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of the essential characteristics of the new man is that he does not sin. In view of the fact that
John invariably uses the present to express the idea that the one born of God does not sin, it is
possible that he desires to express the idea that the child of God does not go on sinning
habitually, as the devil does, I John 3:8.[Cf. Robertson, The Minister and His Greek Testament,
p. 100.] He certainly does not mean to assert that the believer never commits an act of sin, cf. I
John 1:8-10. Moreover, the Perfectionist cannot very well use these passages to prove his
point, since they would prove too much for his purpose. He does not make bold to say that all
believers are actually sinless, but only that they can reach a state of sinless perfection. The
Johannine passages, however, would prove, on his interpretation, that all believers are without
sin. And more than that, they would also prove that believers never fall from the state of grace
(for this is sinning); and yet the Perfectionists are the very people who believe that even perfect
Christians may fall away.
c. Objections to the theory of Perfectionism.
(1) In the light of Scripture the doctrine of Perfectionism is absolutely untenable. The Bible gives
us the explicit and very definite assurance that there is no one on earth who does not sin, I
Kings 8:46; Prov. 20:9; Eccl. 7:20; Rom. 3:10; Jas. 3:2; I John 1:8. In view of these clear
statements of Scripture it is hard to see how any who claim to believe the Bible as the infallible
Word of God can hold that it is possible for believers to lead sinless lives, and that some
actually succeed in avoiding all sin.
(2) According to Scripture there is a constant warfare between the flesh and the Spirit in the
lives of God’s children, and even the best of them are still striving for perfection. Paul gives a
very striking description of this struggle in Rom. 7:7-26, a passage which certainly refers to him
in his regenerate state. In Gal. 5:16-24 he speaks of that very same struggle as a struggle that
characterizes all the children of God. And in Phil. 3:10-14 he speaks of himself, practically at the
end of his career, as one who has not yet reached perfection, but is pressing on toward the
goal.
(3) Confession of sin and prayer for forgiveness are continually required. Jesus taught all His
disciples without any exception to pray for the forgiveness of sins and for deliverance from
temptation and from the evil one, Matt. 6:12,13. And John says: “If we confess our sins, He is
faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness,” I John
1:9. Moreover, Bible saints are constantly represented as confessing their sins, Job 9:3,20; Ps.
32:5; 130:3; 143:2; Prov. 20:9; Isa. 64:6; Dan. 9:16; Rom. 7:14.
(4) The Perfectionists themselves deem it necessary to lower the standard of the law and to
externalize the idea of sin, in order to maintain their theory. Moreover, some of them have