The problem I have with progressive sanctification is the closer one gets to God, the more unholy they know themselves to be. 2 distinct operations happen to the believer, they are sanctified, meaning only set apart, in election. Sanctified in Christ 100%. Now here is the rub, some have taken this to mean that every action Christ had, every demeanor, every trait is imputed to them!!!! This is a terrible mistake. We do not receive His compassion, knowledge, miracles, forgiveness, etc etc etc. This is where scripture makes a distinction between sanctification and growing in grace, or becoming more holy. This is the fruit of the spirit, this is what we work out. This is where this side of the grave the rubber hits the road. I deny progressive sanctification as becoming more Holy as we get older or along in our journey. Growing in grace I beleive 100%. Growing in a repentant heart 100%, growing in prayer 100%, becoming more holy? I am not sure.

Sin should NEVER make our striving stop. But once we become aware of our progress, self righteousness sets in

I will end with a motto I have taken from Bishop Beveridge.;

'I cannot pray but I sin... My repentance needs to be repented of, and not only the worst of my sins but even the best of my duties, but even my most religious performances... I cannot hear or even preach a sermon but I sin. Nay, I cannot so much as confess my sins but my very confessions are still aggravations of them. My repentance needs to he repented of, my tears want washing, and the very washing of my tears needs still to be washed over again with the blood of my Redeemer. Thus not only the worst of my sins but even the best of my duties, speak me as a child of Adam.'

And MArtyr John Hopper:

'Lord, I am hell, but Thou art heaven; I am swill and a sink of sin, but Thou art a gracious God and a merciful Redeemer. Have mercy therefore upon me, most miserable and wretched offender, after Thy great mercy, and according to Thine inestimable goodness... well Thou knowest, Lord, wherefore I am come hither to suffer... not for my sins and transgressions committed against Thee, but because I will not allow the contaminating of Thy blood and the denial of the knowledge of Thy truth, wherewith it did please Thee by Thy Holy Spirit to instruct me; the which, with as much diligence as a poor wretch might, being thereto called, I have set forth Thy glory'.'

C. H. Spurgeon: 'There are some professing Christians who can speak of themselves in terms of admiration; but from my inmost heart I loathe such speeches more and more every day that I live. Those who talk in such a boastful fashion must be constituted very differently from me. While they all congratulating themselves I have to lie humbly at the foot of Christ's cross, and marvel that I am saved at all, for I know that I am saved. I have to wonder that I do not believe Christ more, and equally wonder that I am privileged to believe in Him at all - to wonder that I am not holier, and equally to wonder that I have any desire to be holy at all considering what a polluted, debased nature I still find within my soul, notwithstanding all that divine grace has done in me.'

There never was a sinner half as big as Christ is as a Savior.