In the continuing controversy in the Seventh-day Adventist Church over character perfection, the argument is often heard that those who believe such perfection can be achieved through heaven’s power during the Christian’s earthly life, base their position primarily if not exclusively on the writings of Ellen White rather than the Bible.
Few urban legends in modern and contemporary Adventism have been more erroneous and spiritually ruinous than this one. The fact is that Ellen White’s teaching in favor of character perfection in this life, particularly with reference to the final generation of believers, is based on substantial support from both Old and New Testaments.
We will review a portion of this evidence in the article to follow, without any commentary from the writings of Ellen White. This is not to imply any weakening of our position at this ministry so far as the doctrinally authoritative role of the Ellen G. White writings in the Seventh-day Adventist Church is concerned. Our purpose, rather, is to recognize the solid Biblical ground to which Ellen White’s affirmation of sinless obedience (character perfection) in the lives of earthly Christians traces its roots.
The Word “Perfect” in Scripture
Debate has flourished for decades in modern Adventism as to whether the word “perfect” in either the Old or New Testament refers to the total expulsion of sin from the believer’s life, or as one modern Adventist author has claimed instead, to “a relative state of growing maturity” [1]. Jesus’ statement in Matthew 5:48—“Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect”—has often drawn the most attention so far as these dueling definitions is concerned.
But let’s stop and think about that. Jesus is saying in this verse, “Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” We need to ask, Is God the Father absolutely sinless, or is He experiencing a “relative state of growing maturity”? There is no way this verse makes sense if it is understood as referring to relative maturity. Or even to love, as some have alleged.
Can any created being be as spiritually mature as God the Father? Or as loving? Can even the sinless angels do that? None of them have made, or could have made, the infinite sacrifice for human sin and salvation that the Godhead has made. For this reason, no created being could be as absolutely perfect as our heavenly Father. But it would not be correct to say that no created being can be as sinless as God the Father—provided we understand sin to be a choice—as indeed the entire citizenship of the universe (aside from this rebel planet) is in fact as sinless as the God they worship.
In light of the above, sinless obedience is the only sensible explanation for the perfection enjoined in Matthew 5:48. No created being, however sinless, can match the God of heaven in love or maturity. But they can in fact be as free from sin as He is.
Some have alleged that the word “perfect” in Matthew 5:48 is merely a synonym for “merciful,” since the verse that parallels this one in Luke’s version of the Sermon on the Mount reads, “Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful” (Luke 6:36). But as with other variations in the Gospel accounts, it is important to place these statements alongside one another, and accept their collective testimony. To be merciful is certainly one very crucial aspect of Biblical perfection. But it doesn’t tell the whole story. If we consider the totality of Biblical evidence, we are constrained to acknowledge that Matthew 5:48 inculcates a far more comprehensive vision for the characters of converted Christians than simply the exercise of God’s mercy.
It is true there are times in Scripture when the word translated "perfect" does not refer to sinless obedience, though at other times—as in the following verses—it clearly does:
There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job, and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. . . .
And the Lord said unto Satan, Hast thou considered My servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?” (Job 1:1,8).
This equating of Job’s perfection with sinless obedience is demonstrated further in passages to come, in which—despite the trials brought upon him—it is declared that Job “sinned not” (Job 1:22; 2:10).
Regarding Lucifer, the book of Ezekiel declares:
Thou wast perfect in thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee (Eze. 28:15).
Perhaps the strongest verse in the New Testament on this subject comes from the writings of the apostle Paul:
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Cor. 7:1).
The Bible on Sinless Obedience
A major flaw in the arguments of certain Adventists against character perfection in this life is the disproportionate focus they often place on the meaning of the single word “perfect” as used in the Bible. But one word does not a doctrine make—or unmake. Numerous passages which don’t use the word “perfect” nevertheless underscore the imperative of the believer ceasing to sin through heaven’s power here on earth. Such verses as the following, from both Testaments, are some of the clearest on this point:
Stand in awe, and sin not; commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still (Psalm 4:4).
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it (Psalm 34:13-14).
Depart from evil, and do good; and dwell forevermore (Psalm 37:27).
Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep His testimonies, and that seek Him with the whole heart. They also do no iniquity; they walk in His ways. . . .
Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against Thee (Psalm 119:1-3,11)
Neither do I condemn thee; go, and sin no more (John 8:11).
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for ye are not under the law, but under grace (Rom. 6:14).
For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh.
That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Rom. 8:3-4).
Awake to righteousness, and sin not (I Cor. 15:34).
Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God (II Cor. 7:1).
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds. Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ (II Cor. 10:4-5).
Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church, and gave Himself for it. That He might sanctify and cleanse it through the washing of water by the Word. That He might present it to Himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that it should be holy and without blemish (Eph. 5:25-27; see also Song of Sol. 4:7).
I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me (Phil. 4:13).
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are His. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity (II Tim. 2:19).
For even hereunto were ye called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that we should follow in His steps. Who did no sin, neither was guile found in His mouth (I Peter 2:21-22).
Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind: for he that hath suffered in the flesh hath ceased from sin (I Peter 4:1).
But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. . . . If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness (I John 1:7,9).
Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory, with exceeding joy (Jude 24).
When we consider the above passages, we confront the remarkable reality that regardless of how controversial this issue may be in certain circles of contemporary Adventism, there are in fact more Bible verses which speak of the possibility of sinless living through God’s power here on earth than verses which uphold the binding claims of the seventh-day Sabbath!
Moreover, when we look at the above verses, it becomes clear—as we noted earlier—that the attempt of certain ones to muddy the meaning of the word “perfect” doesn’t come close to impeaching the decisive Biblical evidence for the possibility of sinless living through God’s power by the earthly believer.
The Bible and the Last Generation of Christians
Both the Old and New Testaments place a special emphasis on the total conquest of sin so far as the last generation of believers are concerned. The Old Testament prophet Zephaniah declared, regarding God’s end-time remnant:
The remnant of Israel shall not do iniquity, nor speak lies, neither shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth: for they shall feed and lie down, and none shall make them afraid (Zeph. 3:13; see Rev. 12:17).
Throughout the New Testament epistles this theme is repeated and enlarged, as in the following passages:
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Thess. 5:23).
But thou, O man of God, flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
I give thee charge in the sight of God, who quickeneth all things, and before Christ Jesus, who before Pontius Pilate witnessed a good confession:
That thou keep this commandment without spot, unrebukeable, until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ (I Tim. 6:11-14).
Seeing then that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness,
Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of God, wherein the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat? . . .
Wherefore, beloved, seeing that ye look for such things, be diligent that ye may be found of Him in peace, without spot, and blameless (II Peter 3:11-12,14).
The phrase “without spot,” used in two of the above passages, is especially noteworthy, as this phrase is used elsewhere in the New Testament to describe the sinless character of Jesus (I Peter 1:19). Without question, according to these verses, God is summoning His people to duplicate in their practical, mortal lives the sinless obedience found in the life of our Lord.
God, of course, has always wished for His people to be pure, obedient, and fully victorious over sin. The last generation of earth’s history is not the first to be summoned by God’s grace to this experience. It is, however, the first generation to actually live this experience, through the grace and power of the Lord Jesus Christ. All promises to the seven churches of Revelation are given to the overcomers (Rev. 2:7,11,17,26; 3:5, 12,21). But only to the church of Laodicea, the last of these, is the promised victory compared to that of Jesus:
To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with Me in My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father in His throne (Rev. 3:21).
Elsewhere the apostle John speaks of this Spirit-empowered attainment in the lives of those who will meet Christ when He comes:
Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be; but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
And every man that hath this hope in Him purifieth himself, even as He is pure (I John 3:2-3).
Echoing the words we found in Zephaniah 3:13, the book of Revelation declares of those translated without seeing death at Jesus’ coming:
And in their mouth was found no guile, for they are without fault before the throne of God (Rev. 14:5).
Conclusion
It should be clear from the above verses that the basis for the Christian’s glorious hope of a sin-free life here on earth through imparted divine strength, was not invented either by Ellen White or some pharisaic clique of conservative Adventists supposedly twisting Ellen White’s counsel in order to produce this doctrine. Rather, this glorious hope is grounded in the collective, unambiguous testimony of Holy Scripture, in both the Old and New Testaments.
REFERENCES
1. Martin Weber, More Adventist Hot Potatoes (Boise, ID: Pacific Press Publishing Assn, 1992), p. 54.
Pastor Kevin Paulson holds a Bachelor’s degree in theology from Pacific Union College, a Master of Arts in systematic theology from Loma Linda University, and a Master of Divinity from the SDA Theological Seminary at Andrews University. He served the Greater New York Conference of Seventh-day Adventists for ten years as a Bible instructor, evangelist, and local pastor. He writes regularly for Liberty magazine and does script writing for various evangelistic ministries within the denomination. He continues to hold evangelistic and revival meetings throughout the North American Division and beyond, and is a sought-after seminar speaker relative to current issues in the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He presently resides in Berrien Springs, Michigan