Holiness
Perfection, Part 2

Those who believe in perfection appeal to the Johnnian corpus in addition to Paul’s assertions of being dead to sin. (1 John 3: 6, 8, 9; 3:15). But, these statements about “no sin in you” are more realistically statements about the two natures of the Christian. Otherwise, how do we understand the other verses in 1 John about forgiveness of sin? Berkof says “free from sin” means that one born again from above “does not go on sinning habitually.” Addressing 1 John 3:9 directly, Thomas Watson in The Mischief of Sin, p. 79, states:

He does not sin deliberately. He does not sin with delight. In his heart, he abhors sin; in his life, he forsakes it. Here is one born of God.

Additionally, 1 John is more than a “second blessing” adherent can swallow. For what can all mean except all Christians, those without a “second blessing” included. And, as to Wesley’s distinction of sin, conscious [ethical] and unconscious [legal], all sin must include all sin, both types. Wesley’s distinction is without merit according to the Apostle John.

But the ultimate Biblical destruction of perfectionism comes from the inspired pen of the Apostle Paul. He speaks of the struggle the Christian has with sin in three important places. In Romans 7, he discusses his own war with indwelling sin. In Gal. 5: 16-24, he relates to the Galatian Christians the struggle there is in being a believer, the conflict of the flesh and spirit natures. Finally, in Phil 3:10-14, he expounds on his life from a prison cell acknowledging that he has not yet reached perfection but is pressing on towards the goal. If the Great Apostle had not achieved perfection, who can?

The Apostle Paul addresses the serious problem of non-Biblical sanctification in Col. 2: 16-23. The Colossian Christians were engaging in behavior of some nature that was promising spiritual perfection in external, man centered practices. Paul instructs that there is no externality that deals with sin inherent in the flesh [2:23]. Paul has already explained how indwelling, troubling, disheartening sin is to be dwelt with in the life of the believer. Death to sin is from putting on the new man already given by regeneration [3:1-10]. It is foolish to look for sanctification outside God’s way whether it be a lifestyle [asceticism and severity]; man derived philosophy [appearance of wisdom]; or non-Gospel practices, programs or activities [man made religion].

Paul’s statement about lack of perfection in Phil. 3 underscores the problem with perfectionism as a non-Biblical concept. Paul wants to know the power of Christ’s resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings in this life. This life, for the Christian, is one of struggle with the flesh, Satan and the world. There is nothing Paul can do outside of himself to accomplish his sanctification in such an environment. It can only occur through the application of the life of Jesus Christ to a believer. It is an inside job.

Perfectionism not only underestimates sin, it fails to recognize the way the Holy Spirit works sanctification in the believer [See previous post “Holiness….What is Sanctification?” on 10 August 2006]. It is not some sort of personal Pentecost that equips a believer not to sin. Rather, the Holy Spirit radically breaks the love and power of sin when a believer is united to Christ by faith. The work of the Holy Spirit is ongoing until the whole man is sanctified, body, soul and spirit. It is a process that He will surely accomplish so that the believer is blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (I Thess. 5:23, 24). To believe in perfection in the here and now not only denigrates God’s work it seeks a way outside of God’s plan for the salvation of His.

A.A. Hodge posits a frank statement about any who believe in perfection here and now:
Perfectionism is in conflict with the universal experience and observation of God’s people. The personal profession of it is generally judged to be just ground for serious suspicion as to the claimant’s mental soundness or moral sincerity.
A.A. Hodge, The Confession of Faith, p. 200
Dr. Hodge’s assessment is not exactly politically correct and seems extremely insensitive. However, the error of perfectionism is at best, harmful to the Christian community, and at worst, heresy. Avoid the allure of perfection that leads to a false holiness. Instead, seek to put off the old and put on the new that is yours through being united to Christ by grace through faith.