Does God Expect You to Be Perfect? (feat. Dr. Andrew Swafford)
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- Опубликовано: 30 июн 2024
- When faced with debates about marriage, abortion, and other issues in today’s cultural wars, we often expect to offer the perfect representation of Church teaching.
Do you find that you often don’t know what to say in those debates? Perhaps you are relying too much on your natural ability and not enough on divine grace.
Jesus says “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48), but these words cannot be fully understood without his words in Matthew 19:26, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
As disciples of Christ, we ought to see the world through the lens of grace, infused with divine life.
A common argument for Christian morality comes from natural law, but we really need to go deeper into supernatural morality to truly understand what Christ is offering us. After all, Leviticus 19 says love your neighbor. What is Christ’s new law really about? He asks things that are impossible without the gift of the Holy Spirit. We are not just deists and we do not just believe in natural morality. Christians take it to the next level and rely on supernatural grace.
St. Augustine said the law was given so that grace may be sought after, and grace was given so the law may be fulfilled.
We all need Jesus and can’t just rely on our own understanding. The Christian life is lived out by supernatural grace. Without that grace we only have an understanding of the natural order. Christ reveals to us that the natural order is the embodiment of divine wisdom, leading St. Paul to say:
“you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
Putting sexuality into this framework gives a stronger anchor when representing the Church’s teaching.
In our brokenness, we do not fully understand God’s plan, and we need to be honest about that. The saints knew that it was not simply confessing their brokenness, and not simply accepting divine grace that made them holy. It was realizing their brokenness and accepting God’s grace together that made them holy.
Let us rejoice in the full reality of nature and grace. Be honest when you share the gospel. Draw from the deep intellectual tradition of the Church and don’t rely solely on your own understanding.
If you liked this video, you will also enjoy Dr. Swafford’s study, Hebrews: the New and Eternal Covenant (ascensionpress.com/collection.... How God completes us with his divine grace through the New Covenant is what the book of Hebrews is all about.
❓Have ideas for future videos ❓ Topics you want to hear about ❓ Questions you want answered ❓Make sure to put #AskAscension in your comment 👍
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“God loves us just the way we are but too much to leave us that way.”
This grabbed me too 😊
Debbi Hutton It grabbed me three :)
Gotta love the one liners. what to do with them is another matter.
God wills us to be saints on earth! Saints are perfected through Christ.
Yeah even when you die xD
Perfect can have two definitions. It can be defined as “without flaws”, but it can also mean “complete”. Be complete, as your Heavenly Father is complete.
I wouldn't get too caught up in all that wording and stuff. Just look after your resources and live a good life and look after those around you.
Great answer! Complete is just that - it isn't perfect, but it has all that is necessary. Much easier for me to understand. Thanks!
Thought it was to not have flaws but work on the ones you have.
Yes Tom, and one can speak of "completion" only in respect to the Love that is the Spirit of God. Man has the Spirit of God indwelling him and he rests in that Love, while in repsect of his humanity he evolves within Love.
Complete yet different so not to be alone. Genesis 2:18.
This guy has such a strong voice. He could be a radio host.
A podcast!
Keeping a clear vision of life while journeying as pilgrims on this earth,in in context with biblical teachings helps get closer to God.
This need to be perfect can lead to spiritual angst and the frustration of scrupulosity. I would like to see a talk on scrupulosity as I see a couple of people in my parish who suffer from it.
You recognize their scrupolosity because you also experienced it first hand. Yes, humility is the hardest one to perfect. We are all guilty of what we see on others like facing a mirror.
@@jgabuten8868 I don't suffer from scrupulosity as I accept the church's teachings without reservation and I don't beat myself up over every little thing. OTOH I know at least two people who feel the need to attend confession daily - that isn't healthy they know it but they don't know what to do about it. Our priest hasn't been able to assist them and very few priests address this issue on the internet.
@@SaintCharbelMiracleworker I went through scrupulosity at some point. But now I'm a bit better. St Alphonsus Ligouri went through it too. This is how I manage;
1. I avoid going for confession more than once a week unless I know that the sin I committed is mortal.
2. I remind myself the definition of what mortal sin. It has to be grave matter, full knowledge and full consent.
3. Reading about God's love. Especially the scriptures and the writings of the saints. And St Faustina's diary.
Thank you, Dr Swafford. It's my first time hearing you speak. God Bless. Claire.
Best opening to a youtube video ever.
HOLY SMOKES!! “Jesus is our Rock. He will give us what we need not what we want.” Yes Lord, I hear you!
Praise the Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 Mother Mary Pray For Us 🙏Abba Father Bless us and we Adore You 🙏
Thank you. Very well presented.
Jesus definition of Perfect..is to Forgive..Love and Bless our enemies. Jesus Said..”Be Perfect as your Father in Heaven is Perfect. He Kind to the just and the unjust..the good and the evil.”
JESUS CHRIST bless!!! Awesome vid !
Thank you so much for this. I could never figure out what was really meant by that passage, and now it all makes sense.
I really needed this. Thank you so much.
Excellent message. Deep. Thanks, Dr. Swafford!
Thank Dr Swafford for this Piece. Beautifully presented!!👏 We have to imbibe Grace with Nature. God wants us to be more like Him and that is NOT IMPOSSIBLE.
Beautifully presented!
Father Mike that was an incredibly helpful message for my sister and I. The Grace of God exudes from your face!!!!
What a superb message!
This helps me a lot thank you
8:26 - 8:31 priceless!!! 😇
Thank you..GLORY TO GOD!!!
The stuff about morality felt off topic from the title but also much needed in my life
This has impacted me so much thank you
It's difficult enough for me to get through the day due to my mental disorders, let alone trying to reach "perfection." I can't even get on the path, let alone walk it.
Dear Gr8Methos we too often forget that God loves us just the way we are. We like to self inflict ourselves thinking that because we are not perfect, or because we don't like this or that about ourselves He doesn't love us. Think about the person that you have loved the most in your life, he or she is not perfect, has flaws and makes mistakes but you love her/him anyways. If our love is limited, God's love for you isn't. "Love like Jesus"
Love Ascension Presents
wow, love this!
Lots packed in that
beautiful so beautiful.
Oh my gosh. During these times people are especially political and it can be very overwhelming. It can be discouraging seeing all the flaws around us and within ourselves. Some days I honestly want to give up or I feel condemned. I have no faith in others or myself changing.
If I looked at man I’d feel the same way. It’s why we pray for others. Remember that old saying, keep your eyes on the Cross. Who in this world can help you to one day see and be with God? No one. It’s between you and Christ with other believers who sometimes inspire you. (RUclips, Bishop Fulton Sheen). This is a journey between you and your Maker and He yearns for you. trust him.
@@Donna-cc1kt God bless you. I need to revisit Fulton Sheen videos
Amen!
It's not about perfection; it's about companionship. Genesis 2:18.
What it means is that it is ok to lay down the weight (burden) of perfection.
You are perfect as you are.
Such is the truth.
If you only think about brokenness, you'll end in despair.
If you only think about grace and mercy, you'll end in presumption.
I have a difficulty of swinging back and forth between these two extremes. Striking a balance will be hard for me, but I know God will be my help if I have recourse to Him. (Mary, too, she's always a favorite intercessor :)
yes
I literally asked myself this question today
Yay!
The Christian life is lived out not by nature but by grace, beautiful!
I just gotta bring this up.. He looks like a Italian mafia boss.
Hello all. I know it sounds crazy but I had a dream last night, and I don't dream so I feel compelled to say this to all of you. PLEASE pray the rosary as a novena preceding the Assumption of Mary. I think its most important for us. God bless.
I wish they would start off with "YES OR NO" and then go babble because that confuses people and then confirm again at the end. Be nice if they didn't just say their agenda but the common arguments against it. Because theirs data saying be perfect then theirs some that leads plenty to think that it's totally ok to continue in sin as long as u repent. That's why we're here doctor. Get on it.
MATTHEW 5:48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as thy Father in heaven is perfect.
1st John 3:5-10(look this one up yourself)..
Jesus is the word of God.
Yes, God EXPECTS us to be perfect. But he also knows that we cannot be which is why He sent his Son, Jesus, to show us how we should live and then die for all the sin. He resurrected himself so that if we believe in Him and what he has done then he provides the way for us to be reconciled to God through His (Jesus') perfection
We all cant be perfect but we Can relate.to christ
Amen
therefore be perfect as your heavenly father is perfect
This is simply a summary of love simply saying, that when you choose to love you are perfect. You may not be perfect all the time because we are not God and do not always choose to love.
If you read the whole context it's talking about love.
You are perfect when you choose to love and Christ makes the example of loving even your enemies.
You have the ability through Christ to act then in perfection by choosing to love
This verse should be one of the easiest to understand in the Bible, although I had to read it about 25 times and really look at it before I understood it's simple message 🤔😀lol
So yes Jesus commands us to be perfect.... This is the command I give you to love one another
I have never heard the phrase of “natural morality” and “natural law” to mean man’s natural inclinations without supernatural graces. Natural moral law is a term meaning something quite different.
I’m not big on Protestant style “preaching” like this. Lots of enthusiasm but also lots of double-speak. He could have been a lot clearer in his actual points.
I thought the same thing
Unfortunately I felt the same. The content has definite value but the style turned me off.
This rubs me the wrong way. It sends mixed messages, we can't be perfect. I've personally got too far to go to even be good to worry about being perfect. Don't let the perfect be the enemy of the good.
Sometimes I feel like I keep acting like a hypocrite and a total failure in life and to God and even though I prayed I don't feel forgiven and that I am worthless and feel like giving up.
Beautiful! I was left with the impression that Dr. Swafford wants to say something deeper or more disruptive about Natural Law... I heard a few "buts", "not just" and "merely" not to notice. #AskAscension is there something more from him, or could he do something new, about Natural Law?
Yes in love! So let that perfect love in and love others. You know the love OOO it made me in the wunb. He can talk to us all. We are children of God not master Babylon of the bibull.
A very intelligent and articulate man of God, but keep it simple and to a better pace, way too much strength and "passion", this is very confusing and wordy got me lost when he goes from one idea to another, quotes, inserted comments and interruptions.
The narrow way or the broad way, which are you choosing? Do not worry, Jesus yoke is easy. Trust in him.
What stops me from converting to catholicism is the fact, that you can never be sure of salvation. What happens, je you die in a state of a Mortal sin? And what is a Mortal sin?
I needed this today
Flat on my face and beat down and need to get up again
Get up! Get up! We’re all gonna please God if we just get up! God will never quit you. Never! It it virtuous to keep getting up. I do it every day. Be brave. As the graces come it’ll get easier or at least now I laugh at my errors because I can see them and am not so willing to do that error again. Your not a box of instant pudding. It takes a lifetime.
Romans 11:6
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Did he answer the question? I'm so confused. But then again, I'm not a college student. He spoke so fast and said so much, my head was spinning. But then again, I have a limited capacity in my small mind to understand what he talked about. Religion, especially the deep nature of Catholicism, confuses the snot out of me. Can't I just be a simple believer? God loves me just as I am, but too much to leave me that way? Then does He really love me the way I am?? Excuse me while I crawl back into my hole. EDIT: See my latest comment below.
I got lost about 1/3 of the way through. Sorry to say I didn't get the message.
Personally, I think that we should be perfecting ourselves in this journey of our faith. The saints too were just human, and through their faith and seeking God’s righteousness and His kingdom, they were perfected in His image.
@@ronoelrobinol4263 But did they stop sinning? Doesn't perfection include abstinence from all sin? I used to consider myself a deep thinker when it comes to the faith, but the more I research it, the more confused I get. Therefore can't I just be a simple believer...as a child who has faith, but doesn't know all there is to know? Indeed, at times I even question the faith I have and wonder if it's enough. IS there a point when the faith you have is enough? Jesus said if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can move a mountain. Am I expected to increase that mustard seed faith to a point where it's enough that will save me?
@@RobertGrasso I just kept hearing the apologetics of a Catholic theologian (the speaker IS a doctor after all), and like you I got lost before I was half-way through watching. I truly have no idea if the question was answered or if it was merely rhetorical.
Rob Adams I also recommend the channel Bible Project. It’s a Christian (denomination neutral) channel with wonderful visuals and good explanations of the Bible.
*I’m a Catholic who went deeper on faith through Bible study
What word does he say at around 3:01? RUclips put the caption as "cynic wanan." I think I'm fairly certain that's not it.
@Matt Blaise Thank you so much! :-)
I do all 5. Pray a lot every day. Brother died 81 days ago and since then I’ve totally repented of all worldly pleasure alc food entertainment from all tv. Pension payout all gone. No job credit cards climbing to $2500 to pay utilities. Rent overdue. Broke. And applied for work many places. I’ve taken in mother-in-law 11 yrs ago. I’m looking for answers what I can expect from God. Like Job I’m to assume this is Gods decision for us to suffer and also my mistakes decisions led me here. I know better than most every thought desire reaction is always selfish so I strive to follow only Holy Spirit responses. I’ve written books how holiness is most important. There is no prosperity guaranteed in Christ. What’s the point living when God won’t help me get a job to make ends meet? Minimum wage doesn’t come even close. I give up interpreting many of Bible verses that indicate any kind of prosperity or worldly success. I’m clueless. This video is for deliberate sinners hypocritical Christian’s. What about when you do everything and still suffer? Be like Job and just shut up. God has the right and I deserve nothing.
What area of medicine do you practice?
Being perfect you say"?!
Well, I have to tell you the honest truth as I see it
In this world, nothing perfect exists.
It may be a cliché after all, but it's the way things are.
That's precisely why ordinary
men pursue the concept of perfection.
« It's infatuation»
But, ultimately I have to ask myself:
What is the true meaning of being perfect ?
And the answer I came up with was:
Nothing, not one thing.
The truth of the matter is I despise perfection.
If something is truly perfect, that's it
the bottom line becomes there is no room for imagination no space for intelligence or ability or improvement.
Do you understand?
To men like us, perfection is a dead end, a condition of hopelessness, always strive to be better than anything that came before you, but not perfect. People agonize over the attempt to achieve perfection.
That's the kind of creatures we are
we take joy in trying to exceed our grasp
in trying to reach for something that in the end we have to admit may in fact be unreachable.
In other words you may think thank we operate on the same level.
But you where wrong, the moment you started talking about perfection you embraced an impossible concept
and had already lost to me.
Dude I’m lost ,how about keeping it simple 🙏
Same here
The most serious thing we can do on this earth is to love, the rest does not count ....
Well, it counts as there are many virtues, Patience, Fortitude, Charity, etc., but the greatest is what you nailed- to love God with all your heart, all your soul and all your mind. The second is like it, to love your neighbor as yourself. (Jesus’s words)
What do you mean by broken life is it broken? People are not broken if life was broken there’s no way life would work if a human body was broken, it couldn’t heal it self I don’t understand what you mean by broken
It's perfectly clear to me that your "deeper philosophical framework from which we draw" is your imagination.
A whole 10 minute video about Christian morality and you didn't mention forgiveness???
Yes we need to be morally good, but that's only half the story.
Grace isn't just the God-given ability to be moral; grace is also the God-given forgiveness when we fail.
Do you even Romans 5:6-11? Do you even Ephesians 2:8-10?
No disrespect, but your message is confusing people.
God bless!
You are one of people who thinks unless a person speaks what you think is confusing..... He is not you at all. Don't always think a message should be skewed to fit what you are thinking. God bless you
@@samuelmulupi2658 I'm sorry if I sounded a little angry. I just want to make sure that people don't think they can only go to heaven if they follow the law perfectly. (Yes we should strive to follow the law perfectly but that's not what gets us to heaven.)
The biggest saying in the world by some Christians and the ungodly people is that no man can be perfect. But that is the biggest lie manufactured by the Devil. We have to strive to become perfect by shunning all types of evil, just like Job did, it's all about perfection. Jesus clearly said in warning, "Be ye therefore perfect because your heavenly Father is perfect." I do not believe for one moment that our God is going to take imperfect people to Heaven. Psa 37:37 Mark the perfect man, and behold the upright: for the end of that man is peace.
Pro 2:21 For the upright shall dwell in the land, and the perfect shall remain in it.
Psa 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psa 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. Psa 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
Jde 1:14 And Enoch also, the seventh from Adam, prophesied of these, saying, Behold, the Lord cometh with ten thousands of his saints, Jde 1:15 To execute judgment upon all, and to convince all that are ungodly among them of all their ungodly deeds which they have ungodly committed, and of all their hard speeches which ungodly sinners have spoken against him.
God takes being perfect very seriously!
V
Eze 14:12 The word of the LORD came again to me, saying,Eze 14:13 Son of man, when the land sinneth against me by trespassing grievously, then will I stretch out mine hand upon it, and will break the staff of the bread thereof, and will send famine upon it, and will cut off man and beast from it:Eze 14:14 Though these three men, Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord GOD. Eze 14:15 If I cause noisome beasts to pass through the land, and they spoil it, so that it be desolate, that no man may pass through because of the beasts: Eze 14:16 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters; they only shall be delivered, but the land shall be desolate. Eze 14:17 Or if I bring a sword upon that land, and say, Sword, go through the land; so that I cut off man and beast from it:Eze 14:18 Though these three men were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither sons nor daughters, but they only shall be delivered themselves. Eze 14:19 Or if I send a pestilence into that land, and pour out my fury upon it in blood, to cut off from it man and beast:Eze 14:20 Though Noah, Daniel, and Job, were in it, as I live, saith the Lord GOD, they shall deliver neither son nor daughter; they shall but deliver their own souls by their righteousness.
so God wants you to be perfect, I dont have a shot at heven..... XD
You're missing half the picture (and tbh this video kinda missed half the picture as well). The Bible says that God does expect us to be perfect, but he also forgives us freely when we fail to be perfect. Go check out Romans 5:6-11.
We try to be good because we have to; we fail; God forgives; we try to be good because we want to.
First
I'm second to comment!😊
Truly a marvelous achievement in both of your lives. I'm sitting here clapping for ye. Silently.
@@EuropeanQoheleth God bless you! 😊
H
there is no such thing as old or new covenant. remember the ten commandments is in heaven when it was revealed! are you trying to say the Covenants of God are imperfect? if that is so, then the Covenant with Noah is now invalid? so tell me, will God start again to destroy the earth with Floods?
the Covenants are there and were affirmed by Jesus as a Human being. He felt what humanity felt.i including the sting of death.
4:20 glad to hear you say Jesus is your rock... but don't like hearing Catholics says that the pope and Peter is their rock...
Jesus said Peter is the rock upon which He would build His Church. Matthew 16:18: “You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church.” If you are not part of that Church led by Peter's successor you are a heretic.
Just some background: Simon was Peter's original name until Jesus gave him the name Peter, which translates in Hebrew "Rock".in the same passage he says "You are the Rock upon which I will build my church" which is why Catholics have a Pope.
So it's not so much Catholics say Peter is their rock (in a faithful way) as they say that Peter means "Rock" for the context of why there is a Pope. If that make things sound more clear \_( l . l )_/
I get what you’re saying! Not our words but Christ’s though. No Pope can save you, only God. The religion are our educators, our guidance, our counselors and our inspirations. Big world out there and we need them. Only God is our savior. Me personally, I needed some help from others. It’s an offer of help from our brothers and sisters.
GOD DOES NOT REQUIRE ANYTHING. GOD CREATED US TO EVOLVE WITHIN LOVE.
A MAN WHO FEARS HE IS IMPERFECT, IS NOT PERFECTED IN LOVE
.
Whenever a man thinks he's in need of perfection with God, and unless this perfection takes place this will somehow mpact him positionally with God, then this is a sure sign of ignorance of God on his part. And this kind of ignorance leads to irrational fear of God. What he does is project his fear on to God and makes God out to think just like himself. Consequently, he is not perfected in Love.
Perfect love drives out fear because fear has to do with insecurity. Insecurity has to do with punishment. Punishment in turn, has to do with perceived "wrong" as opposed to perceived "right". His thinking is a construct of law, not of love.
God, however, doesn't see man by human constructs of “wrong” or “right”. If God were a man, then He might indeed see in this way, this dualistic way. He might see the so-called imperfections of humanity as contrasted with the so-called perfections of divinity. But God sees non-dualistically. God is Love and being Love, God keeps no record of wrong or of right. Love keeps no “black book”.
Love cannot do anything else but love because it IS Love.
Love is not compromised or affirmed respectively by negative or positive behaviour of the object of its Love. Love cannot be changed, it is Immutable. On the contrary-it is Love that changes the object of its love, where change but has yet to take place. That is the power of Love.
In the presence of Love any self-recrimination, any self-congratulation, any insecurity, fear, lack, etc, have no place. They dissipate in a flash. In an instant they are revealed to be utterly groundless. That is the marvel of Love.
Reality is that at the core of men and women, God sees Offspring. God sees His "I AM". God sees Completeness ("fullness") of his divinity of Spirit. Not only that but divinity is the source of all-sufficiency for their humanity.
“God loves us just the way we are but Too much too leave us that way”