Oddbean new post about login | logout I think all we need to know is that he is our Father and he loves us more than we can fathom
I think we also need to know that we are sinners incapable of living up to His standard and yet He provided a way for us to live with Him for eternity regardless of our failings.
Before we are saved, yes. After we are saved through Christ, we can strive to perfection.
Yes, we strive for perfection. However we will never reach it this side of our resurrection.
Exactly
Yes, Confession is key. "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9) We are not righteous in ourselves or our deeds: "as it is written, “There is none righteous , not even one ;" (Romans 3:10) All of our righteousness comes from Jesus: "He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him." (2 Corinthians 5:21)