Amen( Philippians 3:12, and 3:12-14) to Colossians 1:9-12 "9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. 10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord( Jesus😊1st ❤and only Jesus is perfect or God is perfect) and may please him( Jesus 1st ❤) in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God( 😊100%❤), 11 being strengthened with all power accoring to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully 12 giving thanks😊❤ to the Fatber( God, our Father in heaven), who has qualified you to share❤ in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. 13 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and bought us into the kingdom of the Son( Jesus 😊1st❤) he loves❤, 14 in whom( Jesus) we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."( Colossians 1:9-14 Zondervan NIV Study Bible) in Christ. Ephesians 1:7 "7 In him( Jesus😊1st❤) we have redeemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ with all wisdom and ( all) understanding. 9 And bw made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleassure, which he purposed in Christ❤, 10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment- to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head ,even Christ."( Ephesians 1:7-10 Zondervan NIV Study Bible)
Ephesians 1:7 "7 In him( Jesus😊1st❤) we have redeemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"( 8 that he lavished on us❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ with all wisdom and ( all) understanding."( Ephesians 1:7-8 Zondervan NIV Study Bible)
What is impossible with man, is possible with God. ~Luke 18:27 Paul makes this request of perfection to a perfect, all powerful, all knowing, sovereign God who can achieve things in our lives we aren't capable of achieving on our own. If Paul makes this a command/request directly to the church, it becomes a daunting(impossible) task on our own. But he calls on God to do this for us. And I agree with the pastor's statement when he says as much as sinful people are capable to reach perfection. All commands to the church in scripture are impossible by our own strength so in all things we rely on God to accomplish these things. But much more so for these calls for perfection.
In his analysis of 1 Cor 2:6 John Piper makes an interpretive mistake. He notes - rightly - that the Greek adjective teleios is used at times in the New Testament to mean 'perfect'. Then he notes that this adjective is used in 1 Cor 2:6. And then he assumes that it means 'perfect' in this verse. The thing Piper is overlooking is that words usually have a range of meanings, and just because in one context a word means something, it doesn't follow that it means the same thing in another context. In this verse teleios means 'mature', not 'perfect'. Exactly the same principle is often true of modern English words.
Have we not been sanctified by His blood - ie made saints/holy ones? Are we not to accept by faith not only our justification, but also our sanctification and future glorification. In His perfect love we are perfect. Just accept it like a potter accepts even the perfection of a half finished pot in the making. Is that not the perfect law of freedom. From the first moment we believe to our last breath we are perfect in His eyes - rest in that. He did the whole work and He will finish it.
I think John Piper's solution to this apparent conundrum is probably mistaken. He is right that the Bible makes it clear that we cannot have real perfection in this life. But he sees the perfection Paul prays for in this verse as limited to as much as a justified sinner can have. I think instead that Paul is praying for real, full perfection, but as a goal to strive ever closer towards. So when, for example, in Col 1:9 he prays that the Colossians will have 'all spiritual wisdom and understanding', I think he is focusing on truly perfect spiritual wisdom and understanding but is praying that the Colossians will be propelled by God, so to speak, closer and closer to this goal.
@@etho98 A few points: Firstly, I comment on quite a lot of John Piper's videos, and a large majority of what I have to say is positive. This video is unusual in that respect. I have learned a lot from Piper and I expect that to continue. Secondly, every Christian teacher will teach some things that are incorrect, no matter how hard they pray to avoid that. And that includes John Piper. In 1 Cor 13:10-12 Paul talks about knowing in part and he says that we see things dimly as if in a mirror. In the first century, mirrors were made of polished metal and gave quite a hazy image, and Paul is saying that we don't see everything clearly. Thirdly, in my experience, Christians like yourself who get so terribly offended when a Christian disagrees with something a famous Christian says are almost always guilty of idolatry. How dare the little guy (in this case me) have the nerve to disagree with the famous teacher (in this case Piper)? I would challenge you to see if you are in the category of idolater, and if you are, please repent at once. Furthermore, if you read the Bible, you will see that God has a track record of often being with the little guy. Fourthly, I do have more than a little expertise in the field. I have a PhD in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh (2011). I have also spent more than 30 years closely studying the New Testament in the original Greek. Finally, your mocking, judgmental tone is something that you need to lose forthwith.
@@etho98 A few more points: Firstly, your attitude in your earlier comments (and this one) is a disgrace. For a professing Christian to get very offended and angry when someone shares their view on the interpretation of a biblical passage is a sin. I am disappointed that you didn't start your latest comment with an apology. Secondly, the appeal to authority is valid to a certain extent. For example, every church pastor will spend time studying theology because this will help them to understand the Bible. You got very angry with me for sharing my view, so I mentioned to you that I have studied in the field, in an attempt - that was clearly unsuccessful - to work against your judgmental and sinful attitude. Thirdly, I am not certain that my interpretation is correct. If you read my original comment, you will see that I used the word 'probably'. I was simply giving my view on a matter, which these comments sections are designed for. Fourthly, you have also ignored that I expressed some caution about assigning you to a 'collective set of Christians'. I used the word 'if'. I didn't make an unwarranted assumption. I also very much doubt that you are genuine Christian, since Jesus says that we will know people by their fruit (Matt 7:16-19), and your fruit seems pretty terrible. Fifthly, in my experience people like you who seem to be full of bitterness for no good reason are usually unhappy people. If this applies to you, please know that Jesus is the answer. I would encourage you to turn to him without delay. Finally, in Matt 7:6 Jesus tells his followers not to give what is holy to dogs or throw pearls to pigs. What he means is that Christians shouldn't waste time trying over and over to get through to people who are unwilling to listen. You are apparently in that category, so I will not waste precious time interacting with you any more on this thread.
Nothing in Scripture is trivial, but there is much that is true that is not necessary for salvation. The gospel message of salvation is quite simple, and we mustn't demand that people need perfect theology in order to be saved.
Wow! So good! Praise You, Abba Father ❤!!
Amen( Philippians 3:12, and 3:12-14) to Colossians 1:9-12
"9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord( Jesus😊1st ❤and only Jesus is perfect or God is perfect) and may please him( Jesus 1st ❤) in every way:
bearing fruit
in every good work,
growing in the knowledge of God( 😊100%❤),
11 being strengthened with all power accoring to his glorious might
so that
you may have
great endurance
and
patience,
and joyfully
12 giving thanks😊❤ to the Fatber( God, our Father in heaven), who has qualified you to share❤ in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.
13 For
he has
rescued us
from
the dominion of darkness
and
bought us into
the kingdom of the Son( Jesus 😊1st❤) he loves❤,
14 in whom( Jesus) we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."( Colossians 1:9-14 Zondervan NIV Study Bible) in Christ.
Ephesians 1:7
"7 In him( Jesus😊1st❤) we have redeemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace
8 that he lavished on us❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ with
all wisdom
and
( all) understanding.
9 And bw made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleassure, which he purposed in Christ❤,
10 to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment-
to bring
all things
in heaven
and
on earth
together
under one head
,even Christ."( Ephesians 1:7-10 Zondervan NIV Study Bible)
Ephesians 1:7
"7 In him( Jesus😊1st❤) we have redeemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace"(
8 that he lavished on us❤❤❤❤❤❤❤ with
all wisdom
and
( all) understanding."( Ephesians 1:7-8 Zondervan NIV Study Bible)
What is impossible with man, is possible with God. ~Luke 18:27
Paul makes this request of perfection to a perfect, all powerful, all knowing, sovereign God who can achieve things in our lives we aren't capable of achieving on our own. If Paul makes this a command/request directly to the church, it becomes a daunting(impossible) task on our own. But he calls on God to do this for us. And I agree with the pastor's statement when he says as much as sinful people are capable to reach perfection.
All commands to the church in scripture are impossible by our own strength so in all things we rely on God to accomplish these things. But much more so for these calls for perfection.
Thank you Pastor John for these podcasts.
Excellent! Blessed from God's word. And just really good from the Paul. Would love that prayer for me!
may we glorify You Lord! even if we don't do it perfectly but help us to do it better and better!
Love it!
In his analysis of 1 Cor 2:6 John Piper makes an interpretive mistake.
He notes - rightly - that the Greek adjective teleios is used at times in the New Testament to mean 'perfect'.
Then he notes that this adjective is used in 1 Cor 2:6.
And then he assumes that it means 'perfect' in this verse.
The thing Piper is overlooking is that words usually have a range of meanings, and just because in one context a word means something, it doesn't follow that it means the same thing in another context.
In this verse teleios means 'mature', not 'perfect'.
Exactly the same principle is often true of modern English words.
Have we not been sanctified by His blood - ie made saints/holy ones? Are we not to accept by faith not only our justification, but also our sanctification and future glorification. In His perfect love we are perfect. Just accept it like a potter accepts even the perfection of a half finished pot in the making. Is that not the perfect law of freedom. From the first moment we believe to our last breath we are perfect in His eyes - rest in that. He did the whole work and He will finish it.
I think John Piper's solution to this apparent conundrum is probably mistaken.
He is right that the Bible makes it clear that we cannot have real perfection in this life. But he sees the perfection Paul prays for in this verse as limited to as much as a justified sinner can have.
I think instead that Paul is praying for real, full perfection, but as a goal to strive ever closer towards.
So when, for example, in Col 1:9 he prays that the Colossians will have 'all spiritual wisdom and understanding', I think he is focusing on truly perfect spiritual wisdom and understanding but is praying that the Colossians will be propelled by God, so to speak, closer and closer to this goal.
@@etho98 was this necessary? Are we not all learning? JP isn’t the authority over God’s word
@@etho98 A few points:
Firstly, I comment on quite a lot of John Piper's videos, and a large majority of what I have to say is positive. This video is unusual in that respect. I have learned a lot from Piper and I expect that to continue.
Secondly, every Christian teacher will teach some things that are incorrect, no matter how hard they pray to avoid that. And that includes John Piper.
In 1 Cor 13:10-12 Paul talks about knowing in part and he says that we see things dimly as if in a mirror. In the first century, mirrors were made of polished metal and gave quite a hazy image, and Paul is saying that we don't see everything clearly.
Thirdly, in my experience, Christians like yourself who get so terribly offended when a Christian disagrees with something a famous Christian says are almost always guilty of idolatry. How dare the little guy (in this case me) have the nerve to disagree with the famous teacher (in this case Piper)?
I would challenge you to see if you are in the category of idolater, and if you are, please repent at once.
Furthermore, if you read the Bible, you will see that God has a track record of often being with the little guy.
Fourthly, I do have more than a little expertise in the field. I have a PhD in New Testament from the University of Edinburgh (2011). I have also spent more than 30 years closely studying the New Testament in the original Greek.
Finally, your mocking, judgmental tone is something that you need to lose forthwith.
@@etho98 A few more points:
Firstly, your attitude in your earlier comments (and this one) is a disgrace. For a professing Christian to get very offended and angry when someone shares their view on the interpretation of a biblical passage is a sin.
I am disappointed that you didn't start your latest comment with an apology.
Secondly, the appeal to authority is valid to a certain extent. For example, every church pastor will spend time studying theology because this will help them to understand the Bible.
You got very angry with me for sharing my view, so I mentioned to you that I have studied in the field, in an attempt - that was clearly unsuccessful - to work against your judgmental and sinful attitude.
Thirdly, I am not certain that my interpretation is correct. If you read my original comment, you will see that I used the word 'probably'.
I was simply giving my view on a matter, which these comments sections are designed for.
Fourthly, you have also ignored that I expressed some caution about assigning you to a 'collective set of Christians'. I used the word 'if'. I didn't make an unwarranted assumption.
I also very much doubt that you are genuine Christian, since Jesus says that we will know people by their fruit (Matt 7:16-19), and your fruit seems pretty terrible.
Fifthly, in my experience people like you who seem to be full of bitterness for no good reason are usually unhappy people. If this applies to you, please know that Jesus is the answer. I would encourage you to turn to him without delay.
Finally, in Matt 7:6 Jesus tells his followers not to give what is holy to dogs or throw pearls to pigs. What he means is that Christians shouldn't waste time trying over and over to get through to people who are unwilling to listen.
You are apparently in that category, so I will not waste precious time interacting with you any more on this thread.
John, Colossians 4:12 should maybe refer to Jesus after the reference to Jesus’s own name. Tim Jr
John, is there anything in scripture that Jesus said, which could be or should be treated as trivial and not necessary for salvation????
Nothing in Scripture is trivial, but there is much that is true that is not necessary for salvation. The gospel message of salvation is quite simple, and we mustn't demand that people need perfect theology in order to be saved.
1 Cor 1 :30
no
Kubaba