Christian perfection

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Christian Perfection is a Christian doctrine which maintains that after conversion, but before death, a Christian's soul may be cleansed from the stain of original sin. Perfection may also be called entire sanctification. It is chiefly associated with the followers of John Wesley, founder of Methodism, from Wesley's understanding of sanctifying grace. Perfection can either define the journey to perfection or the state of perfection. Christian perfection is commonly referred to as "going on to perfection."

The concept is also referred to as sinless perfection, though John Wesley himself did not use this term and noted in his book A Plain Account of Christian Perfection that "...sinless perfection is a phrase I never use, lest I should seem to contradict myself."^[1] However John William Fletcher, an interpreter of Wesleyan theology in the 18th century, used the term "evangelically sinless perfection" or "evangelically sinless" but notes in his book The Last Check to Antinomianism that "With respect to the FIRST, that is, the Adamic, Christless law of innocence and paradisiacal perfection, we utterly renounce the doctrine of sinless perfection."^[2]

Contents 1 Wesley's teaching 2 Post-Wesley developments 3 See also 4 References 5 External links

[edit] Wesley's teaching

Perfection is the process of sanctification and is a work of grace. To Wesley, sanctification was a grace-led spiritual growth. Christian perfection, according to Wesley, is “purity of intention, dedicating all the life to God” and “the mind which was in Christ, enabling us to walk as Christ walked.” It is "loving God with all our heart, and our neighbor as ourselves."^[3] It is “a restoration not only to the favor, but likewise to the image of God,” our “being filled with the fullness of God.”^[4]

Wesley was clear that Christian perfection did not imply perfection of bodily health or an infallibility of judgment. It also does not mean we no longer violate the will of God, for involuntary transgressions remain. Perfected Christians remain subject to temptation, and have continued need to pray for forgiveness and holiness. It is not an absolute perfection but a perfection in love. Furthermore, Wesley did not teach a salvation by perfection, but rather says that, “Even perfect holiness is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ.”^[1]

Wesley did not use perfection to describe sinlessness. Similarly, perfection is not the state of being unable to sin, but rather the state of choosing not to sin. Wesley's perfection represents a change of life, a freedom from willful rebellion against God, impure intentions, and pride. Wesley also did not view perfection as permanent.

This is a poem that Wesley taught to his followers, lest they forget the doctrine of Christian Perfection;

Do all the good you can,

to all the people you can,

at all the times you can,

in all the ways you can,

by all the means you can,

as long as ever you can.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Post-Wesley developments

In the Seventh-day Adventist Church, some conservative members hold to a Last Generation theology which teaches that there will be a final perfect generation of believers before Jesus returns. Most if not all Adventist theologians reject this.

[edit] See also

• Holiness movement
• Imparted righteousness
• Impeccability
• Theosis

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Sermon 40: "Christian Perfection" by John Wesley
• John Wesley
• Sermon 76: "On Perfection" by John Wesley
• Consider Wesley: Christian Perfection by Henry H. Knight
• Christian Perfection by Charles Finney
• Christian Perfection by Asa Mahan
• "Christian Perfection, or Entire Sanctification" by H. Orton Wiley (chapter 29 of Christian Theology)
• Justification and Sanctification
• "Earnestly Striving: Reclaiming Christian Perfection in United Methodism" (PDF) by Joanne Carlson Brown from Circuit Rider (May/June 2003)
• "Perfectionism", section 3.18.7 from Systematic Theology by Charles Hodge
• "Entire Sanctification", an article by B. B. Warfield
• "Can Christians Stop Sinning?", a brief answer by Ra McLaughlin
• A Look At Holiness And Perfectionism Theology by Armin J. Panning
• Christian Cyclopedia article on Perfectionism
• Holiness - the False and the True by Dr. Harry Ironside