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John Wesley views on justification and sanctification
Beliefs of john wesley
Life and ministry of John Wesley
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As one digs deep into writings of John Wesley, they can quickly see his strides to social justice, evangelism, and personal holiness. If there was one portion of his theology that many wrestled with when it came to John Wesley, it was more than likely his thoughts and ideas on Christian Perfection. Many were afraid to write about being perfect once finding Christ, however John Wesley believed there was no difference between holiness and Christian Perfection. In his writing on Christian Perfection, Wesley pleads his case for those who have found Christ to be found as perfect and no longer sinful. One of the key scriptures that John Wesley references in his sermon on Christian Perfection comes from 1 John 3:3. The scripture reads, “And everyone …show more content…
I am a Methodist thru and thru, however this idea of Christian Perfection seems so far off from being attainable. I know for me as a Christian today, I still sin; does this mean I am not truly saved?
When I was in college I went through a season of my life where I truly wrestled with my faith and the ability to be sin free. I was reading through the book of 1 John, the book that Wesley references in his sermon on Christian Perfection. During this time of studying the scriptures I felt this strong sense of, “Was I really a Christian if I was still sinning?” There was a short time that I believed that I was not, so I thought I needed to pray and ask Jesus to save me. It was a real faith crisis, one that truly shook what I believed.
So here I am over ten years later facing the same question, am I a Christian even though I am still sinning ten years later? I would say yes, however according to Wesley once we are saved we are sin free on the outside and in. I wonder if anyone has ever gotten to this place? Now, I will say that I have come along way in ten years in regards to sins, and being more sanctified, however to become perfect? I am not sure that this is possible. I mean, when I think perfection, I think Christ, and yes I am called to be an imitator of Christ however can perfection be
When a person is saved from hell to heaven by the grace of God and the death of Jesus Christ he becomes a new creature. The things he used to be must be left behind and he must strive to become Christ-like (2 Corinthians 5:17). Jesus Christ was the only blameless, sinless, perfect human being to ever walk the face of the earth. There is no possible way for anybody to achieve such perfection. The only way one is able to ever come close is to put away all things of this world, and live only for Christ. You must walk for Christ, talk about Christ, live for Christ. In doing so you will come up against persecution and hardship from outside forces, however one must endure. You must suffer as Christ has suffered. You are after all the reason for Christ’s suffering. Had he not willingly gone to the cross, there would be no salvation. There would be no eternal life. God cannot look upon us unless we are covered in the blood of Christ.
John Wesley read Isaac Watts at Oxford and was familiar with his writings and theology Further, there can be no doubt that Wesley greatly respected Watts as a theologian. In a 1765 journal entry Wesley wrote of his positive relationship with the Dissenters, although, "... many of them did, however, differ from me both in opinions and modes of worship. I have the privilege to mention Dr. Doddridge, Dr. Watts, and Mr. Wardrobe." (1) Wesley thought so highly of some of Watts' theology that he included forty-four pages of Watts' text on original sin, The Ruin and Recovery of Human Nature, in his own volume titled, On Original Sin. (2) That Watts and John Wesley had a relationship of mutual respect, and that Wesley recognized Watts' preeminent reputation
In the eyes of God, we are all sinners. July 8, 1741, John Edwards preached to his congregation that no matter what we do, God would send us to hell unless we spill our blood on the cross. Edwards’s sermon was one of the most pivotal, volatile, and stirring sermons that set the standard for hellfire and brimstone sermons. Edwards’s describes all of us as sinners and how our lives lay perilously in god’s angry hands. To this day, we still have pastors preaching hellfire and brimstone sermons. While 272 years separate John Edwards from modern day pastors, we can still see the ever-lasting correlation that is derived from John Edwards in modern day pastors.
Faith is the way an individual responds to the grace of God. Faith is only possible through God and cannot be obtained without God. “Faith is the appropriate way, in which humans respond to the provenience, justifying, and sanctifying grace of God. Human being can and must be collaborators with God in the great work of redemption”(p. 78, Campbell and Burns). Wesley believe that sanctification is by faith and that faith is only possible through the grace of God towards us.
Just as one learn their true self through the eight-fold path so does other regions such as Christianity. Paul speak on a living a new life that is perfect according to
I was intrigued by John Wesley’s family background. Of how, “John Wesley began life as a happy by-product of a family dispute” (p. 3, Abraham) of praying for King William III. I find it hard to consider that the leader of the Methodist movement was the result of conflict resolution. John was the fifteenth child of a family of nineteen children. His parents, “Susanna and Samuel Wesley was both Dissenter, those who rejected the vision of Christianity developed by the Anglican Church after the Reformation” (p. 4, Abraham). John grandfather, Susanna’s father, was a “distinguished Dissenting Preacher” (p. 4, Abraham). His family tree was rich with ancestors who did not go along with the establishment if it did not match with spiritual truths.
Wesley thought there was "nothing of greater consequence" than the doctrine of atonement. Without belief in the atonement, religion becomes merely deism, Wesley feared
Butler, Joseph. 7Five Sermons, Preached at the Rolls Chapel and A Dissertation upon the Nature of Virtue. Ed. Stephen L. Darwall. Indianapolis, IN: 6Hackett Pub., 1983. Print.
“People are good or half good or a quarter good, and it changes all the time- but even on the best day nobody's perfect.” (Quote from Let the Great World Spin). This quote spoke to me because I struggle with perfectionism. Although I realize no one is perfect and perfection is really a myth, I still strive for it for some strange reason. I have never been one to compare myself to others. I try to be the best I can be. I see my biggest competitor when I look in the mirror. I have learned that even the word perfect in the Bible does not mean what we think it means. God would not say “Be perfect, therefore as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 6:48) if it was something we are unable to do. He equips us and strengthens us to do everything He has called us to do every day. The Biblical sense of the word perfection for us as individuals means entirely complete, being full, and sufficient, from the Greek word teleioo. I used to want to lose weight. Now, I want to be at a healthy weight. I used to want to be healthy. Now, I want to be whole. Healthy means the absence of sickness or disease. Whole, on the other hand, is so much more. It is completeness, in spirit, soul, and body. I think I will always struggle with perfectionism, but giving myself grace is something I am learning as God gave grace to me, I will also give it to myself and others.
When people give their lives to Christ Jesus their hearts are changed and their soul becomes alive with the Holy Spirit. Once a life is saved, is life relaxed and easy for it is saved from the pit of hell? Of course not, Christians are faced with temptations from Satan and his demons. Temptations are brought upon us for us to make the choice of whether or not to fall into temptation or not.
His power and righteousness claim victory over our every flaw and imperfection. The Gospel God gave us doesn’t ask us to be perfect, but asks us to live as His children. It calls us to identify with the victory of Jesus Christ rather than the defeat of our sins. Though He recognizes our sinfulness, our Heavenly Father does not bind us to it. By the cross and the empty grave, He gives us a new identity found in Him.
No one on this planet is perfect; in fact, the only people who are considered perfect are new born babies. Everyone is born sinless but as they grow up and start to learn right from wrong that is no longer the situation. God let us live in free will so that we will not b...
I believe in the three types of grace that John Wesley believed in and preached on. These three types of grace given by God are Prevenient, Justifying, Sanctifying Grace. God’s grace is free and open to anyone. The first type of grace, prevenient, “it is an elemental form of grace found in everyone.” It is the spark that exists within us that opens humans up to the concept of God. Humans don’t ask for Prevenient Grace, it just exists. “That is the significance of Prevenient Grace. God seeks us before we ever seek
What does it mean to be saved? To be saved is the conscious acceptance of Christ as the propitiation for your sins. Because Jesus, who was holy and without sin took the punishment of death for our sins, we can ask him to take away and forgive our sins. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins” (KJV, 1 John 1:9). Jesus died for everyone’s sins; however, not everyone chooses to accept His gift of “eternal life” (KJV, John 3:16). I have accepted this amazing and gracious gift.
Rainey, David. "The Established Church and Evangelical Theology: John Wesley's Ecclesiology." International Journal of Systematic Theology 12, no. 4 (2010): 420-434.