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Were Paul, Peter and James Perfect?

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hillsbororiver:
Hi Chris,

I agree that He chooses whom He will and we have no part in that but (always a "but")  ;) how about what is in the hearts of the called who hear His Words and even though they do see what is being said they reject it out of hand because of tradition, an unwillingness to take the narrow road (a lonely walk), a sense of self righteousness, stiffnecked and stubborn because they find the messenger to be not quite to their personal liking (for whatever reason). Preferring companionship and praise to sound doctrine, comfortable in a familiar place where they can speak and hear smooth things which tend to puff up the carnal man.

Certainly their eyes have not been opened, yet within their hearts they embrace this ignorance, they revel in their self perceived superiority and castigate even mocking those who carry forth His Word.

Like Ray has written about in the "Free Will" series, yes we are prone to sin, the flesh is weak predisposed to selfishness and satisfying our carnal nature, feeding the beast so to speak, but when we submit to sin it is not a robotic reaction we do so most willingly and often with great enthusiasm.

This chapter of Proverbs began this train of thought;

 Proverbs 7

 1My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee.

 2Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye.

 3Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

 4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

 5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

 6For at the window of my house I looked through my casement,

 7And beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding,

 8Passing through the street near her corner; and he went the way to her house,

 9In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night:

 10And, behold, there met him a woman with the attire of an harlot, and subtil of heart.

 11(She is loud and stubborn; her feet abide not in her house:

 12Now is she without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.)

 13So she caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said unto him,

 14I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows.

 15Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee.

 16I have decked my bed with coverings of tapestry, with carved works, with fine linen of Egypt.

 17I have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, and cinnamon.

 18Come, let us take our fill of love until the morning: let us solace ourselves with loves.

 19For the goodman is not at home, he is gone a long journey:

 20He hath taken a bag of money with him, and will come home at the day appointed.

 21With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she forced him.

 22He goeth after her straightway, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks;

 23Till a dart strike through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that it is for his life.

 24Hearken unto me now therefore, O ye children, and attend to the words of my mouth.

 25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

 26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

 27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

 His Peace and Wisdom to you,

 Joe

Deborah-Leigh:
Chris R your post triggers me to recall the Scriptures where in we are exhorted to judge ourselves to discern if WE not so much THEY are obedient children or unbelieving disobedient children of wrath. Not God's wrath but flesh wrath disposed to unrepentant, bitterness against God and vengeance. That is the rejection part that I think you are talking about Joe?

For me, the whole of Babylon is "hearing" but not receiving His Words of Knowledge Wisdom and Love. They "hear" but do not learn, they "see" but do not perceive, they "teach" but do not lead to the Truth, they "lead" but do not know what they are leading towards  (Inverted commas to show sarcasm not to represent that Babylon actually hears sees or teaches!) for they follow the angel of light and the glare of the world has blinded them. Why? Because they have idols of their hearts and have not the love of God in them. Paul on the other hand was a passionate follower of an ideal that Jesus Christ straightened out and then Saul became Paul, still passionate unto even his own death!

Though we can not know if we are Elect until after we die election is faithfulness to follow Christ's example to death if so chosen. No one can produce the behaviour of the Scriptures without the Spirit of Christ. Paul definitely got the Spirit of Christ and when he elected to go to Rome he knew that this journey would be to his execution. From there he had the confidence to write that he had run his race and had been faithful. Could he have written such a statement earlier? I do not think so. 

I enjoyed what you posted about Paul admonishing the Gentiles to copy and imitate him Craig.  While we can not know for sure of our "election" we can know we are called and the journey is to discern if we are obedient, repentant and being faithful to follow. That is a daily mission! How often I fail, see my weakness and liability to whom I may turn to Christ who understands, forgives and ushers me to God to ask the Father for the strength I need to overcome. What a blessing and privilege to draw strength in such times of being shown fallibility!

For me, the teachings of Paul and his life of council, disclosure of the Spirit and knowledge of Christ were faithful signs of Christs life being lived in Paul. His death was as I see it, the final evidence of a life lived in Christs marvelous Spirit.

Peace to you

Arcturus :)

M_Oliver:
This is a great thread for new members in my opinion. I hope they all stumble { ;) } on it.

Mark

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