Post by evanschaible on Apr 23, 2006 9:19:06 GMT -5
I cant say that all Wesleyan doctrine can be pinpointed as they really have no huge dogma books like Lutherans and Baptists. They have their doctrinal standards and their hymnbook, but really those hae changed and are tragicall emasculated and adulterated today.
So, here is my take (upon the request of biblethumper) on the pure Weselyan/Methodist points of doctrine, the important and fundementals anyhow.
Dont get me wrong, all the basic tenets of the Christian faith are still present (Christ's virgin bith, sinlessness, atoning death, physical ressurection, and ascension, etc.) these are just the ones that stick out in my mind and usually cause controversy because they are mostly unique to Methodism.
1) Salvation is by grace, trough faith and repentance, and offered to all freely. Man is born sinful, and through God's prevenient grace can heed the gospels call.
2) Holiness is a strict mandate given to all who claim the name of Christ. We cannot conjure up holiness as Christ is our sanctification. All the work necessary for our holiness is already accomplished upon the cross. Through a simple act of faith we can attain to the next point....
3) (Here is the controversy) Christians can reach a state of perfection. Not to be mistaken with perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom, or anything of the like. But rather spiritual perfection. We can attain, through the death and ressurection of Jesus, the spiritual state that Adam enjoyed. Living constantly iin the presence of our Holy God so as we can not sin. However, Like Jesse says so often, it is not impossible to sin, but possible to not sin. Please read these works if you wish to honestly study this doctrine, they are the works under the heading "scriptural holiness". Dont read them prejudiced, read them honestly (www.onebodyevangelism.com/index.php?Prg=Instruction&WW=800&T=)
Anyone have anything to add, or any comments feel free...
So, here is my take (upon the request of biblethumper) on the pure Weselyan/Methodist points of doctrine, the important and fundementals anyhow.
Dont get me wrong, all the basic tenets of the Christian faith are still present (Christ's virgin bith, sinlessness, atoning death, physical ressurection, and ascension, etc.) these are just the ones that stick out in my mind and usually cause controversy because they are mostly unique to Methodism.
1) Salvation is by grace, trough faith and repentance, and offered to all freely. Man is born sinful, and through God's prevenient grace can heed the gospels call.
2) Holiness is a strict mandate given to all who claim the name of Christ. We cannot conjure up holiness as Christ is our sanctification. All the work necessary for our holiness is already accomplished upon the cross. Through a simple act of faith we can attain to the next point....
3) (Here is the controversy) Christians can reach a state of perfection. Not to be mistaken with perfect knowledge, perfect wisdom, or anything of the like. But rather spiritual perfection. We can attain, through the death and ressurection of Jesus, the spiritual state that Adam enjoyed. Living constantly iin the presence of our Holy God so as we can not sin. However, Like Jesse says so often, it is not impossible to sin, but possible to not sin. Please read these works if you wish to honestly study this doctrine, they are the works under the heading "scriptural holiness". Dont read them prejudiced, read them honestly (www.onebodyevangelism.com/index.php?Prg=Instruction&WW=800&T=)
Anyone have anything to add, or any comments feel free...