Holiness of Heart Produces Excellence in Life[1]
John Wesley and the movement that grew out of his ministry are well known for an expansive view of the possibilities of God’s grace at work in the life of believers. Wesley is known for his use of phrases like “Christian perfection” and “entire sanctification” as well as his emphasis on discipline and excellence amongst Methodist class leaders and members. For Wesley, expending great effort to cooperate with God’s grace was not tantamount to works of righteousness. Wesley and his followers experienced the love of God through what he called “means of grace” and were compelled by God’s love to love God in return in addition to all those created in God’s image (everyone). He challenged his followers to be “not almost only, but altogether, Christians! to reckon all things but dung and dross for the excellency of the experimental knowledge of Jesus Christ! and not to count our lives dear unto ourselves, so we may finish our course with joy!”[2]
Just as the love of God brought the possibility of heart holiness or Christian perfection to the inner life of the believer, His love compelled the believer to excellence. In their ministry to others, it was clearly of tremendous importance to Wesley that he and his followers love God and others enough to give them their absolute best. The love for God and others proceeds from a holy heart completely devoted to God. For Wesley, Christian perfection was not a matter of never failing but of the completeness of one's devotion to God. Any striving after Christian perfection or holiness or excellence is vanity if it does not flow from communion with the One who is “the Source of all knowledge and all excellence, the all-wise and all-gracious Creator.”[3] Holiness of heart produces excellence in life. As the former increases, so will the latter. This holiness and excellence are not a matter of comparative superiority to other people but a life compelled by the love of Christ to give its absolute best to God and others.
Wesley considered the desire for and possibility of excellence to be a hallmark of being created in God’s image. Commenting on Jesus’ pronouncement to His followers that they are to be the salt of the earth, Wesley states that we are to bear “the character, the stamp, the living impression of his person, who is the fountain of beauty and love, the original source of all excellency and perfection.”[4] Love, perfection, and excellence are all bound together for Wesleyans.
Titus 3:5-8 (NIV84)
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.”
Dr. Scott J Sherwood, President Nazarene Bible College
[1] This content is excerpted from a paper by the author entitled “Fostering Pastoral Skills Improvement Through Covenant Coaching Communities.”
[2] John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley, 3rd ed., vol. 14 (London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room, 1872), 228.
[3] John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley, 3rd ed., vol. 6 (London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room, 1872), 337.
[4] John Wesley, The Works of John Wesley, 3rd ed., vol. 5 (London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room, 1872), 295.
Published: 02/23/2022
Archived News