Ryan Plott
July 11th, 2010, 02:11 PM
I was going to lead a bible study from the lectionary text today in Luke 10 focusing on entire sanctification. That didn't pan out and I didn't want to let all my research go to waste so I figured I'd post a review of this book here on Naznet since it was part of the stuff I read in preparation for that study.
As the title suggests, this book is the result of Wesley endeavoring to explain clearly and succinctly what the doctrine of Christian Perfection is. It is 108 pages long.(my copy anyway) What I'll give in the review are mainly bullet points of what I felt was the pertinent info contained in the pages. Some may be redundant but the Good News bears repeating every now and then, right?
Since it is rather long and I don't expect people to read through all of this post I'll say this. I really enjoyed the book. At points I have questions but all in all I agree with the majority of Wesley's thought. It's good stuff, and I think that if it is rightly understood and preached the world has much to benefit from the way of life Wesley talks about.
"Perhaps the general prejudice against Christian perfection may chiefly arise from a misapprehension of the nature of it."(26)
1. We not only allow, but earnestly conted, that there is no perfection in this life which implies any dispensation from attending all the ordinances of God, or from doing good unto all men while we have time, though especially unto the household of faith. We believe, that not only the babes in Christ, who have newly found redemption in His blood, but those also who are grown up into perfect men are indispensably obliged, as often as they have opportunity to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him, to search the Scriptures, by fasting as well as temperance to keep their bodies under control, and above all to pour out their souls in prayer, both secretly, and in the great congregation(26)
2. We secondly believe that there is no such perfection in this life, as implies an entire deliverance, either from ignorance, or mistake, in things not essential to salvation, or from manifold temptations, or from numberless infirmities, wherewith the corruptible body more or less presses down the soul.(27)
3. We understand by that Scriptural expression, 'a perfect man' one in whom God hath fulfilled his faithful word: From all your filthiness and from all your idols I will cleanse you: I will also save you from all your uncleanness. We understand, hereby, one whom God hath sanctified throughout in body, soul, and spirit; one who walketh in the light as He is in the light, in whom is no darkness at all; the blood of Jesus Christ his Son have cleansed him from all sins...He is holy as God who called him is holy, both in heart and in all manner of conversation. He loveth the Lord his God with all his heart, and serveth him with all his strength. He loveth his neighbor, every man as himself; yea, as Christ loveth us; them in particular that despitefully use him and persecute him, because they know not the Son, neither the Father(27-28)
A series of questions found on pages 31-37 of my copy.
What is it to be sanctified?
To be renewed in the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness.
What is implied in being a perfect Christian?
The loving God with all our heart, and mind, and soul. Deut. 6:5
Does this imply that all inward sin is taken away?
Undoubtedly; or how can we be said to be saved from all our uncleannesses?(Ezek. 36:29)
When does inward sanctification begin?
"In the moment a man is justified.(Yet sin remains in him, yea, the seed of all sin, till he is sanctified throughout) From that time a believer gradually dies to sin, and grows in grace.
Is this ordinarily given till a little before death?
It is not, to those who expect it no sooner.
But may we expect it sooner?
Why not? For, although we grant, that the generality of believers, whom we have hitherto known, were not so sanctified till near death; that few of those to whome St. Paul wrote his Epistles were so at that time; nor he himself at the time of writing his former Epistles; yet all this does not prove, that we may not be so to-day.
In what manner should we preach sanctification?
Scarce at all to those who are not pressing forward; to those who are, always by way of promise; always drawing, rather than driving.
I thought when I read this, Could the CotN's requirement that ordained elders check yes in the entire sanctification box be seen as driving? There may be a side to that idea I am not seeing but I know of many who see it as such. If so, should this practice be amended? I don't wish to detract from the review of the book, and I'm not trying to bash the denomination, but I feel this is a topic worth talking about in Nazarene circles.
Is there any clear Scriptural promise of this, that God will save us from all sins?
Psa. 130:8, Ezekiel 36, 2 Cor. 7:1, Deut. 30:6
Are there any in the NT?
1 John 3:8, Eph. 5:25-27, Rom. 8:3-4, Matt. 5:48, John 17:20-23, Eph. 3:14, Matt. 22:37
Is there any example in Scripture, of persons who had attained this?
Yes, St. John and all those of whom he says "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because, as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17
Can you show one such example now?
To this inquiry, some might answer, If I knew on here, I would not tell you; for you do not inquire out of love. You are like Herod; you only seek the young child to slay it.
There are many reasons why there should be few, if any, indisputable examples. What inconvenience this would bring on the person himself, set as a mark for all to shoot at! and how unprofitable it would be for gainsayers. For if they hear not Moses and the prophets, Christ and his apostles, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
Involuntary Transgressions (41-42)
Everyone may mistake as long as he lives. A mistake in opinion may occasion a mistake in practice. Every such mistake is a transgression of the perfect law. Therefore, every such mistake, were it not for the blood of atonement, would expose to eternal damnation. It follows, that the most perfect have continual need of the merits of Christ, even for their actual transgressions, and may say for themselves as well as for their brethren, 'Forgive us our trespasses'...all men are liable to mistake, and that in practice as well as in judgment. But they do not know, or do not observe, that this is not sin, if love is the sole principle of action.
I feel his logic is sound here, but I'd like to see Scriptural evidence for sin being not sin if love is the sole principle of action. To me it's like saying this; You light a fire in the fireplace at your home because your kids are cold. You accidentally burn down the house.(Don't worry, your kids survive, but you lose everything else. Your spouse is on a business trip so don't worry about them either) Because of this, you are not responsible for the fire burning down the house.
Can somebody help me out with this with some Scripture?
Another question group I thought was important (46, 51, 52)
What is reasonable proof? How may we certainly know one that is saved from all sin?
We cannot infallibly know one that is thus saved.(again bringing me back to the CotN question) unless it should please God to endow us with the miraculous discernment of spirits. But we apprehend those would be sufficient proofs to any reasonable man, and such as would leave little room to doubt either the truth or depth of the work: (1) If we had clear evidence of his exemplary behavior for some times before this supposed change. This would give us reason to believe, he would not lie for God but speak neither more nor less than he felt. (2) If he gave a distinct account of the time and manner wherein the change was wrought, with sound speech which could not be reproved, and (3) If it appeared that all his subsequent words and actions were holy and unblamable.
Is this death to sin gradual or instantaneous?
A man may be dying for some time; yet ye does not, properly speaking, die, till the soul is separated from the body and in that instant he lives the life of eternity.
Essentially, it is appropriate to speak of ES/CP/CotH in terms of both process and crisis.
How are we to wait for this change?
Not in careless indifference, or indolent inactivity; but in vigorous, universal obedience, in a zealous keeping of all the commandments, in watchfulness and painfulness, in denying ourselves, and taking up our cross daily; as well as in earnest prayer and fasting, and on a close attendance on all the ordinances of God. If any man dreameth of attaining it any other way, he deceiveth his own soul.
Essentially, those that are ES can grow in grace, and they can also fall from it. If they do fall, it can be recovered. Spelled out more clearly on pages 80-84 of my copy but my fingers are getting tired.
John Wesley's advice to those who are sanctified (85-95)
These are the general concepts
1. Watch and pray continually against pride.
2. Beware of the daughter of pride, enthusiasm. Give no place to a heated imagination. Do not hastily ascribe things to God. Do not easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions, or revelations to be from God. Try your soul.
3. Beware of antinomianism
4. Beware of sins of omission, lose no opportunity of doing good in any kind. Be zealous of good works; willingly omit no work, either of piety or mercy. Do all the good you possible can, to the bodies and souls of men.
5. Beware of desiring anything but God.
6. Beware of schism, or making a rent in the Church of Christ. That inward disunion, the members ceasing to have a reciprocal love one for another is the very root of all contention, and every outward separation.
7. Be exemplary in all things; particularly in outward things as in dress, in little things in the laying out of your money(avoid needless expense) in deep, steady seriousness, and in the solidity and usefulness of all your conversation. So shall you be a light shining in a dark place.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He will bring it to pass.
As the title suggests, this book is the result of Wesley endeavoring to explain clearly and succinctly what the doctrine of Christian Perfection is. It is 108 pages long.(my copy anyway) What I'll give in the review are mainly bullet points of what I felt was the pertinent info contained in the pages. Some may be redundant but the Good News bears repeating every now and then, right?
Since it is rather long and I don't expect people to read through all of this post I'll say this. I really enjoyed the book. At points I have questions but all in all I agree with the majority of Wesley's thought. It's good stuff, and I think that if it is rightly understood and preached the world has much to benefit from the way of life Wesley talks about.
"Perhaps the general prejudice against Christian perfection may chiefly arise from a misapprehension of the nature of it."(26)
1. We not only allow, but earnestly conted, that there is no perfection in this life which implies any dispensation from attending all the ordinances of God, or from doing good unto all men while we have time, though especially unto the household of faith. We believe, that not only the babes in Christ, who have newly found redemption in His blood, but those also who are grown up into perfect men are indispensably obliged, as often as they have opportunity to eat bread and drink wine in remembrance of him, to search the Scriptures, by fasting as well as temperance to keep their bodies under control, and above all to pour out their souls in prayer, both secretly, and in the great congregation(26)
2. We secondly believe that there is no such perfection in this life, as implies an entire deliverance, either from ignorance, or mistake, in things not essential to salvation, or from manifold temptations, or from numberless infirmities, wherewith the corruptible body more or less presses down the soul.(27)
3. We understand by that Scriptural expression, 'a perfect man' one in whom God hath fulfilled his faithful word: From all your filthiness and from all your idols I will cleanse you: I will also save you from all your uncleanness. We understand, hereby, one whom God hath sanctified throughout in body, soul, and spirit; one who walketh in the light as He is in the light, in whom is no darkness at all; the blood of Jesus Christ his Son have cleansed him from all sins...He is holy as God who called him is holy, both in heart and in all manner of conversation. He loveth the Lord his God with all his heart, and serveth him with all his strength. He loveth his neighbor, every man as himself; yea, as Christ loveth us; them in particular that despitefully use him and persecute him, because they know not the Son, neither the Father(27-28)
A series of questions found on pages 31-37 of my copy.
What is it to be sanctified?
To be renewed in the image of God, in righteousness and true holiness.
What is implied in being a perfect Christian?
The loving God with all our heart, and mind, and soul. Deut. 6:5
Does this imply that all inward sin is taken away?
Undoubtedly; or how can we be said to be saved from all our uncleannesses?(Ezek. 36:29)
When does inward sanctification begin?
"In the moment a man is justified.(Yet sin remains in him, yea, the seed of all sin, till he is sanctified throughout) From that time a believer gradually dies to sin, and grows in grace.
Is this ordinarily given till a little before death?
It is not, to those who expect it no sooner.
But may we expect it sooner?
Why not? For, although we grant, that the generality of believers, whom we have hitherto known, were not so sanctified till near death; that few of those to whome St. Paul wrote his Epistles were so at that time; nor he himself at the time of writing his former Epistles; yet all this does not prove, that we may not be so to-day.
In what manner should we preach sanctification?
Scarce at all to those who are not pressing forward; to those who are, always by way of promise; always drawing, rather than driving.
I thought when I read this, Could the CotN's requirement that ordained elders check yes in the entire sanctification box be seen as driving? There may be a side to that idea I am not seeing but I know of many who see it as such. If so, should this practice be amended? I don't wish to detract from the review of the book, and I'm not trying to bash the denomination, but I feel this is a topic worth talking about in Nazarene circles.
Is there any clear Scriptural promise of this, that God will save us from all sins?
Psa. 130:8, Ezekiel 36, 2 Cor. 7:1, Deut. 30:6
Are there any in the NT?
1 John 3:8, Eph. 5:25-27, Rom. 8:3-4, Matt. 5:48, John 17:20-23, Eph. 3:14, Matt. 22:37
Is there any example in Scripture, of persons who had attained this?
Yes, St. John and all those of whom he says "Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment; because, as He is, so are we in this world. 1 John 4:17
Can you show one such example now?
To this inquiry, some might answer, If I knew on here, I would not tell you; for you do not inquire out of love. You are like Herod; you only seek the young child to slay it.
There are many reasons why there should be few, if any, indisputable examples. What inconvenience this would bring on the person himself, set as a mark for all to shoot at! and how unprofitable it would be for gainsayers. For if they hear not Moses and the prophets, Christ and his apostles, neither would they be persuaded though one rose from the dead.
Involuntary Transgressions (41-42)
Everyone may mistake as long as he lives. A mistake in opinion may occasion a mistake in practice. Every such mistake is a transgression of the perfect law. Therefore, every such mistake, were it not for the blood of atonement, would expose to eternal damnation. It follows, that the most perfect have continual need of the merits of Christ, even for their actual transgressions, and may say for themselves as well as for their brethren, 'Forgive us our trespasses'...all men are liable to mistake, and that in practice as well as in judgment. But they do not know, or do not observe, that this is not sin, if love is the sole principle of action.
I feel his logic is sound here, but I'd like to see Scriptural evidence for sin being not sin if love is the sole principle of action. To me it's like saying this; You light a fire in the fireplace at your home because your kids are cold. You accidentally burn down the house.(Don't worry, your kids survive, but you lose everything else. Your spouse is on a business trip so don't worry about them either) Because of this, you are not responsible for the fire burning down the house.
Can somebody help me out with this with some Scripture?
Another question group I thought was important (46, 51, 52)
What is reasonable proof? How may we certainly know one that is saved from all sin?
We cannot infallibly know one that is thus saved.(again bringing me back to the CotN question) unless it should please God to endow us with the miraculous discernment of spirits. But we apprehend those would be sufficient proofs to any reasonable man, and such as would leave little room to doubt either the truth or depth of the work: (1) If we had clear evidence of his exemplary behavior for some times before this supposed change. This would give us reason to believe, he would not lie for God but speak neither more nor less than he felt. (2) If he gave a distinct account of the time and manner wherein the change was wrought, with sound speech which could not be reproved, and (3) If it appeared that all his subsequent words and actions were holy and unblamable.
Is this death to sin gradual or instantaneous?
A man may be dying for some time; yet ye does not, properly speaking, die, till the soul is separated from the body and in that instant he lives the life of eternity.
Essentially, it is appropriate to speak of ES/CP/CotH in terms of both process and crisis.
How are we to wait for this change?
Not in careless indifference, or indolent inactivity; but in vigorous, universal obedience, in a zealous keeping of all the commandments, in watchfulness and painfulness, in denying ourselves, and taking up our cross daily; as well as in earnest prayer and fasting, and on a close attendance on all the ordinances of God. If any man dreameth of attaining it any other way, he deceiveth his own soul.
Essentially, those that are ES can grow in grace, and they can also fall from it. If they do fall, it can be recovered. Spelled out more clearly on pages 80-84 of my copy but my fingers are getting tired.
John Wesley's advice to those who are sanctified (85-95)
These are the general concepts
1. Watch and pray continually against pride.
2. Beware of the daughter of pride, enthusiasm. Give no place to a heated imagination. Do not hastily ascribe things to God. Do not easily suppose dreams, voices, impressions, visions, or revelations to be from God. Try your soul.
3. Beware of antinomianism
4. Beware of sins of omission, lose no opportunity of doing good in any kind. Be zealous of good works; willingly omit no work, either of piety or mercy. Do all the good you possible can, to the bodies and souls of men.
5. Beware of desiring anything but God.
6. Beware of schism, or making a rent in the Church of Christ. That inward disunion, the members ceasing to have a reciprocal love one for another is the very root of all contention, and every outward separation.
7. Be exemplary in all things; particularly in outward things as in dress, in little things in the laying out of your money(avoid needless expense) in deep, steady seriousness, and in the solidity and usefulness of all your conversation. So shall you be a light shining in a dark place.
Love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He will bring it to pass.