Interpreting Wesley's "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection"

The doctrine of Christian perfection is unequivocal in the Wesleyan tradition. As a matter of fact, it stands out clearly in any Wesleyan theological interpretation. Wesley himself described in his A Plain Account of Christian Perfection of his intention “to give a plain and distinct account of the steps by which I was led, during a course of many years, to embrace the doctrine of Christian perfection.” He outlines a lifetime of careful examination of what Christian perfection is and what it ought to be. With this, Wesley presents what he describes as his “thought” and why he “thought so.”

Wesley begins his discourse by describing his amazing experience after he read Bishop Taylor’s Rule and Exercises of Holy Living and Dying. He describes how he was “exceedingly affected” after reading several parts of the book. He was particularly attracted to the part of the book that spoke explicitly about “purity of intention.” This convinced him that he had to do nothing but surrender all his life to God. This included his words, actions and all his thoughts to which “there was no medium.” One either was totally dedicated to God or nothing else. His discourse continues with the readings from Kempis and Law, which expounds to his exploratory experience. Nevertheless, it all led him to begin to study the bible seriously. He describes the Bible as “the only standard of truth, and the only model of pure religion.” From this basis he also builds the idea that the Christian walk must embrace Jesus Christ in the entirety and total conformity to “our Master.”

Wesley then embarks on a sermon he preached before the university in St. Mary’s Church: The Circumcision of the Heart. In this sermon, Wesley embraces love as encompassing all the commandments. According to him, love for God out of God’s love for us should supercede everything else that we might think about. He goes ahead to outline the true character of a Methodist in regards to the instructions he is giving to the followers of his teachings. Wesley then focuses on the importance of Christians allowing Christ to live in them. This is the only way that they can live a victorious life free from evil yet bound in the love of Christ. In order to reach this point where one truly loves God with their heart, one has to go through obstacles and even failures. The out-pouring of the Grace of God is available to every Christian so that in the process, “they are freed from self-will, as desiring nothing but the holy and perfect will of God: not supplies in want, not ease of pain, nor life, or death, or any creature; but continually crying in their inmost soul, ‘Father, Thy will be done.’” Wesley also cites a number of hymns that he feels are relevant to the message of Christian perfection.

The inevitable discourse on sanctification then comes up. In a conference, they agreed that to be sanctified is “to be renewed in the image of God, “in righteousness and true holiness.”” It implied “the loving God with all our heart, and mind, and soul” as mentioned in Deuteronomy 6:5. At this point, according to Wesley, one begins to love with all their heart and dedicate everything in their lives to Him. It becomes a step-by-step process that must truly reflect the desire to participate in communion with God. He gives a brief insertion about the command to be holy just as the Father is.

Christian perfection comes with a responsibility. Christians must guard their hearts against falsehood and continue to seek the Lord earnestly. In the process, Christians are able to witness and bear fruit to the message that they preach through love. They however have to be constantly reminded that they need Christ and without Him they would be of no use at all. The Scripture must also remain the basis of authority in the Christian life. It is only through Scripture that the Christian is made aware of God’s love. It is through the Scriptures that one can see the examples of Jesus Christ, whether he was tempted, or whether he lived a life worthy of following; so that one is able to see that Christian perfection is attainable. Sanctification also depends totally upon God. God gives freely and the fruit of the Spirit is available to all. Through those gifts, Christians are able to exemplify Christ in their lives as they live a holy life.

Wesley completes his papers by saying that perfection is there because it is mentioned over and over in the Scripture. He cites, “It is not so early as justification; It is not so late as death; It is not absolute; It does not make any man infallible; It is perfect love: it is improvable; It is amissible and also that it is constantly both preceded and followed by a gradual work.” Every single Christian is called to perfection. Wesley clarifies the fact that Christian perfection does not just come overnight. It springs forth in Christians who have dedicated their lives totally to God and are willing to live for Him. True love of God comes from a pure heart. A pure heart is filled with pure intentions. Pure intensions are driven by humility and total dependence upon God. It is a cycle that begins with God and ends with God. The moment Christians lose their focus of God, they forget the commands that have been given them, to be holy, and begin to embrace the worldly pleasures of which the Christian must remain vigilant and rely upon the freedom in Christ in order to overcome. Wesley also points out that we must be witnesses in Christian perfection. True experience of the love of God will outwardly show in the eyes of everybody. It begins on the inside and translates into the outside. A victorious life is one that totally depends on God. Jesus Christ paid the price for our freedom. Our source of strength and hope is solely contingent upon the cross of Jesus Christ.