Entire Sanctification Definition

Wesley had a vision of what the Christian life should be like, this vision he called ‘Christian perfection’, captivated his imagination, reordered his desires and directed his own spiritual quest for ‘whole-life discipleship’. It is my view that early Methodism really grew out of Wesley’s own pursuit of holiness in heart and life, as his spiritual vision came to be shared with others and as they gathered together to help one another seek it. This common vision and common life began in the ‘Holy Club’ at Oxford, and spread from there through the formation, multiplication and connection of societies across the nation. Wesley and his preachers considered Christian perfection to be ‘the grand depositum’ of Methodism, and the self-avowed end of the movement was ‘to spread scriptural holiness throughout the

In considering how the call to be a Christian lead to a transformed life imparts knowledge, understanding which give you discernment for the other two callings because it is all connected as a whole. Answering the first call of being born again is the biggest transformation of humanity. Being transformed is much more than changing behaviors or turning over a new leaf, it is all about renewing your mind to fulfill God's call and purpose in life. "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what the will of God is, what is good and acceptable and perfect" (Romans 12:2 (English Standard Version). When I received Christ into my life, my heart (spirit) became one with God, actually transpired; therefore, was a real spiritual transformation from spiritual death to life. Our life becomes one with God. "But he who is joined to the Lord becomes one spirit with him" 1 Corinthians 6:17 (English Standard Version). That is why the scriptures are so essential for our life; because it is the Word of God. Christians are born of the Word of God which give everlasting life, which is by the Spirit

Wesley believed that sanctification was a process that could be received as an instantaneous experience after conversion, or later on in life. No matter when sanctification was achieved, the moment someone received sanctification was the “climax” of their Christian life. He believed that the “second blessing purified the believer from his inward sin and enabled him to secure perfect love of God and of his fellowmen.” Followers of Wesley had trouble balancing the “crisis and process views” of Wesley, and the crisis view began to take “precedence over the process view.” Soon, sanctification was no longer viewed as the goal of a Christian life, but the beginning of a Christian life.

When Wesley talked about development in holiness, and the fundamental goal of being entire sanctification, he was fixed that sanctification and justification is by faith. In his preaching, “The Scripture Way of Salvation”, Wesley expounded the faith by which Christians are perfected is because God is able, he promised in Scripture, he is willing, and he really does it 1) God has foretold this in Scripture. 2) What God promises, God is able to do. 3) God is capable and willing to manage it right away. 4) God actually answers this. Wesley concluded the sermon by exhorting his audience “expect it by faith, expect it as you are, and expect it now!”

Another way to think about this is how Wesley wrote in his sermon The Scripture Way of Salvation. On our journey to sanctification, he states, what keeps us going on the journey are the means of grace, whether they be for ourselves or done for others. His basic point was that once we are brought into awareness of the grace and our need to repent and turn from our sin, the means provide the nourishment our souls need to grow in grace. How else could one grow in grace than by means of grace?

Sin-management theology leads us to believe that we must earn God’s love and grace through our works and actions, which contradicts the whole purpose of Jesus coming to the earth. Those living under the law showed that man could never earn God’s love and grace through works because of man’s fallen nature. Therefore, it causes humanity to live in a broken state that results in hiding and disregards the righteousness given to us by God.

It is the Grace of salvation that must be maintained throughout a person’s life and is given to us when our spirit is weakening. Dying with Sanctifying Grace is what allows you to enter heaven or purgatory if you have sins that need to be cleansed. Merton experienced God’s Sanctifying Grace at Columbia University when he was reading a book about a man’s conversion to Catholicism when he suddenly had the desire that he should also follow that path and join the Church. Merton said “Our nature, which is a free gift of God, was given to us to be perfected and enhanced by another free gift.” (Merton 185) This free gift is Sanctifying Grace. He was given Sanctifying Grace and embraced it which pulled him closer to God through his conversion experience. This Grace was what gave him the strength to search for God and it was at Columbia University that he first discovered Catholicism in a real sense. His life was starting to feel like it had purpose

In Andrew Murray’s With Christ in the School of Prayer, it is proposed from the words of John (1 John 2:12-14) that, “In the Christian life there are three great stages of experience: the first is that of the new-born child filled with the assurance and the joy of forgiveness, the second is that of transition, of struggle and growth in knowledge and strength, and is comparable to young men growing strong, and the final stage of maturity and ripeness is that of the Fathers, who have entered deeply into the knowledge and fellowship of the Eternal One.” These stages suggest progression and development over a period of time in the life of a Christian. To better understand the manner in which development occurs in the Christian life it is necessary to address the subject of progressive sanctification. I will expound upon this subject through an explanation of the meaning of progressive sanctification, how it is manifested in the local church, what the Bible says about moving from spiritual infancy to maturity, and the role of discipleship in the process.

The most important thing is that it is still salvation even though children get saved first then acknowledge the fact that they are sinner later. Because of that it is important for teachers to help students to abide in the church.

Sin is not only the rejection of one’s relationship with god, but a rejection of one’s relationship to other human beings as well. The aforementioned good moral life is not an individual goal that is separate from God or other human beings, it is a collective goal that forms a community that this sin destroys. The severing nature of sin stems directly from the story of Adam and Eve: their betrayal of God through manifests itself in original sin and relationship-severing consequences, there is a division between humans, in which the woman is directed to be ruled by the husband, and a division between man and God, in which the people are banished from the garden of Eden and its many blessings. However, sin is only a rupture, not a complete dissolution, of one’s relationship with God and thus, it is mendable and redeemable. Jenson states that what reunites us with God is not any of our particular works or actions, rather what unites us with God is “our trust in what happens in Christ. It is precisely this faith and only this faith, this trust, that touches our lives to the divine drama” (Jenson

Although we as man know the course concepts of temptation and how we can fall the ownership of many ideas are taken into consideration for better understanding which each implication can be summarize by using the introduction topic fall of man and temptation. We tend to forget that happiness doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have The disobedience of Adam and Eve and their consequent loss of God's grace and the peace and happiness of the Garden of Eden. When they ate the forbidden fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil, God punished them by drivingthem out of the garden and into the world,where they would be subject to sickness, pain,and eventual death.

For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.” 2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” There are four steps that are involved in the stage of declaration. Curious, convicted, convinced, and converted are the steps that have to take place according to Dempsey and Earley. When God begins to deal with a person’s heart, Jesus will be a curiosity to them. This is where they might visit a church or Bible study group. Then as they become more curious, God’s convicting power starts to stir their hearts and convict him or her of the sin in their life. It is at this point that one of two things will happen. The person will either ignore God’s call and the conviction of their hearts, or they will be convinced God is real and alive and that He wants to forgive them. Once the sinner is convinced, it should not be much longer before they take the final step of conversion. Conversion is where the person surrenders to the drawing and calling of the Holy Spirit and asks for forgiveness of their sins. Once repentance and conversion take place, the first stage of discipleship is completed.

The Book of Discipline tells us that scripture holds “all things necessary to salvation” (“Articles of Religion – Article V” ¶104), and it relates our belief that “the Holy Bible, Old and New Testaments, reveals the Word of God so far as it is necessary for salvation” (“Confession of Faith – Article IV” ¶104). Our first source for our doctrinal beliefs and practices is the Bible. Randy Maddox contends that John Wesley “ultimately

Although the sacraments of baptism and Eucharist are “visible, tangible, tasteable” spiritual sensations, humans cannot rely on these for absolute or undeniable salvation. It is the nature of sin that it is bound to all humans regardless of the stage within Wesley’s ordo salutis. Humans are forever free to offend God’s law and break the loving bond to their neighbor. Sin holds to an unconscious effect on the saying and works of every individual and how can one be sanctified if they do not appreciate this nature of sin. Well, Wesley had a response to those who claimed righteousness yet practiced it sporadically. As a simile, he submitted a drunkard who believed his soul to be saved since his drunkenness was not continuous. Admitting that sin had this effect was the large hurdle in Wesley’s theology for individuals of his day and I would expect even

The elemental significance for the need for mankind to be converted back from a sinful nature is found in the Scriptures which teaches that all men are lost in sin and are in need of salvation. “If our Gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost" (2 Corinthians 4:3. Holy Bible: KJV). Therefore, if any man does not choose salvation after it has been offered to him, he will remain lost and unsaved, because “For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost" (Luke 19:10. Holy Bible: NIV). “Salvation in its theological sense denotes, negatively, deliverance from sin, death, and divine wrath and, positively, the bestowal of far-ranging spiritual blessings both temporal and eternal.” (Demarest and Feinberg)