Bible Highlighter
Well-Known Member
While some Christians may claim or imply to be Sinlessly Perfect, I don’t think a believer who is perfect in conduct will say that they are perfect because the praise should go to Jesus and or God and not themselves for their conduct and perfection. The true teaching of Sinless Perfection is not us claiming to be perfect now (When we first learn of the doctrine), but it is…. The Sanctification of the Spirit whereby we PERFECTING holiness in the fear of God (To eventually at some point in our walk with GOD to be perfect). You may go… Ah, ha. See.. you cannot be perfect because you are currently in the Sanctification Process. That would be like claiming a baby who can only drink milk and not solid food will always be that way their whole adult life. Christians grow and mature just as babies do. The goal is perfection just as Paul also stated. Perfection is mentioned plainly in the King James Bible as in reference to the saints. I already provided these verses for you already (But you have rejected them). Again, I am not claiming to be perfect. I am in a Sanctification Process and it is my hope by God’s power to be perfect in this life one day (And give Him all the glory and praise for that). Paul says if we think we are something when we are nothing… we deceive ourselves. So even a Christian who is perfect will think they are nothing and Christ is everything. In essence, they would have sold out to Christ entirely relying on Him fully (With God guiding them). What more beautiful thing can you imagine than that? But if you like to attack how men should not strive to be perfect because the goal is impossible, then by all means… you can keep defending how the saints are slaves to sin and imperfectionism. But with God… all things are possible. Do not limit the LORD and His power of what He can do in the life of His saints. God’s hands are not tied in helping us to overcome sin in this life. God is more powerful than sin. Yet, you act like sin is more powerful than God.5:23 Now Paul prays for the sanctification of the Christians. The source is the God of peace. The scope is found in the word completely, meaning “every part of your being.”
This verse has been pressed into service by some to prove the “Holiness” doctrine of entire sanctification—that a believer can become sinlessly perfect in this life.
However, that is not what Paul means when he prays, the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. He is not praying for the eradication of the sin nature but rather that sanctification would extend to every part of their being—spirit, soul, and body.
EXCURSUS ON SANCTIFICATION
There are four phases of sanctification in the NT—pre-conversion, positional, practical or progressive, and perfect.
1. Even before a person is saved, he is set apart in a position of external privilege. Thus we read in 1Co_7:14 that an unbelieving husband is sanctified by his believing wife. This is pre-conversion sanctification.
2. Whenever a person is born again, he is positionally sanctified by virtue of his union with Christ. This means that he is set apart to God from the world. It is referred to in such passages as Act_26:18; 1Co_1:2; 1Co_6:11; 2Th_2:13; Heb_10:10, Heb_10:14.
3. But then there is progressive sanctification. This is a present setting apart of the believer to God from the world, sin, and self. It is the process by which he becomes more Christlike. This is the sanctification which Paul prays for the Thessalonians here. It is also found in 1Th_4:3-4; 2Ti_2:21. It is brought about by the Holy Spirit when we are obedient to the word of God (Joh_17:17; 2Co_3:18). Such practical sanctification is a process that should continue as long as the believer is on earth. He will never achieve perfection or sinlessness on earth, but he should ever be pressing toward that goal.
4. Perfect sanctification refers to the believer's final condition in heaven. When he goes to be with the Lord, he will be morally like the Lord, completely and finally set apart from sin (1Jn_3:1-3).
Try again, you "cut out" the progressive sanctification" thus becoming a god in this life.
J.
Are there Christians who misunderstand the teaching of Sinless Perfection and misuse it by boasting to be perfect? Sure, but that does not undo the true teaching of Sinless Perfection in the Bible whereby a believer who is truly living by this doctrine would not do that.