I find then the principle that in me evil is present—in me who wants to do good. Romans 7:21
Regarding Rom. 7:21, the old commentator Robert Hawker asks if “there can be a more humiliating account given of human nature, than what the Apostle hath here opened of himself?” (Poor Man’s Commentary)
Christ has done MUCH to provide for our present progressive sanctification, as we cooperate with Divine grace. Praise Jesus that we have experienced the regeneration of our hearts and the permanent indwelling of the Spirit, and that we have available to us the sanctifying resources of both the Word and God’s Church!
Unfortunately, the so-called “Holiness Movement,” with its unreal views on sanctification has led to numerous difficulties. Known as “Perfectionism” or “Entire Sanctification,” this view originates with John Wesley and has historic associations with old-line Methodism and its offshoots (e.g., the Nazarene Church), as well as Quakerism and much of traditional Pentecostalism. The concept is that a believer, through a second work of grace subsequent to salvation (the “second blessing”), experiences complete victory over sin in which Original Sin is eradicated and the saint enters a state of sinless perfection (defined as a perfected love in which deliberate sin is abolished). Sanctification is thus reduced to a sudden “crisis experience.”
Our response to such destructive teaching: First, it is wildly unscriptural. Paul explicitly testifies to his present internal battles with persistent sin, despite his new identity in Christ (Rom. 7:14-25). Second, advocates engage in dishonest mental gymnastics to escape the self-evident reality of our failure to meet God’s perfect ethical standards (1 John 1:8-10)—we DO sin! Third, Perfectionists often promote outward legalism to “prove” their alleged hyper-spirituality. Fourth, sanctification is a lifelong cooperative discipline—not simply a matter of being “zapped.”
Terry L. Reese