True Christian living requires us to live according to Kingdom standards which bring Heaven to earth.
A commentary on John Wesley's A Plain Account of Christian Perfection
By: Frank L. Hoffman
Jesus said, "Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
(Matthew 5:48)
(Wesley's writings are in bold)
About two months ago (August, 2001), I was told the story about a Methodist pastor who had his "ordination paper" rejected because he quoted too much Scripture. If this story had not come from such a reliable and faithful pastor friend of mine, I wouldn't have believed such a thing could happen. When we fully give our heart and soul to God, His word, contained in the Bible, becomes "second nature". It flows forth in the ways we think and speak and write, even if we use different words to express the same Biblical message and meaning. This is particularly true in the tenth part of "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection", in which John Wesley's words seem to flow continually from one Scripture passage to another. How could any Christian be rejected for doing the same thing?
As we read the words of John Wesley, which he addressed to Methodists, we should keep in mind that his words really apply to every believer, regardless of denomination; thus, every place we see the word "Methodist", we should substitute the word "Christian".
The first tract I ever wrote expressly on this subject was published in the
latter end of this year [1739]. That none might be prejudiced before they
read it I gave it the indifferent title of "The Character of a Methodist."
In this I described a perfect Christian, placing in the front, "Not as
though I had already attained." [Philippians 3:12] Part of it I subjoin
without any alteration.
"A Methodist is one who loves the Lord his God with all his heart, with all
his soul, with all his mind, and with all his strength [Mark 12:30]. God is
the joy of his heart, and the desire of his soul, which is continually
crying: 'Whom have I in heaven but thee and there is none upon earth whom I
desire beside thee.' [Psalm 73:25] My God and my all! 'Thou art the strength
of my heart, and my portion forever.' [Psalm 73:26b] He is therefore happy
in God; yea, always happy, as having in him a well of water springing up
unto everlasting life [John 4:14], and overflowing his soul with peace and
joy. Perfect love having now cast out fear [1 John 4:18], he rejoices
evermore. Yea, his joy is full, and all his bones cry out: 'Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to His abundant
mercy, hath begotten me again unto a living hope of an inheritance
incorruptible and undefiled, reserved in heaven for me [1 Peter 1:3-4].'
"And he who hath this hope, thus full of immortality, in everything giveth
thanks, as knowing this (whatsoever it is) is the will of God in Christ
Jesus concerning him. From Him, therefore, he cheerfully receives all,
saying, 'Good is the will of the Lord,' and whether he giveth or taketh
away, equally blessing the name of the Lord. Whether in ease or pain,
whether in sickness or health, whether in life or death, he giveth thanks
from the ground of the heart to Him who orders it for good; into whose hands
he hath wholly committed his body and soul, 'as into the hands of a faithful
Creator.' He is, therefore anxiously 'careful for nothing,' as having 'cast
all his care on Him that careth for him,' and 'in all things' resting on him
after 'making his 'request known to him with thanksgiving [Philippians
4:6].'
"For, indeed, he 'prays without ceasing [1 Thessalonians 5:17]'; at all
times the language of his heart is this: 'Unto thee is my mouth, though
without a voice; and my silence speaketh unto thee.' His heart is lifted up
to God at all times and in all places. In this he is never hindered, much
less interrupted, by any person or thing. In retirement or company, in
leisure, business, or conversation, his heart is ever with the Lord. Whether
he lie down, or rise up, 'God is in all his thoughts'; he walks with God
continually, having the loving eye of his soul fixed on Him, and everywhere
'seeing Him that is invisible [Hebrews 11:27].'
"And loving God, he 'loves his neighbor as himself [Leviticus 19:18],' he
loves every man as his own soul. He loves his enemies, yea, and the enemies
of God. And if it be not in his power to 'do good to them that hate' him,
yet he ceases not to 'pray for them,' though they spurn his love, and still
'despitefully use him, and persecute him.' [Matthew 5:44]
"For he is 'pure in heart.' Love has purified his heart from envy, malice,
wrath, and every unkind temper. It has cleansed him from pride, whereof
'only cometh contention,' and he hath now 'put on bowels of mercies,
kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, long-suffering.' And, indeed, all
possible ground for contention, on his part, is cut off. For none can take
from him what he desires, seeing he 'loves not the world, nor any of the
things of the world [1 John 2:15],' but 'all his desire is unto God, and to
the remembrance of his name [Isaiah 26:8].'
"Agreeable to this his one desire is the one design of his life, namely, 'to
do not his own will, but the will of him that sent him.' His one intention
at all times and in all places is not to please himself but him whom his
soul loveth. He hath a single eye; and because his 'eye is single, his whole
body is full of light. The whole is light, as when the bright shining of a
candle doth enlighten the house.' [Matthew:15-16] God reigns alone; all that is in the soul
is 'holiness to the Lord.' There is not a motion in his heart but is
according to His will. Every thought that arises points to Him, and is in
'obedience to the law of Christ.'
"And the tree is known by its fruits. For, as he loves God, so he 'keeps His
commandments,' not only some, or most of them, but all, from the least to
the greatest. He is not content to 'keep the whole law and offend in one
point,' but has in all points 'a conscience void of offense toward God and
toward man [Acts 24:16].' Whatever God has forbidden, he avoids; whatever
God has enjoined, he does. 'He runs the way of God's commandments,' now he
hath set his heart at liberty. It is his glory and joy so to do; it is his
daily crown of rejoicing, to 'do the will of God on earth, as it is done in
heaven [Matthew 6:10].'
"All the commandments of God he accordingly keeps, and that with all his
might, for his obedience is in proportion to his love, the source from
whence it flows. And, therefore, loving God with all his heart, he serves
him with all his strength; he continually presents his soul and 'body a
living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God [Romans 12:1],' entirely and
without reserve devoting himself, all he has, all he is, to His glory. All
the talents he has he constantly employs according to his Master's will;
every power and faculty of his soul, every member of his body.
"By consequence, 'whatsoever he doeth, it is all to the glory of God.'
[1 Corinthians 10:31] In
all his employments, of every kind, he not only aims at this, which is
implied in having a single eye, but actually attains it; his business and
his refreshments, as well as his prayers, all serve to this great end.
Whether he 'sit in the house, or walk by the way,' whether he lie down, or
rise up [Deuteronomy 6:7], he is promoting, in all he speaks or does, the
one business of his life. Whether he put on his apparel, or labor, or eat
and drink, or divert himself from too wasting labor, it all tends to advance
the glory of God, by peace and good will among men. His one invariable rule
is this: 'Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the
Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father, through Him [Colossians
3:17].'
"Nor do the customs of the world at all hinder his 'running the race which
is set before him [Hebrews 12:1].' He cannot therefore 'lay up treasures
upon earth,' no more than he can take fire into his bosom. He cannot speak
evil of his neighbor, any more than he can lie either for God or man. He
cannot utter an unkind word of anyone, for love keeps the door of his lips.
He cannot 'speak idle words; no corrupt conversation' ever 'comes out of his
mouth,' as is all that is not 'good to the use of edifying,' not fit to
'minister grace to the hearers.' But 'whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever
things are lovely, whatsoever things are' justly 'of good report
[Philippians 4:8],' he thinks, speaks, and acts, 'adorning the doctrine of
God our Saviour in all things.' "
These are the very words wherein I largely declared, for the first time, my
sentiments of Christian perfection. And is it not easy to see (1) that this
is the very point at which I aimed all along from the year 1725; and more
determinately from the year 1730, when I began to be homo unius libri, "a
man of one book," regarding none, comparatively, but the Bible? Is it not
easy to see (2) that this is the very same doctrine which I believe and
teach at this day, not adding one point, either to that inward or outward
holiness which I maintained eight and thirty years ago? And it is the same
which, by the grace of God, I have continued to teach from that time till
now, as will appear to every impartial person from the extracts subjoined
below.
The last paragraph (immediately above) was written by John Wesley in 1777, the last year that "A Plain Account of Christian Perfection" was edited. And as John Wesley could look back at the thirty-eight years since he penned his original words and see no difference in his understanding of the character of a perfect Christian, so today, in a new millennium, I can look back and also attest to the fact that this description of a perfect Christian still rings true.
Even if we don't completely achieve all these attributes, today, it should give us a challenge, something to work for, tomorrow. But perhaps the words, "achieve and work", don't accurately describe what we must do to achieve Christian perfection, for God's perfection is all around us, if we are willing to receive it. Sin and perfection cannot exist together any more than light and darkness can exist in the same place. All we need to "do" is be willing to give up the sin and imperfections in our life, to the very depth of our soul, and not simply store them away in storage closets of our mind. Then, the grace of God will fill us to overflowing with His perfect love and will.
Go on to: Chapter 11 - Opposition to Perfection
Return to: Christian Perfection Table of Contents
Return to: Christian Living Table of Contents