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John Wesley (/ ˈ w ɛ s l i / WESS-lee; [1] 28 June [O.S. 17 June] 1703 – 2 March 1791) was an English cleric, theologian, and evangelist who was a principal leader of a revival movement within the Church of England known as Methodism. The societies he founded became the dominant form of the independent Methodist movement that continues to ...
Methodists, following in John Wesley's footsteps, believe in the second work of grace— enabling entire sanctification, also called Christian perfection—which removes original sin (the carnal nature of the person) and makes the believer holy (cf. baptism with the Holy Spirit); Wesley explained: "Entire sanctification, or Christian perfection ...
John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, advocated Christian perfection that held that entire sanctification was indeed a definite work that was to follow conversion (the New Birth). Wesley drew on the idea of theosis to suggest that sanctification would cause a change in motivation that if nurtured would lead to a gradual perfecting of the believer.
The systematic theologian of Methodism, John William Fletcher, terms the reception of entire sanctification as Baptism with the Holy Spirit. [12] A Holiness text from 1897 explicates this: Our own hearts as well as the Scriptures, teach us that even in the hearts of those who are justified and regenerated there remains something that "is not ...
John Wesley held that entire sanctification was "the grand depositum", or foundational doctrine, of the Methodist faith, and its propagation was the reason God brought Methodists into existence. [9] [10] Scripture is considered the primary authority, but Methodists also look to Christian tradition, including the historic creeds.
[1]: 138 These four volumes are collectively known as Wesley's Forty-four Sermons. An additional 97 sermons were printed in several volumes. [ 3 ] Wesley was apparently influenced by the Anglican Book of Homilies , in terms of the form (i.e. using sermons as a primary means of communication) and content.
In Wesley's theology, entire sanctification was a second work of grace received by faith that removed inbred or original sin, and this allowed the Christian to enter a state of perfect love—"Love excluding sin" as stated in the sermon "The Scripture Way of Salvation".
It spread through revivals emphasizing a deepening experience with God called holiness or sanctification. Heart purity was a central theme. During this period of time, many small churches developed through revivals and the emphasis of entire sanctification (taught by John Wesley, but not emphasized by some mainline Methodists). As many as 25 or ...