disobey (all imperfect qualities).