John Wesley Preached Perfection

John Wesley, Perfection, ,

John Wesley, Anglican clergyman and movement founder and ultimately founder of the Methodist traditions, did teach that perfection was possible. He is the first person, I believe, to preach such a thing. It was controversial. However, we have his published writings on the topic. Indeed, we have a a series of writing, so we can see his thought. This is what he said.

You may obtain a copy of the official version on this link.  It is widely available and still, occasionally, discussed. It  is not believed by any Methodist church. It is not the same as any holiness group believes now. I submit to you, however, that given that John Wesley began the discussion about holiness in our culture and church history, that we should give him a good listen — at the very least. We will learn much. It is respecting the fathers of the faith, if nothing else.

I commend this to your study. I think it will both encourage us and correct us, if we study Wesley’s doctrine of perfection.

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“Sons of God” shows up in Scripture

Perfection, Sonship, , ,

WOW! I recently found out that ” ‘uois” the Greek work for mature sons shows up in Scripture 7 times. AMAZING.

And with all the preaching I have heard on sonship doctrine, I never heard this. Have you?

If you are new to sonship doctrine, this will establish what is up — that there are such a thing as mature, human offspring of God. BTW, in the plural, in Greek, sons and daughters would be rendered “sons.” So I say “sons” in English, but that is NOT intended to exclude women, even though English has changed on this point.

If you are not new, you will find some surprises here. Firstly, the Greek doesn’t match up to the King James English, so at least one passage that we started with is out. It makes a big difference to the method. Then, there is another passage that is in. The English doesn’t make it clear that the children/sons being mentioned are mature. Once again, it makes a huge difference — in method.

Please share this with those interested. You might leave a 5 star rating on iTunes or your favorite podcast. While it is vulnerable to let people know about this and who I am, still, I think it so very important for the freedom, salvation, and encouragement so very many.

 

Editor: oops, more than that. Found some more. Working on final count. More than 7, anyway.

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Needing a Certain Method for How to Become a Son of God

Being loving, Perfection, , ,

Right. So, if sons of God exist, then how do we become a son of God. Isn’t that the most vital question? Right there in Matthew 5:48, Jesus tells us.

Never have I heard this preached on. Never.

Never have I even heard the question asked: how? by what method?  But isn’t that the most vital question of all?

If we want to get there, we need to know where there is. Then we need to have a way to get there. If we just start out, without knowing the destination or the way, we may find ourselves snookered and disappointed.

Jesus clearly indicates that being loving is the same as being perfect. That has major implications.

If you find value in this message, please share it with interested parties. Also, give us a like on iTunes, as that helps people find us. Thanks.

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Sonship is Real

Sonship,

Today we prove from the Bible that there are “sons of God” who are humans. We are looking for the Greek word for mature sons, “‘UIOS.”  This word is normally used of Jesus. A Roman adoption in which a rich father recognizes his grown son as being in business with him and able to represent the family uses this word “‘uios.” Other words possibly translated as sons or as children include  napios (babies that wear diapers), paideon (school children, moppets), and technon (teenagers.) In I John 3 “Now we are the sons of God” is technon. Now we are the teenagers of God, and it does not yet appear what we shall be… but we will be like Him.”

There are 7 mentions in the New Testament of ‘uios, mature sons. Have you ever heard this? It is a shock to me that I have never ever heard a sermon listing all 7 mentions. Even though I have heard hundreds of hours of  one sort sonship preaching. (Oops… maybe there are more… will get back to you on that… but at least there are these 7.)

What do you think the reason is that no one has listed them?

Matthew 5:9 peacemakers will be called the sons of God

Luke 20:36 sons of the resurrection

Galatians 3:26  and 4:6&7   Now we are sons by faith.

Hebrews 2:10  Jesus is our Big Brother and brings many sons to glory; Also see Hosea 1:10

Romans 8:14 & 19   Verse 14 is in the present tense: the Sons of God are led by the Spirit of God.  Verse 19 is in the future: “the manifestation of the sons of God.”

And on perfection: Matthew 5:48 Perfection is possible now, and is based on love, also see Phillipians 2:15

 

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Jesus the Pattern Son – an attempt to teach Sonship doctrine faithfully

MIssion of this MInistry, Sonship

Today we post our first and most introductory podcast. Sonship is great news because it is an invitation to a deeper walk with God, to being saved to the uttermost. This may come as a great surprise to both camps, but seems a great place to start in explaining what sonship would be. It would be growing up as a child in God’s family, into the maturity, into the image of the one Mature Son, Jesus Christ/Messiah.

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Shalom! Greetings with Blessings!

MIssion of this MInistry

We have begun a series that introduces a Biblical sonship doctrine. Firstly, it is about Jesus, not about us. Secondly, we will attempt to define, based on clear and contextual Bible what can be affirmed about an invitation into mature sonship.

I hope you enjoy and are blessed.

Jesus the Pattern Son is the name of our podcast because it is most importantly about Jesus. This is an attempt to teach sonship doctrine in a way that is faithful to the Bible. It will also be an attempt to teach it fulsomely enough to make sense. Thus we will make a go of trying to be orderly. As far as we know, no one has tried to do this before.

We are not the first to tackle this topic. It seems that now is the time that interest is sprouting through the wider Body of Christ. Certainly we do so at what we feel is the command of God, and with approbation of those whom we most respect. We hope it help many people: those who have heard this taught poorly and those who have not heard of the idea before.

We wish to be friends with everyone. We attempt to criticize no one. We do know, however, that criticism, even harsh castigation, even on the basis of imagination is a common practise, particularly by some of our friends who think they are the sole carriers of sonship doctrine. All we can say is 1) Judge yourselves whether it is better to serve God at God’s command than to refrain for fear of man and 2) We have harmed no one. Let us be, friends where possible, pleasant acquaintances where possible, or ships passing without comment. To be an enemy is to be on the enemy’s side.