Personally, I've never heard a pastor use the term "sinless perfection." But whenever I have taught that Jesus said He takes away our sin, I get WARNINGS that I'm teaching "sinless perfection." Which denominations teach against sinless perfection? I know one pastor who does, but are there more? I have some of that pastors books for research on what not to teach, and I swear when I open them, demons seem to be flying off the pages. There are many forum members who also teach against "sinless perfection." Didn't Jesus say in Matthew 5:48 "Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect." Also, in Revelation 22:11 look to see which category you are in, because there is a popular teaching about the body that says we will not stop sinning until after we die and receive our new bodies." Not according to this: "He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still.” Therefore, when you die, nothing changes. That doctrine about freedom from sin only when we receive new bodies is a doctrine of demons, because demons want you to keep sinning so you can receive the same punishment as they will be getting. They must like the company.
Both Paul and Peter taught we are dead to sin. Romans 6:5-7, 22; 1 Peter 2:24. John taught we cannot sin, 1 John 3:9; 1 John 5:18. John has also been misquoted with 1 John 1:8 which contradicts 1 John 3:9, and 1 John 1:9 that the blood of Jesus cleanses us from ALL UNRIGHTEOUSNESS. Those who want to justify their sin twist these scriptures backwards and believe 1 John 1:8 over 1 John 3:9, and 1 John 1:9. Look at 1 John 2:4 if you want to know what lie 1 John 1:8 is really saying, 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 1 John 1 is written with a Semitic writing style. Verse 5 through 10 is a contrast between Light vs. Darkness. 1 John 1:6, 8 and 10 are all unsaved darkness. 1 John 1:9 is how to become a born again Christian ONCE, not over and over as you are a slave to sin. It is the same as Peter's Acts 2:38 "REPENT, ... and you will be given the gift of the Holy Spirit.
I teach that Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith.
What Jesus does as the Author of our faith is He takes away the worst type of sin (sins unto death) out of our sin nature, leaving it now clean of evil desires, John 15:3. And He does this instantaneously when He baptizes us with fire according to John the Baptist. This sinless state is called righteousness and is what 1 John 3 is all about.
What Jesus does as the Finisher of our faith takes a long time, not instantaneously. At the end of this process is when His work is complete, Phil. 1:6, and we are then perfect, the other name for holy. The process has to do with maturing each fruit of the Spirit and is found in 2 Peter 1:5-11. "5 But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, 6 to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, 7 to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love. 8 For if these things are yours and abound, you will be neither barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 For he who lacks these things is shortsighted, even to blindness, and has forgotten that he was cleansed from his old sins.
10 Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble; 11 for so an entrance will be supplied to you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
To me "never stumble" means perfection, but it is a long time coming from when we were first made sinless of sins unto death. This is why I never put sinless and perfection together as "sinless perfection." On the narrow path toward salvation, sinlessness is at the beginning and perfection is at the end. Then and only then is there "sinless perfection" when the two are complete. Committing sins due to immature fruit are not sins unto death, but sins not unto death; however, maturing fruit is necessary for salvation. Otherwise, those branches that do not bear fruit are cast into the fire. John 15:1-4, “I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. 2 Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit He prunes, that it may bear more fruit. 3 You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. 4 Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me."
See also this common passage with the first two verses before it added for context and clarity:
Matthew 7:19-23
19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them. 21 “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven. 22 Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ 23 And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’
