Sinful housework

[Aquila]

If temptation is "tempting" in any degree... you still have sin in you. Sin is more than an action contrary to the nature of God. Sin is part of the fallen nature. You will battle this fallen nature throughout your entire life. This battle will only cease when you've experienced glorification... being raised or transformed. The old nature will be changed and the new nature will not have the principle of sin functioning in it, because it will not be fallen. Until then, we will struggle with sin. Some days will be days of great victory. Some days will be days wherein your carnality will arise and yes... you will sin. However, confession and repentance are available to the child of God, just as it is available to all. The problem arises when a child of God refuses to confess and repent. They are not instantly lost. Instead God deals with them as children and brings chastisement and corrective judgments by allowing them to reap the consequences of their actions. Only after one refuses to receive God's correction can one be cut off.

Sanctification is the progression into "Christlikeness" and only ends in perfection upon glorification. Until then we strive against the flesh, striving to be filled with Christ and to emulate Him in our lives. Each of us do this to varying degrees... and therefore there will be varying degrees of reward in Heaven.

I fear that those who teach Christian perfectionism can lose sight of these realities. The result can bring a heaping sense of failure and condemnation to those who are currently in need of greater sanctification and are having a hard time struggling against the carnal nature.