- Jul 13, 2012
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The movement is Wesleyan-Armenian in theology, and is defined by its emphasis on John Wesley's doctrine of a second work of grace leading to Christian perfection.
I really don’t know about Wesleyan-Armenian theology.
I don’t find where the scriptures refer to a second work of grace.
I just know what I have experienced in my life, and what the scriptures say.
To be biblically “perfect” means complete, as in full stature sonship.
This is the work of transformation, being conformed to the image of God’s Son.
This to me is not possible without the Holy Spirit; The Spirit of Grace.
But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift. Therefore He says:
“When He ascended on high,
He led captivity captive,
And gave gifts to men.”
(Now this, “He ascended”—what does it mean but that He also first descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is also the One who ascended far above all the heavens, that He might fill all things.)
And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ. Ephesians 4:7-15
Key Phrase:
- till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ;
God wants us to be transformed by the renewing of our mind.
We are all called to be transformed into the image of His Son.
JLB