Christian History Home > Issue 69 > Two Views on Perfection
Two Views on Perfection
John and Charles disagreed on the measure of holiness a Christian might expect on earth, but both longed for it. From Christian Perfection (Sermon 40)
John Wesley | posted 1/01/2001 12:00AM
Christian perfection, therefore, does not imply (as some men seem to have imagined) an exemption either from ignorance or mistake, or infirmities or temptations. Indeed, it is only another term for holiness. They are two names for the same thing.
Thus everyone that is perfect is holy, and everyone that is holy is, in the Scripture sense, perfect.
Yet we may, lastly, observe, that neither in this respect is there any absolute perfection on earth. There is no perfection of degrees, as it is termed; none which does not admit of a continual increase. So that how much soever any man hath attained, or in how high a degree soever he is perfect, he hath still need to "grow in grace," [2 Peter 3:18] and daily to advance in the knowledge and love of God his Savior [see Philippians 1:9].
In what sense, then, are Christians perfect? This is what I shall endeavor … to show. But it should be premised, that there are several stages in Christian life, as in natural; some of the children of God being but ...
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