Wesley: Way Out in Front
Of the greatness of John Wesley there can be no question. He was described by Gladstone as “that extraordinary man whose life and acts have taken their place in the religious history, not only of England, but of Christendom.” His universality of influence and range of achievement in matters of faith and conduct outstripped the leading politicians, philosophers and divines of his age.
Born and Born Again
John Wesley was born on 17th June 1703 at Epworth rectory in Lincolnshire. By descent on both sides he came from tough Nonconformist stock, Samuel his father was saturated with High Church Toryism. Susanna his mother was high in will power and intelligence, and low in humour, she carried method into everything, religion included.
On the 24th May 1738 John Wesley attended a meeting of the Anglican society in Aldersgate Street, London. He was seeking for assurance of faith in his life and listening for some message of help in his dilemma. It was in that meeting he heard a member of the society read Luther’s Preface to the Epistle to the Romans. His search was over.
Wesley writes “About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God had worked in his heart, through faith in Jesus Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ alone for my salvation and that He had taken away my sins.” That day marked an epoch in English history and gave Wesley a place in world history
Distinctive Doctrine
"The distinctive doctrine of Wesleyism is entire sanctification which is essentially defined as an instantaneous cleansing from Adamic sin, and empowerment, which Christian believers may receive by faith through the Baptism with the Holy Spirit.”
Paul the Jewish apostle refers to this experience when he said to all the believers at Thessalonica, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it” (1Thessalonians 5: 23, 24.)
This Biblical truth is John Wesley’s most distinctive doctrine in the Christian faith. He treated the subject in many sermons, often discussed it in letters and spent many hours putting together his teachings on entire sanctification in his book, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection. It was the chief preoccupation of Wesley’s mind from 1725 till he died in 1791. He regarded it as the “grand depositum” which God had committed to him and his followers.
Controversy and Contempt
It involved him in more controversy and odium than anything else he taught. Students of modern ‘holiness movements’ trace them all back to Wesley. One is aware in these days that the doctrine of sanctification and holiness remains highly controversial. If the five-foot-five. deep blued eyed Oxford don with the warmed heart and austere but winsome way had difficulties in his age, so will we in this age with today’s lukewarm religious climate. It is so sad that many admirers of Wesley look on this aspect of his teaching as an aberration in an otherwise sober mind. I remember well in a Ministers' meeting in Leeds, the local Methodist minister was amazed that there were still Christian ministers of God’s Word who believed and taught Wesley’s distinctive doctrine, he thought “all that
nonsense had been put away and done away with years ago”. He was utterly wrong with his assumptions!
Certainly opposition to biblical holiness continues unabated with many nominal believers agreeing with Dr Gunther Dehn, the eminent Lutheran theologian who whilst lecturing in Oxford in 1935 referred to it as a dangerous error, holding that “Christian Perfection largely consists in recognising that a man cannot be perfect.”
Troublesome Terms
Many people holding such views are sincere in these matters and what they teach. They find great difficulties in the names and terms used with the doctrine. The use of general terms like ‘Sanctification’ or ‘Entire Sanctification’, ‘Christian Perfection’, ‘Holiness’, or ‘Perfect Love’, ‘Baptism of the Holy Spirit’, ‘Full Salvation’, cause some to lose patience and become dismissive of the doctrine. In a real sense the whole area becomes provocative and hurtful. The word ‘perfect’ is a provocative word, as is ‘law’, or ‘nature’ or ‘flesh’. Definitions and terms such as ‘Christian Perfection’ invite challenge, and often gets it. Wherever the doctrine is taught, the critics abound, - so it was and so it is.
Definitions and Distinctions
John Wesley felt the need to make distinctions and put limits on his illimitable terms, he taught the significant difference between ‘blameless’ and
'faultless', ‘purity' and 'maturity', the perfection of the stage and the perfection of the end. He did this in an open and honest way, teaching that in an instant, and by a simple act of faith, perfection was ‘wrought in the soul’. It was, indeed the second of two distinct stages of the Christian experience of Salvation as he understood it, the first consisted of justification and sanctification; the former being a change in our relations with God, our pardon and reconciliation; the later a change in us wrought by the Spirit of God. In the first instant, a new heart is given to us, so that we now love God and desire to please him, and not willingly sin against Him in anything or anyway. The second part or the following process of Christian experience of
salvation is entire sanctification, which comes as an immediate Gift of God entirely cleansing the heart from sin and ‘slaying the dire root and seed of it.’
Fantastic Fanatic
John Wesley was often accused of being a religious oddity and fanatic when he spoke of plain sound scriptural experience, however Wesley believed that this perfection was clearly taught in the Bible and his well known quote was “If I am a fanatic I have become one by reading the Bible.” He insisted that nothing genuinely from God could be contrary to the Scripture. Knowledge of God and spiritual matters come to a believer by revelation through the Holy Spirit who is the real source of all divine truth. Wesley’s innermost thoughts were eloquently expressed in 1747 in the famous and oft quoted preface to his
‘Sermons’ ... “I am a spirit come from God, and returning to God, -I want to know one thing, the way to heaven, - God Himself has condescended to teach me the way, -He hath written it down in a book! – Here is knowledge enough for me, - I read this book; for this end, to find the way to heaven. Is there a doubt concerning what I read? –I then search after and consider parallel passages of Scripture, -I meditate thereon, with all my attention and earnestness of which my mind is capable. If any doubt remains, I consult those who are experienced in the things of God, - and what I thus learn, that I teach.”
I personally find these words very moving and touching, in their pure form show the greatness of the man from Epworth. John Wesley has no doubts about the truth of God’s Word, he was reading, only to his interpretation of it. Reason is the handmaiden of revelation. He did not teach his own pet theories or opinions, but faithfully taught the Bible, God’s revelation. Brilliant as he was, his interests were more practical than academic. Two spheres only existed, the human and the divine.
Only God can bridge this gap, by the gift of faith, which is God’s spiritual revelation of Christ to us, not granted to all men so much as given to those who respond to the
phenomenal evidences of God’s handiwork in the whole of nature. His theory of knowledge was in fact Pauline, “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned” (I Corinthians 2:14.)
Wesley was deeply aware that the people to whom he was preaching needed knowledge concerning the
holiness of God, he had no problem with Scripture texts in this matter, one place in the Bible was as good as another for a proof text, and he was undisturbed by any doubts that the discourses in the
fourth Gospel for example, were the actual words of Jesus.
Knowledge through Scripture
Great numbers of people had no idea that God expects His people to be Holy. Wesley gave them knowledge through Scripture his method was simple and kind it was also effective. Ministers of the Word of God today have much to learn for our own generation. The ideas of some professing Christians today, if they have any of
holiness are almost grotesque in their falsity. There can only be a serious seeking after God’s fullness when the person has come to know that personal
holiness is absolutely necessary, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord” (Hebrews 12:14).
“In the times of Wesley great numbers of people expected to be sanctified at death and strenuously rejected the teaching that it is to be sought here and now”. One is conscious that today we face that same attitude.
Pigmies Attacking Giants
It would appear that the doctrine of Entire Sanctification will meet opposition in the world and in some of the churches. Research for this study quickly revealed the hatred and bitterness unleashed against Wesley and his fellow believers – The correspondence with Dr. Dodd, the forger! The Fleetwood’s Tract which seeks to refute Wesley on Biblical grounds! The malicious invective of Roland Hill who condemned a sermon of Wesley with the following statement “a few bungling scraps of the religion of nature, namely love to God and love to man, which a heathen might have preached – Erase half a dozen lines, and I defy anyone to discover whether the lying apostle of the
Foundry be a Jew, a Papist, a Pagan or a Turk – His sole perfection consists in perfect hatred of all goodness and all good men.” Mr Hill is a down hill men all the way to oblivion.
Wesley Was Willing to Listen
It was after a debate with Bishop Gibson, who advised Wesley to “Let the world know what you mean by
Perfection,” that he prepared his famous sermon ‘Christian Perfection’. The text was “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12) It was his first official argument for Christian Perfection, so following four years of discovery concerning the doctrine; he now enters into a period of eighteen years of defining the truth. This would be followed by thirty one years of delivering and defending the Scriptural position of Christian Perfection.
Sermon No. 35 is divided into two major headings:
1. In What Sense Christians Are Not; And
2. In What Sense They Are, Prefect.
In this wonderful message Wesley defined, as, negatively, not exemption from ignorance, mistakes, infirmities, or temptations. Positively it means a Christian is so far perfect as not to commit sin. Wesley uses only Scriptural terms in this message rather than theological terms. I have counted forty Bible references in the sermon and noted that nowhere does Wesley teach ‘Sinless Perfection’.
Love Leads the Way
“The essential characteristic of Christian Perfection is love. The heart must be undivided in its affection to
God. There can be no divided allegiance, no half heartedness, but the soul must be wholly yielded to God. All service is prompted by singleness of desire to please God and though through human frailty it may come short of absolute perfection, it nevertheless is acceptable to God, because of the purity of intention, it springs from a heart of pure love.” “John Wesley expressed this perfect love in a number of ways. For him it was a will steadily and
uniformly devoted to God. The perfect feeling “nothing but love” – they feel no temper contrary to pure love. He said that outward works are consecrated to God “by a pure and holy intention” So this perfection is simplicity of intention and purity of affection. It is a habitual disposition of the soul and pure intention of the heart, a steadfast regard to His Glory in all your actions” Such a love as this can be known. Surely one can know when he loves God perfectly and has no ill will towards his neighbour. This quality of love can grow. Purity of perfection of love frees love from the hindrances to growth. This love in the heart is of the same quality as God’s love, though in quantity it may be small”
Wesley’s Definition of Sin
To understand and appreciate the doctrine of Christian Perfection it is necessary to have a proper definition of sin. The attempt to define sin is not a theological gamesmanship or semantic hair-splitting, but is necessary for honest and true Christian living.
Wesley’s definition of sin is Biblical.
It remains the basic one in the contemporary Holiness movement. It is a clear and concise definition of sin from which he never varied; “Nothing is sin, strictly speaking but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin and nothing else if we speak properly”
Law of Love
The term “Law of Love” is most important and avoided making his concept of sin completely external, moral, or legal, as it is often claimed by carping critics. The Ethical Wesleyan definition is seen in (John 5:14, Romans 6:15, 1 Corinthians 15:34, Hebrews 10:26, and the classical Holiness Scriptural passage in 1 John 3:8-9). The doctrine of Holiness, as taught by Wesley includes the work of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. But it is partial, an incomplete yet ongoing work. For although we are renewed, cleansed, purified, sanctified,, the very moment we truly believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, yet we are not then renewed, cleansed, purified altogether; but the flesh, the evil nature, though subdued, remain and wars against the Spirit. Daniel Steele points out that while the Holy Spirit in the new birth touches the whole nature, the thoughts, the feelings and the will, so that the person is a new creature, his renewal must go on to maturity on to completeness in every part.
Babies Grow to Adults
The new birth, called regeneration or initial sanctification is a transforming, renewing experience that is revolutionary and glorious (and nothing should minimise the experience of being ‘Born Again’) in reality that is what regeneration means, indicates – a new birth, a new beginning, a new creature, a new outlook, a new loyalty. But the new baby in Christ will need to grow in grace and in knowledge going on to maturity. The soul freed from the carnal opposites of spirituality in growing as the sons of God. Thus the necessity of entire sanctification which is the result of the continuing work of the Holy Spirit.
Mixing and Merging Biblical Elements
There are four elements in Wesley’s teaching of sanctification:
1. Entire sanctification is a further change in the life of the believer in a continuing experience.
2. Heart purity, or cleansing, is the essential aspect of sanctification.
3. Very important – the only perfection in this life is the perfection of love.
4. Continual growth in grace must be the trademark of the believer.
“The distinguishing mark of Wesleyan theology is the belief that God’s grace is fully sufficient to break the power of sin over the individual believer in every day experience.”
Weight of Wesley’s Wisdom
As a mighty preacher, Wesley was content to declare the doctrine of holiness, from Scripture and as confirmed by Christian experience, without entering into a theological debate about the precise formulation of its contents. As a result he left a number of ends untied, for it is quite impossible to reduce his teaching to a neat concise consistent scheme. Sometimes he placed the weight on this aspect, sometimes on that. Always what was said about the instantaneous work has to be seen in the context of the gradual and what he said about the gradual has to be seen in relation to the instantaneous. Moreover, the instantaneous must not be confused with the static, as if some high experience of the moment could control the future. In this sense, as Wesley understood it, sanctification differs from salvation.
Go On – Going On
The crisis of entire sanctification can never be isolated from the process of spiritual development, which precedes and follows it. Always Wesley’s constant exhortation was to press towards the mark and to reach for the prize. “Yea and when you have reached a measure of perfect love, when God has circumcised your hearts, and enabled you to love Him with all your heart and with all your soul, think not of resting there. That is impossible. You cannot stand still; you must either raise or fall; raising higher or fall lower. Therefore the voice of God to the children of Israel, to the children of God, is ‘Go forward!’ Forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward to those that are before, press on to the mark for the prize of your high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Measure of the Man
John Wesley was a great man with a great message. His preaching was always based on Scripture. His measure of influence beyond calculation in human terms. His teachings on the transforming truth of Perfect Love fill me with admiration and appreciation. This is as true today as when I wrote this paper for my Pastoral Theology examination at the Manchester Theological College some years ago. Please consider it prayerfully, and preach it positively and passionately for we have an opportunity and a priceless heritage to follow the example of a ‘A man sent from God whose name was John’
See Pen Portrait - John Wesley