Mike,

As Tom mentioned previously in the discussion, Jesus said, "I have yet many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now" (John 16:12). God in mercy does not show us at once all our defects. Sometimes a tendency to be lazy, for instance, or to misspend money, or some other character defect can escape our notice.

Okay, let's assume for a moment that God waits to reveal certain defective traits of character, that the Holy Spirit blinds us so that we do not notice them, until we're ready to confess and crucify them. If a person dies, before they are revealed, what will Jesus do with them when He returns? Will He change their characters?

Justification is conditional upon rebirth and obedience. We are not justified with our defective traits of character. Self must be crucified before Jesus can justify us. To obtain justification we must cease sinning, and in order to maintain justification we must continue to cease sinning.

7BC 908
Justification means the saving of a soul from perdition, that he may obtain sanctification, and through sanctification, the life of heaven. Justification means that the conscience, purged from dead works, is placed where it can receive the blessings of sanctification (MS 113, 1902). {7BC 908.15}

FW 100
But while God can be just, and yet justify the sinner through the merits of Christ, no man can cover his soul with the garments of Christ's righteousness while practicing known sins or neglecting known duties. God requires the entire surrender of the heart, before justification can take place; and in order for man to retain justification, there must be continual obedience, through active, living faith that works by love and purifies the soul. {FW 100.1}

Mike,

The new birth/justification occurs when self is completely surrendered to God:

“God requires the entire surrender of the heart before justification can take place” 1 SM 366

"'Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.' An entire surrender of the will to God, repentance, faith, and reception of Christ, in the spirit of a little child, will ever bring freedom, light, blessing, and peace to the soul." {1888 Materials, 394}

Then God gives the person a new heart and character is transformed:

“There is no power in repentance to change the life. But when the helpless soul casts itself on Christ, there comes transformation of character. The Saviour declares, ‘A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you.’” {ST, May 20, 1903 par. 2}

Genuine surrender is a complete thing at the time it is made, as far as we know. But there are things in the life that will need to be surrendered that we do not see immediately. That’s why self-surrender is a continual process, although it must be complete at every stage:

“The Christian life is one of daily surrender, submission and continual overcoming” 4 SDABC, 1154.

God brings us where we can see the weaknesses in our characters. If we depend on God, we will be victorious over temptation:

“God often brings men to a crisis to show them their weakness, and to point them to the Source of strength. If they will pray, and watch unto prayer, fighting bravely, their weak points will become their strong points. ... Shall we obtain strength from God, and win victory after victory, or shall we try in our own strength, and at last fall back defeated, worn out by vain effort? Victory is sure when self is surrendered to God. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise.” {ST, May 20, 1903 par. 6}

“Being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil. 1:6).

Makes sense?

No, it doesn't make sense to me. Being aware of our weaknesses doesn't mean we are guilty of sin. And, overcoming sin, self, and Satan doesn't imply sinning and repenting. Overcoming, as Christ overcame, means recognizing and resisting temptation, not giving in and then repenting of it.

I don't understand how we can experience the miracle of rebirth and retain some of our sinful habits. It sounds good in theory, but not according to the promises of God. Why would God tolerate sin in born again believers? Which sinful habits can He afford to overlook? Which ones are impossible, or too overwhelming, to discern before we are born again?

Will Jesus change our unrevealed, uncrucified, sinful habits and traits of character when He returns?

5T 515
You need to drink daily at the fountain of truth, that you may understand the secret of pleasure and joy in the Lord. But you must remember that your will is the spring of all your actions. This will, that forms so important a factor in the character of man, was at the Fall given into the control of Satan; and he has ever since been working in man to will and to do of his own pleasure, but to the utter ruin and misery of man. But the infinite sacrifice of God in giving Jesus, His beloved Son, to become a sacrifice for sin, enables Him to say, without violating one principle of His government: "Yield yourself up to Me; give Me that will; take it from the control of Satan, and I will take possession of it; then I can work in you to will and to do of My good pleasure." When He gives you the mind of Christ, your will becomes as His will, and your character is transformed to be like Christ's character. Is it your purpose to do God's will? Do you wish to obey the Scriptures? "If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me." {5T 515.1}