Wesleyan theology
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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. More broadly it refers to the theological system inferred from the various sermons (e.g. the Forty-four Sermons),[1] theological treatises, letters, journals, diaries, hymns, and other spiritual writings of the Wesleys and their contemporary coadjutors such as John William Fletcher, Methodism's systematic theologian.
In 1736, the Wesley brothers travelled to the Georgia colony in America as Christian missionaries; they left rather disheartened at what they saw. Both of them subsequently had "religious experiences", especially John in 1738, being greatly influenced by the Moravian Christians. They began to organize a renewal movement within the Church of England to focus on personal faith and holiness, putting emphasis on the importance of growth in grace after the New Birth.[2] Unique to Wesleyan Methodism is its definition of sin: a "voluntary transgression of a known law of God."[3][4] Methodist doctrine teaches that the life of a Christian subsequent to the New Birth should be characterized by holiness, living victoriously over sin.[5][6] Calling it "the grand depositum" of the Methodist faith, John Wesley taught that the propagation of the doctrine of entire sanctification—the work of grace that enables Christians to be made perfect in love and be made free from the carnal nature—was the reason that God raised up the Methodists in the world.[5][6][7][8]
Wesleyan–Arminian theology, manifest today in Methodism (inclusive of the Holiness movement), is named after its founders, John Wesley in particular, as well as for Jacobus Arminius, since it is a subset of Arminian theology. The Wesleys were clergymen in the Church of England, though the Wesleyan tradition places stronger emphasis on extemporaneous preaching, evangelism, as well as personal faith and personal experience, especially on the new birth, assurance, growth in grace, entire sanctification and outward holiness. In his Sunday Service John Wesley included the Articles of Religion, which were based on the Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England, though stripped of their more peculiarly Calvinistic theological leanings.[9] Wesleyan theology asserts the primary authority of Scripture and affirms the Christological orthodoxy of the first five centuries of church history.[10]
- ^ Wesley, John. "John Wesley's Forty-Four Sermons". Retrieved 11 May 2021 – via WikiSource.
- ^ Danker, Ryan N. (15 February 2024). "A Wesleyan Account of Sanctifying Grace". Seedbed. Retrieved 1 July 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Newman2024was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Black, Brian (2023). Properly Defining Sin. Heritage Publications. p. 6-7.
He said, "Every sin is a voluntary act, because, as Augustine states, so true is it that every sin is voluntary, that unless it be voluntary, it is no sin at all." ... Wesley's definition has been commonly accepted among those who heritage is from a Methodist background.
- ^ a b Black, Brian (2023). Properly Defining Sin. Heritage Publications. p. viii, 5.
The Wesleyan position teaches that one is actually made righteous and cleansed from sin through the grace of God and the power of the Holy Spirit. One must live a victorious, sinless life to be eligible for heaven. This doctrine is based upon the biblical principle that sin is a willful choice to rebel against God. If after being converted a person returns back to a life of rebellion against God, he has rejected salvation and is no longer eligible for heaven. ... the Methodist message believed that the grace of God enabled a person to choose salvation; furthermore, it taught that one could be delivered from committing sin as well as obtain heart purity from the corruption of indwelling sin.
- ^ a b Black, Brian (2023). Properly Defining Sin. Heritage Publications. p. viii, 5.
The eradication of the sin nature and complete victory over willful sin were two of the key beliefs of the Methodist Church.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
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Gibsonwas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Melton, J. Gordon (1 January 2005). Encyclopedia of Protestantism. Infobase Publishing. p. 48. ISBN 9780816069835.
Among the items deleted by Wesley as unnecessary for Methodists were articles on "Of Works Before Justification," which in Calvinism are largely discounted, but in Methodism lauded; "Of Predestination and Election," which Wesley felt would be understood in a Calvinist manner that the Methodists rejected; and "Of the Traditions of the Church," which Wesley felt to be no longer at issue.
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