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.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thursday, March 13, 2008
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…
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.
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.
Monday, March 03, 2008
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
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
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)