I dont read into those quotes that Mrs White is saying we must stop committing every little sin to earn salvation. I think she means we should aim for the mark. If she means Christian perfection like you are impling I wonder what year she became perfect herself? Any guesses? Do you think Eve sinned when she ate the fruit, decided to eat the fruit or even simply condersidered eating the fruit?
Neither did she say we must stop committing grosser sins to earn salvation. She never talks about earning salvation by not sinning or by being righteous. Being sinlessly perfect and becoming sinlessly perfect are two different aspects of salvation.
Jesus said, "Be ye therefore perfect even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." In the same way Jesus began perfect (complete) and became perfect (mature) so too born again believers begin perfect and become perfect.
Paul described it this way: "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." (2 Cor 7:1)
1. Begin perfect. "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit."
2. Become perfect. "Perfecting holiness in the fear of God."
Peter confirms this formula: "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious." (1 Peter 2:1-3)
1. Begin perfect. "Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings."
2. Become perfect. "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious."
Again, Peter confirms this formula: "Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin; that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
1. Begin perfect. "He that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin."
2. Become perfect. "He no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God."
Of course, this formula is conditional upon several things. Born again believers experience the promises of perfection only while they are actively abiding in Jesus, walking in the Spirit and mind of the new man, partaking of the divine nature, fighting the good fight of faith, etc. While doing these things they do not and cannot sin. That's what John said.
1 John
2:29 If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him.
3:6 Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.
3:7 Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.
3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
5:18 We know that whosoever is born of God sinneth not; but he that is begotten of God keepeth himself, and that wicked one toucheth him not.
The promises of perfection do not say born again believers lose the ability or freedom to sin. Indeed, only born again believers are truly free to sin. Unconverted sinners are the slaves and servants of sin. They cannot not sin. We are not free to sin until we are free from sin. John's point is that while actively abiding in Jesus, born again believers do not and cannot sin.
Other promises apply if believers neglect to abide in Jesus and fall into sin, namely, 1 John 2:1, 2. "My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: and he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world."
