Perfect Love # 4 : The End Goal of Christian Perfection

For John Wesley, as with many others, the end goal of entire sanctification is to more perfectly restore man’s relationship with God which was lost in Adam’s fall. Yet, more even than this the end goal of perfect love is to restore the likeness of God within mankind which was so horribly marred by that same fall.

Yet, we should be clear. Wesley would emphasize that this is not a work that is completely or entirely achieved within this life. Rather, the work of grace within us is made complete after we die and arrive in heaven. At that time God will restore all humans who have embraced his grace to the perfect relationship mankind had with God in the Garden of Eden. Even more than this though, each individual will find the likeness of God within them to be made absolutely perfect as well. For many Christian thinkers this simply means that those moral attributes of God (mercy, justice, love), which we share though they be marred, will be fully repaired to be like God’s attributes again.

Wesley referred to this post resurrection scene as “glorification.” To his thinking it was the uttermost goal of salvation, to be glorified to what we were intended to be once we reached heaven. In light of this point it is all the more powerful to remember that some are given the gift of experiencing a foretaste of that glorification in this life. That is, after all, the purpose of God sanctifying our hearts, perfecting them in his love, and sealing them for his heavenly courts: that we might know a taste of heaven on earth by entering a more full relationship with him and being purified by the power of his Holy Spirit through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Perfect Love #3 : How is Christian Perfection Aquired?

Perhaps at this point it is most helpful to turn our attention to how the Christian may be made perfect in the love of God. It is important to note that many traditions accept that sanctification begins in most lives at the time of our coming to faith. Yet, according to Wesley and many within the Wesleyan tradition a second work of grace does occur after we come to a saving faith. This work of grace so fills us with God’s love and so cleanses and weds our hearts to his that we are made able, in his power, to keep the will of God in our lives. Yet, the question remains; “How is this work of grace within our lives acquired?”

The consensus among both theologians in the Wesleyan tradition and many of the early Church fathers includes to points. Two ingredients, according to these sources, are required. They may not always be practiced formally, and God does not depend on us doing these things. He may sanctify our hearts at any time if he so chooses. Yet, the following are offered by Wesley and others as practical steps believers may take as they seek to be made perfect in God’s love.

1) An Act of Consecration: Perhaps a better word for our day might be dedication. To consecrate something means to set it aside. In scripture consecrated things are often people or items that have been given over wholly to God. Practically, this means that we as Christians must lay all of ourselves before God. We must give every area of our life to him.

2) Continual Prayer: Many have testified that God made them perfect in love or sanctified them when they gave all of themselves to him. In other words, they sought the blessing of God’s grace in a moment and received it in a moment. Unfortunately, experience teaches us that perfect love is not normally achieved so easily. In fact, it is quite common for believers to pray for years for this work to come to their life. Make no mistake, however, those who earnestly seek the gift of sharing God’s heart and will in prayer are far more likely to receive it than those who never ask at all.

It is certainly helpful to remember at this time, however, that a state of perfect love is not a static state (once it is gained it is not complete). Nor is perfect love a state in which we grow by degrees. For every Christian, as Wesley points out, Christian Perfection means something different. For every Christian God’s perfect grace is experienced differently. Yet, Wesley would strongly affirm, Christian Perfection is for every Christian. The reason that many never experience this grace is that 1) it is not preached and 2) it is not sought out. Nonetheless, Wesley if he was here would thunder that this perfect love is for all who have tasted the salvation of Jesus Christ. If only they would seek it…

Perfect Love #2 : What Christian Perfection IS.

What then is entire sanctification? What is this that Wesley calls “perfect love”? According to Wesley it is being so filled with God’s love and grace that we are enabled by God to live within his will for us and thus be free from willful sin.

Perhaps it is more helpful to think of perfect love, not in terms of sins, but in terms of the condition of our heart. J.A. Wood, a prominent early Methodist Episcopal advocate of the doctrine of sanctification sheds light on this point when he quotes another early minister who stated, “It is not purity of action that we contend for, it is exalted purity of heart."
In other words, we do not understand our sanctification in terms of the acts we do. Perfect love is not best described as a list of things Christians don’t do. Rather, entire sanctification is better described as the relationship of our heart to God and the purity of our heart that flows from that divine relationship.

Perfect Love enters the life of the Christian when God weds the heart of the believer to his own heart. Perfect Love is when the will of the believer cooperates with the will of God. Yet, the point we must not neglect as we study Wesley’s hallmark doctrine is this: perfect love is possible. Christians, according to Wesley and much of Christian Tradition are able to not willfully sin, when God’s grace has enabled them to such by the cleansing and sealing of their hearts. Please remember, however, that the freedom from willful sin is the effect of a sanctified heart. It is the relationship to God that we are reestablished in and the purifying of our heart that are at the core of what occurs. All else flows from this.

Perfect Love #1 : What Christian Perfection is Not

What is Christian Perfection (Entire Sanctification) not? John Wesley answers this question first in his sermon on the topic. Here is a broad outline of what he decides.

Christian perfection is not perfect knowledge:
Christians know what other men know and what the bible reveals but beyond this they are ignorant. Christians cannot know or understand God perfectly either. Christians do know, however, all that is essential for salvation. I-1&2.
Christian perfection does not mean to be free from mistake:
According to Wesley many of these mistakes are rooted in ignorance. These mistakes that Christians make apply to mistaken actions and mistaken interpretations of scripture.1-4&5.
Christian perfection does not mean that one is free from infirmities:
According to Wesley these are inward and outward imperfections which are not of a moral nature. Such as mental defect, aging, illness, disease, lack of memory, and confusion to name a few. Wesley would not consider addictions to be infirmities, though most of us would recognize them to be to one degree or another. 1-7.
Christian Perfection does not mean that Christians are perfectly free from temptation:
Christian perfection is not measured by “degrees of perfection” nor is anyone absolutely perfect until heaven: According to Wesley, every one who has “been made perfect in love” has need to continue growing in grace. Furthermore, Wesley indicates that there is no measurable standard of perfection. Rather, the standard is different for each of us

On Christian Perfection

I noticed that when I mentioned John Wesley's most famous sermon, "On Christian Perfection" many people seemed unfamiliar. If any are interested I have posted the sermon and will try to do a broad walk through of it in the next several posts.

Here is the link www.glennsermons.blogspot.com

Sons of God- Psalm 2

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalm 2:7 & 8

This brief passage, included in our Old Testament reading during last week’s service, might be confusing at first glance. Regardless of who the author of the psalm is the speaker of this phrase within the psalm is almost certainly King David, the little shepherd boy who killed Goliath and grew up to be the king of Israel. The references to him as a “son of God” or “man after God’s own heart” should not go unnoticed. Many of these phrases serve to link Jesus to King David not only as his descendant (Jesus was a biological descendant of King David) but as his rightful heir. David had ruled for a season, but his descendant and heir would reign forever. David had ruled the Jews, but his descendant would receive all the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth to be under his authority, to quote the psalm.

In the midst of all of this one stark difference remains. Jesus Christ is the Son, and a son greater than David. He was, the Bible asserts, truly the Son of God, and, indeed, very God himself. What we do with this assertion of the Bible makes all the difference. Is he the Messiah of the line of David whose coming was foretold? Is he the one whose coming the prophets foretold for hundreds of years? Is he truly the Son of God? Was he as he claimed to be, truly one with the Father?

Or was he just a man like his ancestor David?

A good man but a man none the less?
Each must decide this for him or herself.

Yes, each must decide, and there couldn’t be more on the line.

The Company We Keep

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.

Psalm 1:1-3

The Psalmist begins the weighty book of Psalms with on a stark note. Immediately the contrasting pictures are displayed. One man walks in the "council of the wicked. " The other man finds delight in God and his Law.

We should be thankful for this cross section of scripture if for no other reason than this: it displays to us the character of true holiness. As seen here, holiness, and in turn closeness to God, is not determined by the rules we keep or break but by the company we run with.

Often we are encouraged to think of living a "holy" life as abstaining from a list of things we are not to do. Yet, the Psalmist displays that it is far better think of personal holiness and righteousness in terms of our closeness to God, and in terms of our love for him and his will for our life. If we are seeking to abide in his presence and love him, he will surely make us more holy. By keeping company with him, and not those who run away from him, we place ourselves under his loving, sanctifying grace.

That is a good place to be. Righteous by association. Thank goodness, because we could never do it on our own. Blessed are we, if we delight in our Lord and his law.

Glenn & Amy Knepp - Biography

Glenn Knepp is originally from Plymouth, Indiana. While he was growing up, Glenn’s family attended the Shiloh Wesleyan Church just north of Plymouth. Glenn’s parents, when they were not at Shiloh, devoted their lives to the family farm. Throughout his early years and into high school Glenn was active both on the farm and in various agricultural groups such as the FFA and 4-H. Glenn is a graduate of LaVille High School in Lakeville, Indiana.

Upon graduation from high school Glenn decided to attend Purdue University. While at Purdue, he pursued a degree in Agriculture Economics. Yet, during his freshman year at Purdue he began to become involved in the United Methodist Campus Ministry at Purdue, the Wesley Foundation. At the Wesley Foundation he participated in various mission trips and service projects, began leading ministries, and even launched and led a 350+ mile bicycle trip across Indiana to raise funds for the Wesley Foundation and various other United Methodist ministries. It was also at the Wesley Foundation that Glenn met his wife, Amy, and received his call to ministry.

Glenn has served for the last two years at the Nelson Street Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana. Throughout his time there he filled a number of roles. However, the most recent of these was Assistant Pastor and Worship Leader. Glenn has also taught a regular Bible study for a Marion area retirement community. Glenn also serves currently as a board member of the Wesley Foundation at Purdue. He will graduate in April from Indiana Wesleyan University with a degree in Christian Ministries. He hopes to soon enroll in an online or distance seminary program to obtain his Masters of Divinity.

Amy Knepp was born and raised in the Lafayette / West Lafayette area of Indiana. She was baptized and confirmed into and regularly attended the First United Methodist Church of West Lafayette. She is a graduate of Harrison High School (2002), attended Purdue University (2002-2005), and is also a graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University (2007). Her degree from Indiana Wesleyan University was in the concentration of Children’s Ministry. She hopes to soon pursue a degree that will qualify her for a license to teach in Indiana Public Schools.

She has served for two years at the Nelson Street Wesleyan Church in Marion, Indiana as the director of the children’s ministry. She also has been on staff as a teacher’s aide and aftercare assistant with Lakeview Christian School in Marion with few interruptions since August 2005.

Glenn and Amy, now married since July 2005, are expecting their first child in February. They are currently in good standing with the District Board of Ministerial Development in the Wesleyan Church, but feel God calling them to serve in the United Methodist Church. They hope to begin living out their call to ministry soon, and are thankful for the many blessings that have entered their lives.