5.4: Perfectionism versus the biblical testimony of the saints

From Sovereign Grace and the Scope of Election: A Comparative Examination of Attainment Theology and Grace Theology, with Particular Attention to the Question of Whether God's Elect Are Found Among All Nations and Religions

The attainment system's entire-sanctification ladder collides with the uniform confession of Scripture's holiest men. Paul, late in life: "sinners; of whom I am chief" (1 Timothy 1:15), and Romans 7: "the good that I would I do not... O wretched man that I am." John: "If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves" (1 John 1:8). Solomon: "there is no man that sinneth not" (1 Kings 8:46). The believer's perfection is in Christ's imputed righteousness (Colossians 2:10, "ye are complete in him"; Hebrews 10:14, "by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified"), never in attained sinlessness. A perfection doctrine produces either hypocrisy (concealing sin to maintain status) or despair (honest souls concluding they are reprobate), and the pastoral history of perfectionist movements bears this out.