Lesson 3: The Danger of Not Striving for Full Christian Perfection
“They only sought, but did not strive to enter in.” A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, p. 29
1. Negligence Is Not a Pardonable Weakness
Doctrine: Failing to grow in virtue because of lack of intention is not excusable as weakness.
Key Idea:
Sins and shortcomings that could be avoided through sincere effort are not mere human frailties but acts of negligence.
Supporting Text Ideas:
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No excuse for sins that could be avoided
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Lack of intention removes claim to mercy
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Comparison to obvious sins like swearing
Theological Principle:
God’s mercy applies to unavoidable weakness. Deliberate negligence of growth in virtue is abusing God's mercy.
2. Christians Must Aim for Maximum Spiritual Growth
Doctrine: Christians are called to pursue the highest level of virtue they are capable of.
Key Idea:
The issue is not whether perfection is fully attainable, but whether one is striving as much as possible to approach it.
Theological Principle:
God judges based on the sincerity and intensity of one’s effort toward holiness.
3. Salvation Requires Effort, Not Passive Religion
Doctrine: Salvation requires active striving, not casual or passive religious practice.
Key Idea:
Simply seeking or casually practicing religion is not enough—true faith demands disciplined effort and seriousness.
Supporting Text Ideas:
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“Strive” vs. merely “seek”
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Narrow path requires effort
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Religion must involve discipline and awareness
Theological Principle:
Faith is a process of active pursuit, requiring effort, vigilance, and commitment.
4. Where a Careless Life Leads
Doctrine: A life lived without serious effort toward holiness leads to regret, especially at death.
Key Idea:
People who neglect spiritual growth will eventually realize their failure and condemn themselves for wasted opportunities.
Supporting Text Ideas:
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Example of a dying individual regretting a careless life
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Realization that worldly success has no value at death
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Regret comes from not intending to live rightly
Theological Principle:
Self-condemnation arises when a person realizes they neglected what truly mattered.
Applicable Reflections
Self-Examination Questions:
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Am I truly striving to improve, or simply doing the minimum?
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What areas of my life show neglect rather than effort?
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If I continue living the same way, would I regret it later?
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Am I using my abilities fully, or settling below what I am capable of?
Spiritual Application:
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Pursue growth intentionally:
Make a deliberate effort to improve in areas like discipline, humility, and responsibility. -
Take responsibility for your actions:
Stop excusing behavior as weakness when it is really lack of effort. -
Live with urgency and purpose:
Treat personal growth as something that requires daily focus and effort. -
Prioritize what matters long-term:
Make decisions based on lasting impact rather than temporary benefits.
What does Law have to say?
"You perhaps will say, that all people fall short of the perfection of the Gospel, and therefore you are content with your failings. But this is saying nothing to the purpose. For the question is not, whether Gospel perfection can be fully attained, but whether you come as near it as a sincere intention and careful diligence can carry you. Whether you are not in a much lower state than you might be, if you sincerely intended, and carefully laboured, to advance yourself in all Christian virtues ?"
A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life, p. 28.