Great post! Thank you. My EX-wife once told me that lusting is just the same as having sex according to the Bible (she was one quarter short of her BS in theology, and her father was an esteemed and educated First Baptist preacher). Of course, I slept on the couch the next month for telling her having sex feels a lot better than lusting, ROFLOL! I got utterly disgusted with her insistently challenging my love. Now, I'm happily divorced!
This is what JESUS says.
Matthew 5:28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Don’t you think it matters what is in your heart?
Only ONE was perfect, GT. NOTHING can make us spiritually perfect except the blood of the Lamb (as Jesus was explaining to ole Nickey poo)
Jesus’ blood washes away our sins. We are then made perfect. Then we are to live up to that.
Read all these scriptures about how holy and perfect those saved are:
Hebrews 10:10 and by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:14 because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy
Hebrews 11:40 since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.
Hebrews 12:13 And so Jesus also suffered outside the city gate to make the people holy through his own blood.
Hebrews 12:23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the Judge of all, to the spirits of the righteous made perfect,
Hebrews 2:11 Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.
John 17:19 John 17:19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified
Ephesians 5:26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word,
Now read all these scriptures about how you are to live up to that:
2 Peter 1:10
Therefore, my brothers and sisters, make every effort to confirm your calling and election.
Philippians 3:16 Only let us live up to what we have already attained.
Ephesians 4:1 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.
Colossians 1:10
so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
Colossians 2:6
So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,
1 Thessalonians 2:12
encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
1 Thessalonians 4:1
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.
King James Bible
2 Thessalonians 1:11 Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:
2 Thessalonians 1:5 It is a clear evidence of God’s righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom, for which you also are suffering,
although water baptismal spiritual regeneration advocates will tell us water baptism is a critical component, thereof. Did the dude on the cross obey Jesus' commands, GT?
The thief on the cross obeyed Jesus’ commands to be saved.
He feared God; he was sorry for his sins and repented of them. He confessed Jesus in front of others. He called on Jesus to remember him.
I suspect he would have done the best he could had he been set free... but, the UTTERLY best we can do doesn't hold a candle to the blood of the Lamb, and neither does water baptism. The fact is, many of the mentions of "baptism" in the NT are not explicitly clear they involved water (in the KJV). So, quit flogging yourself and others being NONE of us are worthy, by works, repentance, or water baptism.
You have no life if you do not obey Jesus.
Kind of like how you are separated from your wife.
Repentance is an early step in the process in the NT, water baptism and works, as well. What were they repenting of in the NT, GT?
Just as Jesus says, they are to repent of their sins.
In your alleged Scriptural prowess... give me an example or two of what their sins were... (Scriptural coordinates, please). Something akin to Jesus telling folk, "thy sin(s) be forgiven thee." To your surprise, Jesus NEVER directly and explicitly forgave a specific individual (there is one exception as I recall requiring further discussion). Otherwise, it would have been a 'beam him up, Scottie' scenario. And, I've not seen anyone disappear during a baptism, either, btw.
kayaker
You are going to have to explain what you are trying to convey.