GC, good point. I agree not all sinners are saved. Acknowledging sinfulness is not the same as confessing and forsaking it. Here's the following paragraph:

When the prophet Daniel beheld the glory surrounding the heavenly messenger that was sent unto him, he was overwhelmed with a sense of his own weakness and imperfection. Describing the effect of the wonderful scene, he says, "There remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength." Daniel 10:8. The soul thus touched will hate its selfishness, abhor its self-love, and will seek, through Christ's righteousness, for the purity of heart that is in harmony with the law of God and the character of Christ. {SC 29.2}

In our deviotional time this morning my wife and I read an EGW comment on "sinlessness" from today's (August 4th) reading from the book Maranatha.

This is what we read:

The above quote doesn't say when this condition will be reached, but that it will be reached.

This prompted me to do a word search, which brought me to the following:

The above quote speaks about "progressive sanctification" rather than "instant sanctification."

Is this a contradiction?

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today's"FUNNY"===========================

WHEN I SAY, "I AM A CHRISTIAN"
By Carol Wimmer

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not shouting "I am saved."
I'm whispering "I was lost";
That is why I chose this way.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I don't speak of this with pride.
I'm confessing that I stumble,
And need someone to be my guide.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not trying to be strong.
I'm professing that I'm weak,
And pray for strength to carry on.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not bragging of success.
I'm admitting I have failed,
And cannot ever pay the debt.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I'm not claiming to be perfect.
My flaws are too visible,
But God believes I'm worth it.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I still feel the sting of pain.
I have my share of heartaches,
Which is why I speak His name.

When I say, "I am a Christian,"
I do not wish to judge.
I have no authority;
I only know I'm loved.

Copyright 1989 Carol S. Wimmer. Permission is granted to send this to others, with attribution, but not for commercial purposes.

Note she said "everyone". "Everyone who by faith obeys God's commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression." Peter describes newborn believers in such terms. 1 Peter 2:1-3 and 4:1-2. The thief on the cross achieved sinlessness. Paul achieved it on the road to Damascus and then maintained it throughout his life "perfecting holiness" (2 Cor 7:1) til the day he died.

Everyone who by faith obeys God's commandments, will reach the condition of sinlessness in which Adam lived before his transgression.
From Maranatha - Page 225

"Those who are really seeking to perfect Christian character will never indulge the thought that they are sinless. Their lives may be irreproachable, they may be living representatives of the truth which they have accepted; but the more they discipline their minds to dwell upon the character of Christ, and the nearer they approach to His divine image, the more clearly will they discern its spotless perfection, and the more deeply will they feel their own defects." And again: "Those who take pains to call attention to their good works, constantly talking of their sinless state and endeavoring to make their religious attainments prominent, are only deceiving their own souls by so doing." (The Sanctified Life, p. 7 & 12)

"But we shall not boast of our holiness. As we have clearer views of Christ's spotlessness and infinite purity, we shall feel as did Daniel, when he beheld the glory of the Lord, and said, "My comeliness was turned in me into corruption." (Selected Messages 3, p. 355)

"Why is it that so many claim to be holy and sinless? It is because they are so far from Christ." Manuscript 5, 1885

Believers who abide in Jesus do not sin; in fact, they cannot sin. 1 John 3:6-9. They are "perfecting holiness". To sin, they must neglect or refuse to abide in Jesus.

What happens if you fall asleep for a moment, like the disciples did?

which happens rather frequently. Sinless perfection cannot be a revolving-door experience - now in, now out. If we have this kind of "sinless perfection," we won't survive the time of trouble.

It wasn't a sin to fall asleep.

Why not?



Only people who achieve and maintain sinless perfection will survive the time of trouble.