Christian perfection

E142044

Christian perfection is a Wesleyan theological doctrine teaching that believers can, by God’s grace, attain a state of perfect love in this life in which they are freed from willful sin.

All labels observed (6)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (51)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Christian doctrine
Wesleyan doctrine
theological doctrine
alsoKnownAs Christian holiness
entire sanctification
full salvation
perfect love
articulatedIn John Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
John Wesley's sermons on Christian perfection
basedOn 1 John 4:18
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Matthew 5:48
New Testament commands to holiness
centralConceptOf John Wesley's theology
linked to: John Wesley
contrastedWith Reformed views that deny entire sanctification in this life
coreClaim Christian perfection does not imply absolute sinlessness
Christian perfection does not remove human infirmities
Christian perfection involves freedom from conscious, deliberate sin
Christian perfection involves having the mind of Christ
Christian perfection involves purity of intention
Christian perfection is a work of God, not human achievement
Christian perfection is characterized by perfect love for God and neighbor
God's grace can cleanse the heart from inbred sin
believers can be freed from willful sin
believers can be made perfect in love in this life
entire sanctification is possible before death
emphasizes holiness of heart and life
love as the fulfillment of the law
obedience motivated by love
historicallyDebatedBy Anglican theologians
Calvinist theologians
linked to: Calvinism
influenced 19th-century Holiness movement
Keswick movement debates on sanctification
Pentecostal understandings of sanctification
religiousTradition Methodism
Wesleyan-Arminianism
linked to: Arminianism
taughtBy Church of the Nazarene
Free Methodist Church
Holiness Pentecostal churches
Holiness movement
John Wesley
Methodist movement
linked to: Methodism

Nazarene tradition
Salvation Army
Wesleyan Church
Wesleyan Methodist Church
viewInWesleyanTheology also involves progressive growth in grace
distinct from justification
distinct from new birth
may be received instantaneously by faith
often subsequent to justification

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (7)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

John Wesley notableIdea Christian perfection
Methodism hasKeyDoctrine Christian perfection
Pilgrim Holiness Church doctrine Christian perfection (in the Wesleyan sense)
linked to: Christian perfection
Christian perfection coreClaim Christian perfection does not imply absolute sinlessness
linked to: Christian perfection
Christian perfection coreClaim Christian perfection does not remove human infirmities
linked to: Christian perfection
Christian perfection coreClaim Christian perfection involves purity of intention
linked to: Christian perfection
Christian perfection coreClaim Christian perfection involves freedom from conscious, deliberate sin
linked to: Christian perfection