This is about victory over sin in our lives. While the Lord Jesus Christ achieved this for those who are saved, we must wait and hope and trust in the LORD God Almighty to give us victory over our everyday sins. This is our assurance.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

54. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 John 5:1-5

1. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves the father loves his child as well.
2. This is how we know that we love the children of God: by loving God and carrying out his commands.
3. This is love for God: to obey his commands. And his commands are not burdensome,
4. for everyone born of God overcomes the world. This is the victory that has overcome the world, even our faith.
5. Who is it that overcomes the world? Only he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

John 6:25-27

25. When they found him on the other side of the lake, they asked him, "Rabbi, when did you get here?"
26. Jesus answered, "I tell you the truth, you are looking for me, not because you saw miraculous signs but because you ate the loaves and had your fill.
27. Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval."

John 6:47

47. I tell you the truth, he who believes has everlasting life.

1 Corinthians 15:54-57

54. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory."
55. "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?"
56. The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.
57. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Sabbath, 12/18/04, 11:57 AM
While we are supposed to be transformed into an image of our Lord Jesus Christ we should realize that we will not be made perfect in this life. Yet we should also always aim for perfection.

While I was looking up the passage for "aim for perfection" (it's in 2 Corinthians 13:11) I wondered about how often I sin and if I have any chance of being saved. I started browsing the "Topical Index Results" out of curiosity and was going to pick "GOD >> Perfection of" but knew that God is PERFECT and so selected the top subheading, "PERFECTION."

On that page was a list of names and links to them. "Job" was listed with the link Job 1:1. It said that Job was upright in all things he did. Now I know I am far from being upright in all things I do - I fail so often it scares me. So I decided to click on a person who I didn't know as perfect, and in fact I thought sinned greatly against God during the kingdom period - Asa.

Here's what it said:

Although he did not remove the high places, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life.

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all." -2 Corinthians 13:14

Having read the passage leading up to 2 Corinthians 13:14 it sounded like we are supposed to be perfect now. And so "Aim for perfection..." was encouragement for the Corinthians to achieve this goal now.

But I went off to have lunch and came back suddenly clicking on another link (on the same page as the "Topical Index Results") called "DILIGENCE" and found this: Phillipians 3:13-14.

Philippians 3:13-14
Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

...once again being encouraged.

1:06 PM
So are we to achieve perfection in this life? Didn't Asa not remove the "holy places" all the while he was alive, yet found God's grace and was granted Salvation? Are we not to be made perfect in Heaven? God willing we will be there in Heaven when our time comes to face the LORD God Almighty.