O the deep, deep love of Jesus

Thi is one of my favorite hymns that we sing in church. It brings tear to my eyes:

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy loveLeading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!How He watches o'er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o'er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!'Tis an ocean vast of blessing, 'tis a haven sweet of rest!O the deep, deep love of Jesus, 'tis a heaven of heavens to me;And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!

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Can We Be Perfect?

Twice in the last couple months on two unrelated, separate occassions, I was with a group of believers having a discussion. On both occassions I said something one person unexpectedly objected to with strong conviction. I can't remember exactly what it was I said. But it had to do with my assertion that we are sinners and can not reach perfection in this life, even as born again Christians.

Both brothers in the Lord believed that in one way or another we could achieve perfection in this life. Both argued in effect that if we could not reach or taste perfection, we might not be motivated to reach for it but remain stagnant in our level of holiness.

I've learned is that it is always a mistake to assume every other believer shares the exact same beliefs I do. I must admit I was caught off guard both times. Although I don't particularly care for conflict, in the long run I've come to welcome challenges to my beliefs because it motivates me to evaluate more deeply why I believe what I do and what I am basing those beliefs upon. I really want to believe what is true and pray that my heart will receive the truth. If I am convinced that my beliefs are sound, that I can share my reasons and hope that I may convince my brother.

The gospel message, as I see it in the Bible, is one of grace. The grace spoken of is in reference to our standing before God. The gospel says that we are justified and saved by grace. Grace is likened to a gift that is undeserved and held up as the opposite of works by which we earn and are worthy. The gospel says that God declares a person as righteous, accepted and innocent not by what he does to become worthy of it, but through faith in Christ as a gift. Here are some verses from Scripture:

Romans 11:5 So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. 6And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

Ephesians 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast.

Romans 4:4 Now when a man works, his wages are not credited to him as a gift, but as an obligation. 5 However, to the man who does not work but trusts God who justifies the wicked, his faith is credited as righteousness.

Galatians 2:16b So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by observing the law, because by observing the law no one will be justified.

The reason why we are made acceptable to God through faith is that we are not able to meet God's standard of holiness because of sin, our sin:

Galatians 3:21b For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22But the Scripture declares that the whole world is a prisoner of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.

If we were able to reach perfection in this life, then we would be able to obtain righteousness (e.g. the meeting of God's standard). But the all people are bound by sin:

Galatians 2:21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"

Some would argue that once we come to God through faith in Christ and are born again, that we can then reach perfection. Listen to what the Apostle Paul says comparing believers to non-believers:

Romans 3:9 What shall we conclude then? Are we any better? Not at all! We have already made the charge that Jews and Gentiles alike are all under sin. 10 As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one;"

Listen to what Paul says about first coming to Christ as sinners but believing we can then attain perfection:

Galatians 3:3 Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?

The point is that one of the reasons that Christ died for us and that we remain acceptable to God through faith alone is because of we are not able to free ourselves of sin. But more on this in my next posting.