Then what is there to be perfected? So, the question remains, why do men continue to sin? What purpose does it serve? I think sinless Christians would be a much more persuasive witness to their God then the sinful ones.
No one is "perfected" on earth. All men sin until the day they die.
Why? Because they they can resist the grace given them? What's the point?
No, my eyes were opened and all I saw was man-made superstition and fantastic tales. I am not against God, I don't deny that there is God, whatever God may be, but I certainly have no clue what that God is, and I don't believe anyone else does (contrary to what they say), except what they have been told within the man-made framework of organized religion. (nothing personal)
God willing, He will bring you back to Him. None of us knows for sure about anyone else until their death. If they repented of their sins and believed in Christ with their last breathe, then Scripture tells us they were saved. f not, then not.
Thanks for the kind words. And that's your belief and I respect that. But most Protestants will tell you they "know" they are saved, they "know" they will be in heaven, they "know" their departed ones are in heaven, etc. There is a very clear and unquestionable certainly expressed in their "salvation."
Because no man is perfect but Christ. As Paul said very clearly, if we say we have no sin, we are a liar and the truth is not in us.
And look around. Do you see anyone who is without sin? I don't.
What purpose does it serve?
I'll ask God when I see Him. Until then, I can only speculate according to Scripture that the "purpose sin serves" is to continue to facilitate the display of God's mercy in those He graces with faith in Christ, and the display of God's perfect judgment in those without faith.
No, my eyes were opened and all I saw was man-made superstition and fantastic tales.
And yet you continue to defend the most superstitious and fantastic of tales which are so clearly outside of the written word, namely the veneration of Mary, the apostolic priesthood, the fiction of the mass, etc. There's a long list.
I do understand your hesitation to accept the declaration of "I know I am saved."
Seems to me it's logical to say "I know I am saved because in my heart I love Christ above all else." I believe people can perceive that validity in themselves.
Some may perceive incorrectly, but that doesn't negate the fact that others are truly experiencing their salvation as real and effectual.
Whereas to say "I know there is a God," is a less certain statement. We have a reasonable certainty that there is a God by faith, but it's not possible to say "I KNOW 100% that there is a God."
So from my perspective, it's correct and believable to say "Assuming there is a God (an assumption which I embrace,) according to the word of God and my own experience, I believe and therefore I know that I am saved."
Ultimately, our life will either affirm our belief or it will not. If we're brought down by life and made weary and alone, it may be difficult to see the truth of Christianity. But if, during life's trials, our faith literally sustains us and eases our way through the bad times and lifts us even higher during the good times, then that is a type of proof in itself. When I first became convinced of things, it was only as I looked back that I saw God there all along. And only then was I able to anticipate God in the future.
And so far, He's been there. I don't ask for more. I don't need His body in the wafers. I don't need "another Christ" beyond the "only" Christ. I don't need a "mother of the universe" or a "co-redeemer" or other dead saints to plead my case. I don't need any of that. All I need is the word of God and His Spirit. The first I know I have; the second I believe I have.