So you're saying if you are abiding in Jesus Christ, it's not possible for you to unknowingly treat your wife in a negative way, that you might be able to improve, if you had more light? Also, it's not possible for you to misrepresent God in some way because you've misunderstood His character?

To put it another way, abiding in Jesus implies, as you see things:

1.That you will treat your wife perfectly.
2.That you perfectly know God's character. (or, at a minimum, whatever lack you have regarding knowing God's character correctly, won't impact how you represent Him to others).

1. Yes, while "abiding in Jesus, partaking of the divine nature, living in harmony with everything Jesus commanded" people will treat their spouses perfectly.

2. Yes, while "abiding in Jesus, partaking of the divine nature, living in harmony with everything Jesus commanded" people know God's character perfectly.

3. However, perfection is not a static state. "Perfecting holiness" will continue throughout eternity. In Christ, people will be more perfect tomorrow than they are today.

Tom, how do you interpret the following insight - "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1)?

1Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God.

And, how do you interpret the following insight - "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."

Through obedience comes sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. This sanctification is a progressive work, and an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4}

I believe Jesus grew in grace and matured more and more in the fruits of the Spirit. He advanced from "one stage of perfection to another." Like a seed, which is perfect at each stage, so too, believers are perfect at each stage. But just because people progress from one stage of perfection to the next it does not mean the previous stage was defective.

M: Tom, how do you interpret the following insight - "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1)?

T: Here's the NIV: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." This seems OK. I didn't look at the Greek to see what the precise translation should be, but will stick with this for now.

M: And, how do you interpret the following insight - "The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul."

T: The law is perfect, and it converts the one who mediates upon it, observes it, etc.

"Through obedience comes sanctification of body, soul, and spirit. This sanctification is a progressive work, and an advance from one stage of perfection to another. {ML 250.4}

T: It's clear that if one can progress from one stage of perfection to another that "perfection" here does not imply a lack of ability to improve. So one should be able to improve upon how one treats another."
But does it also imply all previous behavior was imperfect and sinful?

[quote]M: I believe Jesus grew in grace and matured more and more in the fruits of the Spirit. He advanced from "one stage of perfection to another." Like a seed, which is perfect at each stage, so too, believers are perfect at each stage. But just because people progress from one stage of perfection to the next it does not mean the previous stage was defective.

T: This doesn't make sense to me. Jesus was perfect in a different sense. There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life. This doesn't apply to us. Or is this your point? Do you believe that once one is born again, one is like Jesus Christ in the sense that as there was nothing He did which could be improved upon, so there is nothing you do which cannot be improved upon? If you don't believe you can improve your view of God's character, then what is your purpose in studying? Just to instruct others?

The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, became a babe in Bethlehem, and for a time represented the helpless infant in its mother's care. In childhood He spoke and acted as a child, honoring His parents, and carrying out their wishes in helpful ways. But from the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in grace and in a knowledge of truth. {AG 282.2}

M: Tom, how do you interpret the following insight - "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1)?

T: Here's the NIV: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." This seems OK. I didn't look at the Greek to see what the precise translation should be, but will stick with this for now.

Does this mean perfecting holiness involves unperfecting unholiness?

T: This doesn't make sense to me. Jesus was perfect in a different sense. There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life. This doesn't apply to us. Or is this your point? Do you believe that once one is born again, one is like Jesus Christ in the sense that as there was nothing He did which could be improved upon, so there is nothing you do which cannot be improved upon? If you don't believe you can improve your view of God's character, then what is your purpose in studying? Just to instruct others?

M:Jesus was, like a seed, perfect at all stages. So, too, believers are, while abiding in Jesus, advancing "from one stage of perfection to another."

The Majesty of heaven, the King of glory, became a babe in Bethlehem, and for a time represented the helpless infant in its mother's care. In childhood He spoke and acted as a child, honoring His parents, and carrying out their wishes in helpful ways. But from the first dawning of intelligence He was constantly growing in grace and in a knowledge of truth. {AG 282.2}

You seem to be suggesting Jesus' knowledge, faith, and experience was just as mature in infancy as it was in adulthood.

M: Tom, how do you interpret the following insight - "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1)?

T: Here's the NIV: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." This seems OK. I didn't look at the Greek to see what the precise translation should be, but will stick with this for now.

M: Does this mean perfecting holiness involves unperfecting unholiness?

T: ?

T: This doesn't make sense to me. Jesus was perfect in a different sense. There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life. This doesn't apply to us. Or is this your point? Do you believe that once one is born again, one is like Jesus Christ in the sense that as there was nothing He did which could be improved upon, so there is nothing you do which cannot be improved upon? If you don't believe you can improve your view of God's character, then what is your purpose in studying? Just to instruct others?

M: Jesus was, like a seed, perfect at all stages. So, too, believers are, while abiding in Jesus, advancing "from one stage of perfection to another."

T: You didn't comment on the point I made.

T: There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life.

M: You seem to be suggesting Jesus' knowledge, faith, and experience was just as mature in infancy as it was in adulthood.

T: No, I didn't suggest this. Why do you think so?

M: Tom, how do you interpret the following insight - "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1)?

T: Here's the NIV: "Since we have these promises, dear friends, let us purify ourselves from everything that contaminates body and spirit, perfecting holiness out of reverence for God." This seems OK. I didn't look at the Greek to see what the precise translation should be, but will stick with this for now.

M: Does this mean perfecting holiness involves unperfecting unholiness?

T: ?

What do you think "perfecting holiness" involves, includes?

T: This doesn't make sense to me. Jesus was perfect in a different sense. There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life. This doesn't apply to us. Or is this your point? Do you believe that once one is born again, one is like Jesus Christ in the sense that as there was nothing He did which could be improved upon, so there is nothing you do which cannot be improved upon? If you don't believe you can improve your view of God's character, then what is your purpose in studying? Just to instruct others?

M: Jesus was, like a seed, perfect at all stages. So, too, believers are, while abiding in Jesus, advancing "from one stage of perfection to another."

T: You didn't comment on the point I made.

M:I believe Jesus perfected holiness every day of His life. I don't believe He was as perfect as an infant or child as He was as an adult. He advanced "from one stage of perfection to another." The same thing holds true for believers while they are abiding in Jesus and partaking of the divine nature. They are constantly improving and perfecting holiness, which does not involve, include sinning and repenting.

T: There was nothing He did that could be improved, at any stage of His life.

M: You seem to be suggesting Jesus' knowledge, faith, and experience was just as mature in infancy as it was in adulthood.

T: No, I didn't suggest this. Why do you think so?

M:Because you said so.