Before I start, I want others to be aware that I believe that all in Christ should be seeking holiness. If anyone claims otherwise about me, they are a liar. God is conforming the believer to the image of his Son. I do not deny that and if anyone is claiming it, they are a liar and showing themselves to be sinners.
I think some believe they are sinless because they accept a limited definition of sin. If they define sin as merely breaking the Ten Commandments in the letter, that's an inadequate definition of sin. Scripture mentions tons of commands for New Covenant believers. Claiming that the Ten Commandments defines sin exhaustively is a false understanding of sin..in fact, I believe the proper definition of sin is falling short of the glory of God, as Christ reflected, rather than based on the Ten Commandments (see Romans 3:23, 6:23). I John 5:17 also lists "all wrongdoing" as sin..and the Holy Spirit-led person is able to discern acts that are wrong, whether they are on a list or not.
I think many sinless perfectionists are either 1) mentally ill; some individuals suffering from mental illness have religious delusions 2) poorly educated on sin or 3) self-righteous or blind concerning their own nature..and that's not surprising because Jeremiah 17:9-10 reveals that the fallen nature deceives us as to our true nature...this requires a revelation of God to show us our fallen nature.
I remember my pastor telling me I was self-righteous, and encouraging me to ask God to reveal my sinful nature to me. I didn't see my self-righteousness, but I followed my pastor's advice, and within a few weeks God showed me my sinful nature. I was able at that time to place my faith in Jesus.
I'm going to present a list of things the Scripture describes as sin. Those who are claiming to be sinless, do you ever fail to do things you shouldn't do (sins of omission), and/or do you still commit some sins (sins of commission)?
I am borrowing this list from The Complete Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff, with a bit of modification.
SINS OF OMISSION
Failing to believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18, 6:29, 1 John 5:12)
Failing to love God (Deut 6:4, Mark 12:30)
Failing to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)
Failing to trust God (Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 26:4)
Failing to worship God (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Failing to honor God (Proverbs 3:9, John 5:23)
Failing to honor the Son (John 5:23)
Failing to honor one's parents (Exodus 20:12)
Failing to give thanks to God in everything (Psalms 105:1, Romans 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Failing to glorify God (Psalm 34:3, Romans 1:21)
Failing to fear the Lord (Deutoronomy 6:13, Proverbs 3:7)
Failing to do the good one knows one ought to do (James 4:17)
Failing to test new teaching by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11)
Failing to discern and guard against false teachers and prophets (Matthew 7:15-20, Acts 20:28-31)
Failing to learn and believe Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:6, 2 Timothy 2:15)
Failing to guard life and doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)
Failing to repay debts (Romans 13:7)
Failing to care for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:20)
Failing to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 3)
Failing to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19)
Failing to honor others (Romans 12:9)
Failing to keep your fervor (Romans 12:9)
Failing to serve or give (Romans 12:9)
Failing to live at peace (Romans 12:18)
Failing to be clear-minded and alert (1 Peter 5:8)
Failing to rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
Failing to pray without ceasing (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Failing to pray for fellow believers (James 5:16)
Failing to forgive (Matthew 6:15)
SINS OF COMMISSION
Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6, Romans 1:21-25; 1 John 5:21) - extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone other than God, to the point where this object, habit, person defines one's identity and defines one's purpose in life...examples, substance abuse, food, career goals, family, friends, etcetera...where do you spend your money, time, talent?
Blasphemy (Mark 3:29) - the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.
Misusing the Lord's Name (Exodus 20:7)
Covetousness (Exodus 20:17, Romans 1:29, 7:7, 13:9) - having or showing a great, unending desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else
Wrong teaching (Matthew 23:15, Galatians 1:8, James 3:1)
Insincere love (Romans 12:9)
Causing someone else to sin (Mark 9:42)
Sexual impurity (Matthew 5:28, Romans 1:24)
Adultery (Exodus 20:14, Hebrews 13:4)
Homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9)
Selfish ambition (Galatians 5:20)
Fits of rage (Galatians 5:20)
Slave trading (1 Timothy 1:10)
Lying (Exodus 23:1, Romans 13:9, Revelation 21:8)
Hypocrisy (1 Peter 2:1) - the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense
Drunkenness (1 Corinthians 6:10)
Stealing (Exodus 20:15, 1 Corinthians 6:10)
Sorcery (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Divination (Deuteronomy 18:10) - the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.
Interpreting Omens (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Consulting the Dead (Deuteronomy 18:11)
Astrology (Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Isaiah 47:13-14)
Depravity (Romans 1:29) - moral corruption; wickedness.
Envy (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1)
Deceit (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1) - concealing or misrepresenting the truth in order to mislead someone
Murder (Romans 1:29)
Strife (Romans 1:29)
Malice (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1) - the intent or desire to do evil, ill will, toward another
Gossip (Romans 1:29)
Slander (Romans 1:30, 1 Peter 2:1)
Hating God (Romans 1:30)
Insolence (Romans 1:30) - rude or disrespectful behavior
Arrogance (Romans 1:30) - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of self importance or personal abilities
Boastfulness (Romans 1:30)
Inventing Evil (Romans 1:30)
Disobeying parents (Romans 1:30)
Disobeying the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7)
Worrying (Luke 12:22-32)
I think some believe they are sinless because they accept a limited definition of sin. If they define sin as merely breaking the Ten Commandments in the letter, that's an inadequate definition of sin. Scripture mentions tons of commands for New Covenant believers. Claiming that the Ten Commandments defines sin exhaustively is a false understanding of sin..in fact, I believe the proper definition of sin is falling short of the glory of God, as Christ reflected, rather than based on the Ten Commandments (see Romans 3:23, 6:23). I John 5:17 also lists "all wrongdoing" as sin..and the Holy Spirit-led person is able to discern acts that are wrong, whether they are on a list or not.
I think many sinless perfectionists are either 1) mentally ill; some individuals suffering from mental illness have religious delusions 2) poorly educated on sin or 3) self-righteous or blind concerning their own nature..and that's not surprising because Jeremiah 17:9-10 reveals that the fallen nature deceives us as to our true nature...this requires a revelation of God to show us our fallen nature.
I remember my pastor telling me I was self-righteous, and encouraging me to ask God to reveal my sinful nature to me. I didn't see my self-righteousness, but I followed my pastor's advice, and within a few weeks God showed me my sinful nature. I was able at that time to place my faith in Jesus.
I'm going to present a list of things the Scripture describes as sin. Those who are claiming to be sinless, do you ever fail to do things you shouldn't do (sins of omission), and/or do you still commit some sins (sins of commission)?
I am borrowing this list from The Complete Bible Answer Book by Hank Hanegraaff, with a bit of modification.
SINS OF OMISSION
Failing to believe in Jesus Christ (John 3:16-18, 6:29, 1 John 5:12)
Failing to love God (Deut 6:4, Mark 12:30)
Failing to love your neighbor as yourself (Mark 12:31)
Failing to trust God (Proverbs 3:5, Isaiah 26:4)
Failing to worship God (Deuteronomy 6:13)
Failing to honor God (Proverbs 3:9, John 5:23)
Failing to honor the Son (John 5:23)
Failing to honor one's parents (Exodus 20:12)
Failing to give thanks to God in everything (Psalms 105:1, Romans 1:21, 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Failing to glorify God (Psalm 34:3, Romans 1:21)
Failing to fear the Lord (Deutoronomy 6:13, Proverbs 3:7)
Failing to do the good one knows one ought to do (James 4:17)
Failing to test new teaching by Scripture (1 Thessalonians 5:21, Acts 17:11)
Failing to discern and guard against false teachers and prophets (Matthew 7:15-20, Acts 20:28-31)
Failing to learn and believe Scripture (Deuteronomy 6:6, 2 Timothy 2:15)
Failing to guard life and doctrine (1 Timothy 4:16)
Failing to repay debts (Romans 13:7)
Failing to care for orphans and widows in distress (James 1:20)
Failing to defend the faith (1 Peter 3:15, Jude 3)
Failing to share the gospel (Matthew 28:19)
Failing to honor others (Romans 12:9)
Failing to keep your fervor (Romans 12:9)
Failing to serve or give (Romans 12:9)
Failing to live at peace (Romans 12:18)
Failing to be clear-minded and alert (1 Peter 5:8)
Failing to rejoice (1 Thessalonians 5:16)
Failing to pray without ceasing (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, 1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Failing to pray for fellow believers (James 5:16)
Failing to forgive (Matthew 6:15)
SINS OF COMMISSION
Idolatry (Exodus 20:3-6, Romans 1:21-25; 1 John 5:21) - extreme admiration, love, or reverence for something or someone other than God, to the point where this object, habit, person defines one's identity and defines one's purpose in life...examples, substance abuse, food, career goals, family, friends, etcetera...where do you spend your money, time, talent?
Blasphemy (Mark 3:29) - the act or offense of speaking sacrilegiously about God or sacred things; profane talk.
Misusing the Lord's Name (Exodus 20:7)
Covetousness (Exodus 20:17, Romans 1:29, 7:7, 13:9) - having or showing a great, unending desire to possess something, typically something belonging to someone else
Wrong teaching (Matthew 23:15, Galatians 1:8, James 3:1)
Insincere love (Romans 12:9)
Causing someone else to sin (Mark 9:42)
Sexual impurity (Matthew 5:28, Romans 1:24)
Adultery (Exodus 20:14, Hebrews 13:4)
Homosexuality (Leviticus 18:22, Romans 1:26-27, 1 Corinthians 6:9)
Selfish ambition (Galatians 5:20)
Fits of rage (Galatians 5:20)
Slave trading (1 Timothy 1:10)
Lying (Exodus 23:1, Romans 13:9, Revelation 21:8)
Hypocrisy (1 Peter 2:1) - the practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one's own behavior does not conform; pretense
Drunkenness (1 Corinthians 6:10)
Stealing (Exodus 20:15, 1 Corinthians 6:10)
Sorcery (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Witchcraft (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Divination (Deuteronomy 18:10) - the practice of seeking knowledge of the future or the unknown by supernatural means.
Interpreting Omens (Deuteronomy 18:10)
Consulting the Dead (Deuteronomy 18:11)
Astrology (Deuteronomy 18:9-13, Isaiah 47:13-14)
Depravity (Romans 1:29) - moral corruption; wickedness.
Envy (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1)
Deceit (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1) - concealing or misrepresenting the truth in order to mislead someone
Murder (Romans 1:29)
Strife (Romans 1:29)
Malice (Romans 1:29, 1 Peter 2:1) - the intent or desire to do evil, ill will, toward another
Gossip (Romans 1:29)
Slander (Romans 1:30, 1 Peter 2:1)
Hating God (Romans 1:30)
Insolence (Romans 1:30) - rude or disrespectful behavior
Arrogance (Romans 1:30) - having or revealing an exaggerated sense of self importance or personal abilities
Boastfulness (Romans 1:30)
Inventing Evil (Romans 1:30)
Disobeying parents (Romans 1:30)
Disobeying the governing authorities (Romans 13:1-7)
Worrying (Luke 12:22-32)