Thanks for responding to my question. I do have some questions/comments related to those responces. They are as follows:

"Even after regeneration, there is a remnant of the old sin/corrupt nature that prevents a true Christian from being perfect in thought, word and/or deed. (cf. Rom 6:6ff, 7:14-25; Eph 4:22-24)"


I know God is sovereign and I believe nothing happens in this life unless it is according to his will. When Jesus first taught his disciple to pray (Matt 6:9) he said to His Father ”Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” since we know this is true, how can it not be possible for me to love him perfectly (with my all…) in this life? I also know from 1 Jn 5:14-15 that praying according to God’s will is absolutely essential. Does your response mean I should not even pray for the ability to love Him perfectly (with my all…) in this life? With regard to praying for the ability of loving God perfectly (“with my all..”), I believe Matt 7:9-12 is applicable.


The reference to Rom 6:6 says ”our old self was crucified with him so that the sinful body might be destroyed, and we might no longer be enslaved to sin”.

The reference to Rom 6:14-25 includes verse 25 which says “Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I of myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.” Isn't verse 25 clearly expressing gratefulness for a solution to the problem described in vs 14-24?

The reference to Eph 4:22-25 says “Put off your old nature which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful lusts, and be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and put on the new nature, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.” Doesn't the direction to “put off” imply ability to put off? What are your thoughts about this ability?

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"Some might conclude that they shouldn't even make the effort to obey. Is that your conclusion?"

I do not believe I can be successful at an effort to love God perfectly (with my all…). I believe “loving God perfectly” is something only God’s grace can do. Grace is defined as undeserved kindness. The greatest example of God’s grace is the fact that God sent His Son into the world to redeem those that were undeserving of redemption. But God’s grace does not stop there. Paul describe the benefit that comes as a result of "the love of Christ” in Eph 3:17-19 as follows (in the Amplified Bible):

“May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!“

Wayne