patrick jane forums

Wesley is of Armenian theology whose sole purpose was to find away around the WORD of GOD...We see this in the first paragraph. 

“However, in the course of his development he became afraid of antinomianism to such an extent that in the end he did not any more use the term ‘imputation of the righteousness of Christ’."

The imputation of Righteousness was to a person who has the faith in the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

"He rather emphasized that our faith is imputed to us as righteousness."

Here righteousness is imputed to the Faith not the person….Thus it could be said that this righteousness is very dependent on the faith of the person..An armenian would argue that Free-Will would be able to pull away from the faith thus foregoing righteousness.

 "Of course, there is nothing wrong with that, but it is characteristic! In Wesley’s thinking the inward aspect always prevails over the relationship with God in Christ.”

Of course this is ok with the author of this article.

"Moreover, for Wesley it is not justification that is decisive for salvation, but sanctification."

Justification is Salvation. Sanctification is the process of one’s walk from sinner to righteousness.

"It is the new life that is most necessary. Of course, justification is necessary for salvation, but it is not sufficient. The real, essential change in a Christian’s life has to be sanctification, or rather holiness. "

Here we see, a cross between Justification by faith and faith alone....to justification plus  the works of a change to a Christian’s life.

Again, it seems one can lose their justification based upon their successful change from sinner to a Christian’s Life?

"Wesley mostly treats justification in view of sanctification. Justification for Wesley only means a relative change, sanctification a real one. "

I think this is self explanatory.  God’s justification is only minor compared to the works of man, his sanctification to Christian Life.

"There is a clear difference with Calvin in this respect. For Calvin, justification and sanctification are both given by the grace of God, and they are closely connected. The one cannot exist without the other. Essential to both is the relationship with Christ by faith.

This was not acceptable to Wesley. To him, Calvinism was an impediment on the way to holiness."

It would seem that Romans 8:29-30 does not mean anything to Wesley even though it is GOD’s WORD as seen in the next paragraph.

"Certainly Wesley confessed that to him justification is a work of God. At the same time, the fact that some people believe, and others don’t, is caused not by divine election, as Calvin and Whitefield would say, but by ‘the free responsiveness of human nature’ that was not taken away.

Wesley had developed a special construction in order to say that the free choice of man is still caused by free grace. "

Once you get away from the WORD of GOD, then anything goes. As Wesley does in his special construction to make it say what He needs it to say.

Wesley was convinced that this ‘preventing’ or ‘prevenient’ grace is given to every human being. With this construction he could replace the doctrine of predestination of Calvinism. 

Replace the WORDs of GOD is the answer!

Nevertheless, Wesley’s doctrine of conditions must not be overlooked. In order to receive the grace of faith there must be repentance and ‘works meet for repentance’ that go before faith.

Or

In order to receive Justification though the grace of Jesus Christ one must have Faith in his Gospel and true repentance (a turn away from sin). If  one’s heart is true, the Holy Spirit will become an indwelling part of the Christian’s life and will guide, teach and protect them through the sanctification process to complete righteousness.
 
Those who subscribe to Fatih plus works, will bring up Jas 2:18..”Yea, a man may say, Thou hast faith, and I have works: shew me thy faith without thy works, and I will shew thee my faith by my works.”

Salvation through faith does not require works prior but rather works after. Here the “Bema  Seat(1)” judgments will bestow awards based on the works of the person after they have received salvation. and it does not affect one’s salvation.


(1) 2 Co 5:10..”For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad.”