are good inherently, intrinsically, independently,
autonomously, or eternally. We have received the Good-
One, the God-One, Jesus, into the core of our being, into
our spirit. We are thus identified with the Good-One, and in
terms of our spiritual identity we might be known as "good
ones," "God-ones," "godly," "righteous ones," "justified,"
"holy ones," "saints," "sanctified," "Christ-ones,"
"Christians." Such designations are only and always based
on the indwelling presence of Jesus Christ, never on any
alleged reality that has become intrinsic within and unto
ourselves. "The container never becomes the contents." To
quote Jacques Ellul again,
"The entire Bible constantly iterates that nothing has changed
intrinsically or ontologically in this person who has been
enlightened by the revelation. He is saved. He is justified. He is
sanctified, but he is still himself." 16In other words, the Christian is still a derivative man,
deriving both spiritual condition and behavioral expression
from the spiritual source of Jesus Christ. We must avoid all
forms of perfectionism that might imply that we are perfect,
good, holy or righteousness essentially, constitutionally
and/or inherently.
Whereas the first clarification has to do with a denial of
lapsing back into the first premise of moralism, the second