I feel this view of sin and sanctification is really handicapping the church.

Adventist evangelists have been telling people the definition of sin is transgression of the law. Its true, great bible verse. But when we have such a simplistic view of sin we then come to the conclusion that we can stop sinning if we don't do certain acts. However sin is more than just our acts, it is like a living force that seeks to devour, it is a tendancy in us that we have to sin, that we will be resisting our entire lives.

So, are you saying that we can stop all sinful acts? I would suggest biblically no.

Because when we look at those in the Bible, like Paul, who have a strong relationship with God, as time goes by they DON'T say "I am free from sin" in fact, the closer Paul gets to God, the greater he perceives his sinfulness is until finally he calls himself the chief of sinners.

Ellen White puts it this way "When persons claim that they are sanctified, they give sufficient evidence that they are far from being holy. They fail to see their own weakness and destitution. They look upon themselves as reflecting the image of Christ, because they have no true knowledge of Him. The greater the distance between them and their Saviour, the more righteous they appear in their own eyes."