Making a Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear

Eph. 4:1 The general Christian calling is a call to the Christian lifestyle.
1. what I'm to DO
2. what I'm to BE
The problem being - we fall short - Rom. 7:15-24

So, how to reconcile my high calling with my low lifestyle?
how to reconcile my saintly position with my sinful practice?
how to reconcile my apparent ability with my poor performance?
How to live the Christian life amidst constant sin and moral failure?
How to "make a silk purse out of a sow's ear?"

TWO PARTS:
I. Recognize (realize, know, understand...)
II. DO (response, action based on that knowledge)

I. Recognize:
1. You are a sinner - Rom. 3:23 1 John 1:8, 10

2. that doesn't end at salvation in the practical sense (difference between position and practice)

3. all of God's people experience this tension (even the best) - examples: Abraham, Moses, Elijah, David, Solomon, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul, etc.

4. God doesn't lower His standard to match our performance
Perfection is not required, but it is requested

BUT:
5. Christ's forgiveness covers all your sins.
1 John 1:9 Luke 5:30-32 Luke 19:10 John 3:17

6. You are not condemned or disowned due to poor performance Jude 1, 24
But, certainly our poor performance disappoints the Father and affects our relationship with Him.

7. God's not finished with you yet. Phil. 1:6

So, based on these truths, what to do?

II. DO

1. Admit your sin - general sinfulness, AND on occasion, specific sins

2. admit your need - ie. for help, assistance. You can't fix yourself.

3. Ask forgiveness - initially for salvation, repeatedly - as a Christian

4. Accept forgiveness - 1 John 1:9 This is the right, proper, responsible thing to do!! It has nothing to do with feelings or if deserve it.

5. Get up and go on. Being faithful doesn't mean you never fall - it means you never stop!!!
(sin will lead you astray repeatedly)
Rom. 6:12-14 (a) - who (what) is Lord???? Endurance is not base on the number of falls, but on the number of times you get up and keep going.

6. Don't lower the bar. It is set by God, not us.
"a rose by any other name is still a rose". we have a tendency to say, "I don't thing that's really wrong." Thus, lowering God's standards to suit self.

7. Therefore, don't be surprised when you can't get over it. (more implicitly, don't get devastated, or defeated) He will continue to love you and receive you.

CONCLUSION:
You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear. BUT, A. you can make a very good purse! (practical, useful, etc.)
The point being: God's got a purpose and place for you until perfection comes.

You can't make a silk purse from a sow's ear....
BUT, God can (and will) Rom. 8:28-31