John Wesley's most important and lasting theological contribution was an understanding of how believers are transformed by God. He called this process of sanctification the doctrine of Christian perfection—the idea that as we grow in faith, God's spirit lovingly changes us until we become perfect in love. (Wesley himself never preferred the term "sinless.") In his own words, Wesley describes Christian perfection as "the humble, gentle, patient love of God, and our neighbor, ruling our tempers, words, and actions."
In his Plain Account of Christian Perfection, Wesley offers a complete discussion of what this doctrine means. He describes the evolution of his own theological reasoning, telling the story of how he came to understand and to preach this doctrine in his own life. In a work that is part autobiography, part spiritual contemplation, and part scriptural exegesis, Wesley shares tracts he wrote on the topic, describes the conflicts that sometimes arose over his ideas, reveals his own developing convictions, and offers probing queries for all believers to consider.
For anyone eager to know more about the profoundly transformative power of God's love, this eBook shares this hopeful message with contemporary readers.
John Wesley (1703-1791) and his brother Charles were early leaders in the Methodist movement, traveling and preaching extensively in England and North America.