entire sanctification is an obtainable goal.

[brightfame52]

A spiritual fetus has not yet come out of the womb; it has not been born.

It has Spiritual life

I am pointing out that faith comes before becoming born again. Because we receive the Holy Spirit after that we have believed.

 

[Paul Christensen]

Now, don't underestimate the power of the holy scriptures. God said that they will not return to Him void. Of course, they may not accomplish the will of the one quoting them necessarily; however, they will accomplish the will of the One who sent them (Isaiah 55:10-11).

I concur. Paul remarked on those who were preaching out of jealousy and envy, in which he said, "At least the gospel is being preached, so don't worry too much about them." He wasn't fazed about competition on his patch. So, it is quite possible for God to honour His word, even though He might not support the person who is quoting it.

Or, they may go away from the preaching saying, "What a horrible sinner I must be; and how much in need of a Saviour!"

I agree. I forgot to mention that this is a definite effect of some preaching in the gospel in the power of the Holy Spirit. Of course conviction can have two results - the Philippian jailor who cried out, "Sirs what must I do to be saved?" and the crowd who were cut to the heart through Stephen's preaching and in a violent frenzy stoned him to death.

 

[justbyfaith]

.

 

[Johann]

Just looking at the Greek word . . .

How do you understand that passage?

Much love!

Definitely "mature" depending on context--

telos G5056 [end, goal]
teleó G5055 [to carry out, complete],
epiteleó G2005 [to carry out, complete],
synteleó G4931 [to complete, fulfil],
synteleia G4930 [completion, fulfilment],
pantelés G3838 [complete, full],
teleios G5046 [complete, perfect],
teleiotés G5047 [completeness, perfection],
teleioó G5048 [to complete, perfect],
teleiósis G5050 [completeness, perfection],
teleiotes [perfecter]

telos .
A. The Greek World.
1. telos first means "achievement," "fulfilment," "execution," "success," then "power," "official power," and "office."
2. Another meaning is "completion," "perfection," "final step," "supreme stage," "crown," "goal," "maturity," "result," "conclusion," "end," "cessation." Adverbially the meaning is "finally," "fully," "totally," "unceasingly."
3. telos can also mean "obligation."
4. Cultically it denotes an "offering" to the gods or a "celebration" of the "mysteries" or the "fulfilment" of sacrifices.
5. Finally a telos may be a "detachment" or "group."
B. The LXX.
1. Used for various Hebrew terms, telos means "execution" in 1Ch_29:19.
2. It then has such senses as "goal" (Job_23:3), "result" (2Mac 5:7), "conclusion" (Ecc_7:2), "end" (Dan_9:27). eis telos can have such senses as "forever," "completely," "perfectly," "to the limit," dia telous denotes "continually," and we find mechri telous for "constantly" or "in full measure."
3. telos may also mean "tax," "toll," or "tribute" (Num_31:28).
4. In the headings of many Psalms eis ώ telos seems to mean "for the cultus" and the reference is thus to an "act" in divine worship.
C. The End in Jewish Apocalyptic. telos has different senses in apocalyptic according to differing expectations. One use is for the "last time" either as the "latter days" or as a "last epoch" distinct from history in general. This last time will bring the fulfilment of the OT promises. Qumran has the expression "the end of the days." In 4 Esdras the "end" is a culminating time, fixed by God, which embraces great distress, the coming of the Messiah, the judgment, transformation, and salvation. The "end" of this world stands in antithesis to the beginning of the next.
D. The NT.
1. To understand telos and teleo in the NT one must remember their dynamic character; they denote "fulfilment" (cf. Luk_22:37).
2.Means
a. Love is the "goal" of instruction in 1Ti_1:5, salvation is the "goal" of faith in Christ in 1Pe_1:9, and "aim" or "goal" seems to be the point in 1Co_10:11.
b. In Mat_26:58 "issue" or "result" is meant (cf. Jas_5:11; Heb_6:8). The eschatological "result" or "destiny" is at issue in Rom_6:21-22 (cf. also Php_3:19; 2Co_11:15; 1Pe_4:17).
c. The meaning "end" or "conclusion" is less likely than "fulfilment" in Luk_22:37. In Rev_21:6; Rev_22:13 telos, with arche, denotes eternity and majesty. The eschatological end or conclusion is the point in 1Co_15:1-58 and Mar_13:1-37. Prepositional phrases have an adverbial character and carry such meanings as "to the end," "fully," "finally," "wholly," and "continually."
d. The sense "cessation" occurs in Heb_7:3; 2Co_3:13; Luk_1:33; Mar_3:26; Rom_7:4. The narrower context supports this meaning for Rom_10:4, where the point is that the cross abolishes the possibility of attaining to righteousness by the law.
3. "Tax" or "tribute" is the meaning of telos in Mat_17:25; Rom_13:7.
4. The meanings "detachment" and "initiatory act" do not occur in the NT.
E. The Apostolic Fathers. In these works the usage is not very specific. We find such senses as "end" (Ignatius Eph 14.1), "result" (Rom_6:21-22), "goal" (Rom_1:1), "last time" (Hermas Visions 3.8.9). Adverbial uses are for "finally," "always," "without end," "totally," and "completely."
teleo .

J.

 

[Simonides]

.

 

[Eternally Grateful]

I've met a lot of people in my life, a lot of Christians. The only perfect person I have ever met, is Christ.

The closer I get to this perfect Christ, the more clearly I see my own imperfection.

The more sin I get victory over, the more clearly I see the sin that remains.

Dear God, please deliver me from even the possibility that there may come a time when I no longer feel the weight of my sin, or the need of repentance.

Paul felt the same way. Calling himself the chief of all sinners..

 

[Simonides]

.

 

[charity]

'For ye see your calling, brethren,
how that not many wise men after the flesh,
not many mighty, not many noble, are called:
But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world
to confound the wise;
and God hath chosen the weak things of the world
to confound the things which are mighty;
And base things of the world,
and things which are despised, hath God chosen,
yea, and things which are not,
to bring to nought things that are:
That no flesh should glory in His presence.
.. But of Him are ye in Christ Jesus,
.... Who of God is made unto us wisdom,
...... and righteousness,
........ and sanctification,
.......... and redemption:
That, according as it is written,
He that glorieth,
let him glory in the Lord.'
(1Cor. 1:26-31)

Praise God!