The Bible makes it clear that we can and by all means should live holy lives. When faced with a debate such as this, I point out the following facts:
1. We likely, being limited by our own human judgement, will never understand pure and undefiled holiness and complete perfection, as God sees it. However, in any and all areas of known sin, those who are walking in the light of the gospel are not bound to carnality by any means, as Jesus came to set us free.
2. No period of time or space can separate a man from the reality of his past sins. Thus, even if he were to cease from sin entirely, he would not ever be perfect, as true perfection has never known, nor ever shall know sin.
3. All the holiness that we posess is a power recieved directly from God. The same blood that saved us sets us free; Should we walk out from under the umbrella of saving grace and purifying blood, we will nolonger have any power. This means that all the good we do is not us, but rather, the manifestation of God.
On a note of personal testimony, I avidly defend the doctrine of holiness. In all due light theretoward, however, it is important that one realize that holiness does not elevate anyone to the level of God. It merely empowers us to walk in all the light that we have.