John Wesley, Christian Perfectionism, and the Quest for Holiness

In this episode, we explore the life, theology, and legacy of John Wesley, one of the most significant figures in church history and the founder of the Methodist movement. While his life moved quickly in terms of academic and ministerial growth, his journey toward genuine faith and some of his more controversial theological ideas—particularly Christian Perfection—offer plenty of room for conversation and reflection.

A Rapid Rise: Early Life and Ministry

John Wesley was born on June 17, 1703, in Epworth, Lincolnshire, England, about three hours north of London. He was an Anglican clergyman and evangelist, best known—alongside his brother Charles—for starting the Methodist movement within the Church of England in the 18th century. Their goal was not to start a new denomination but to reform the Church of England from within.

Wesley’s academic achievements were impressive and came early. He:

Graduated from Oxford in 1724
Was ordained a deacon in 1725
Became a fellow of Lincoln College at Oxford in 1726
Was ordained as a priest in 1728

Upon returning to Oxford in 1729, he joined a group led by his brother Charles. These earnest students prioritized serious Bible study, frequent communion, and outreach—including prison ministry. Their methodical discipline earned them the nickname “Methodists.”

💭 At this point in his life, many scholars believe Wesley had not yet experienced a true conversion to Christ. Yet the seeds of his passion and theological distinctives were already evident.

Notably, Wesley rejected predestination and embraced the idea of common grace—that God’s grace is available to all, enabling them to respond freely to Him. He also taught that a Christian could lose their salvation, a belief that remains controversial in many evangelical circles.

A Failed Mission and Personal Crisis

In 1735, John and Charles Wesley accepted an invitation to serve in the American colony of Georgia as missionaries and pastors. The trip, however, was largely a failure. John’s lack of missionary experience and a complicated romantic relationship with Sophia Hopkey—the niece of a local magistrate—led to serious fallout.

When Sophia married someone else, John, on the advice of some Moravians, denied her communion. This act offended many in the colony and led to a lawsuit against Wesley for defamation. He refused to appear in court, claiming the matter was ecclesiastical, not legal. Eventually, he returned to England in disgrace.

💭 The incident is odd and somewhat troubling. Was denying communion within his authority? Can a pastor truly judge someone’s spiritual standing so decisively? These are weighty pastoral questions worth examining.

This experience set the stage for what many consider Wesley’s true conversion in 1738, following a spiritual awakening during a Moravian meeting in Aldersgate Street.

He never returned to America and died at the age of 87, on March 2, 1791.

The Sermon: Pressing On Toward the Goal

In one of his better-known sermons, Wesley preached from Philippians 3:12 — “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on…” This message centered on the idea of Christian Perfection.

Wesley’s Claim: Holiness Is Possible Now

Wesley taught that Christians need not live in continual sin. Drawing from 1 John 3:9—“Everyone who has been born of God does not sin…”—he argued that Christians can live entirely free from willful sin, evil thoughts, and tempers.

He was careful to clarify what he did not mean:

Christians are not perfect in knowledge
Christians are not infallible
Christians are not free from physical or emotional weakness

Rather, he defined perfection as another word for holiness—a heart fully surrendered to God, purified of sin’s rule and rooted in love for God and others.

💭 Wesley admitted that saints—even apostles like Peter and Paul—sinned. But he rejected the idea that all Christians must sin. He believed the Holy Spirit’s work could empower Christians to overcome sinful desires entirely.

But is it Biblical?

While Wesley’s passion for holiness is admirable, his doctrine of Christian Perfection raises theological and pastoral concerns.

What About Romans 7?

Surprisingly, Wesley makes no mention of Romans 7:14–25, where Paul famously describes the internal struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. The passage reads:

“For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.” (Romans 7:19)

The present tense in this passage strongly suggests Paul is describing the Christian life—not his pre-conversion experience. J.I. Packer points out that this inner conflict illustrates the real, ongoing tension believers face, which contradicts the idea of perfection on this side of heaven.

Packer offers a helpful analogy:

“Think of the Christian’s personal life as a house with different aspects. Romans 7 depicts the cold, shadowed side that faces away from the sun, Romans 8 shows us the warm side where the sunshine is seen and felt. We only get out of Romans 7 into Romans 8 in the sense that, after letting the law speak to us about ourselves, we listen afresh to the gospel” (pg. 107 “Keep in step with the Spirit”).

What About Our Experience?

The Christian life is marked by growth, struggle, confession, and dependence on God’s grace. While we aim for holiness, we also recognize our deep need for Christ daily. As Packer says:

“I have never framed a prayer, preached a sermon, written a book, shown love to my wife, cared for my children, supported my friends, in short, done anything at all, which I did not in retrospect realize could and should have been done better.”

This humble realism grounds what’s known as Augustinian Holiness:

We are sinners saved by grace
We will never be sinless in this life
We aim for holiness, but rest in Christ’s perfection, not our own

Final Thoughts

Wesley’s pursuit of holiness challenged complacency and called believers to a deeper life with God. But his use of the word “perfection” was problematic and confusing, even if his intention was noble. The danger lies in either:

Crushing discouragement when sin remains, or
Spiritual pride in believing one has “arrived”

Ultimately, we walk forward not as flawless saints, but as redeemed sinners, confident not in our performance but in Christ’s imputed righteousness (2 Cor. 5:21).

Key Takeaway
Wesley’s zeal for holiness should inspire us, but his doctrine of perfectionism falls short biblically. Real spiritual maturity embraces both victory and struggle, always pointing back to the sufficiency of Christ.

Disclaimer: This summary was generated using AI based on the original podcast script. It has been reviewed and approved by Yonas and Jeff for accuracy and clarity.