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Memorial to John Wesley and Charles Wesley in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford. Wesleyan theology, otherwise known as Wesleyan–Arminian theology, or Methodist theology, is a theological tradition in Protestant Christianity based upon the ministry of the 18th-century evangelical reformer brothers John Wesley and Charles Wesley.
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 ...
Outward holiness, or external holiness, is a Wesleyan–Arminian doctrine emphasizing holy living, service, modest dress and sober speech. [1] [2] Additionally, outward holiness manifests as "the expression of love through a life characterised by 'justice, mercy and truth ' ". [3]
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.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, taught that there were two distinct phases in the Christian experience. [3] In the first work of grace, the new birth , the believer receives forgiveness and becomes a Christian. [ 4 ]
The Wesleyan Holiness movement, as part of the wider Methodist tradition, holds strongly to John Wesley's definition of sin: "Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore, every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin; and nothing else, if we speak properly.
The power over sin received at regeneration was just the lowest stage of Christian perfection according to Wesley. Based on 1 John 2, Wesley proposed three stages in the Christian life: little children, young men, and finally fathers. [47] Young men were defined as those who had experienced victory over temptation and evil thoughts.
Pelagianism is a doctrine denying original sin and total depravity. No system of Arminianism founded on Arminius or Wesley denies original sin or total depravity; [190] both Arminius and Wesley strongly affirmed that man's basic condition is one in which he cannot be righteous, understand God, or seek God. [191]