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To: xzins
Be ye perfect AS your Father in Heaven is perfect...."as" is used in the comparative sense, but it can mean "in the same manner" or "to the same degree." Unless it is made absolutely clear in the Greek which is meant, then it is open to debate which is meant.

I did a little checking, and the verse actually says, "Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. (Mat 5:48).

The phrase "even as" carries the idea of "just like" or "exactly like". We know that this is not possible in this life, but the Bible also says that when He appears (the Second Coming), we shall be like Him. That could include perfection, once we have been changed into glorious bodies like unto His own. At that point, we will be free from sin.

There is also this interesting verse in Hebrews: "To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect," (Heb 12:23)

999 posted on 01/30/2005 7:56:07 PM PST by nobdysfool (Faith in Christ is the evidence of God's choosing, not the cause of it.)
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To: nobdysfool

Do you think that the "perfection" the bible speaks of is of the same degree as that of the Father? I don't.

I don't think anyone will ever be as perfect as God is perfect.

If all things are to be brought under Him who is above all, then there is at least that area in which they have not attained unto the perfection of God.

Feel free to answer this off-line. I'm not interested in a debate.


1,008 posted on 01/31/2005 5:00:03 AM PST by xzins (Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It!)
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