The Narrow Path Ministries

dizerner wrote:I have not already attained, nor am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

JacobMartinMertens wrote:

dizerner wrote:I have not already attained, nor am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

What have you not already attained? No one is perfected. When is a person perfected? Does this have to do with when a person is glorified? What about from glory to glory now?

dizerner wrote:

JacobMartinMertens wrote:

dizerner wrote:I have not already attained, nor am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me.

What have you not already attained? No one is perfected. When is a person perfected? Does this have to do with when a person is glorified? What about from glory to glory now?

I do not consider my self to have taken hold of it yet; but one thing I focus on: forgetting all that lies behind me, and reaching forward to those things that lie ahead, I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus!

JacobMartinMertens wrote:Yes, I know you are talking about scripture. We should obey Jesus. Do you fall short in this or are you simply saying your walk is by faith? It may be that I did my best is not enough, but you may be saying you press on. Salvation is not by works so this can't be what it means to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.

1. You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

2.Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

3. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

4. Therefore be perfect [complete], as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Perfection is possible or Jesus wouldn't command it.

5. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

6. And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.

7. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

8. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

9. Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

10. Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

11. First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

12. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

13. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

14. Whatever you want others to do for you, do that very thing for others.

13. Enter by the narrow gate and travel the hard road that leads to lfe, and avoid the wide gate and the easy road that leads to destruction.

14. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

Paidion wrote:Jacob, let's be specific. What did Jesus recommend or require, as recorded in Matt 5, 6, and 7?

Here are some of these instructions. Never mind whether or not you are flawless; that's a distraction. Just ask yourself whether you follow these specific instructions consistently.

1. You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I tell you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles.

2.Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

3. Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.

4. Therefore be perfect [complete], as your heavenly Father is perfect. [Perfection is possible or Jesus wouldn't command it.

5. Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. Thus, when you give to the needy, sound no trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may be praised by others. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing so that your giving may be in secret. And when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do, for they think that they will be heard for their many words.

6. And when you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that their fasting may be seen by others. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, that your fasting may not be seen by others but by your Father who is in secret.

7. Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

8. No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

9. Do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

10. Do not judge so that you will not be judged.

11. First take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother’s eye.

12. Do not give dogs what is holy, and do not throw your pearls before pigs, lest they trample them underfoot and turn to attack you.

13. Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.

14. Whatever you want others to do for you, do that very thing for others.

13. Enter by the narrow gate and travel the hard road that leads to lfe, and avoid the wide gate and the easy road that leads to destruction.

14. Beware of false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves.

morbo3000 wrote:You're fishing again Jacob.

Just tell us your opinion.