WesleyGospel Ministries

Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness
of the flesh and spirit,
perfecting holiness in the fear of God.
–2 Corinthians 7:1 (KJV)–

¹⁶ But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. ¹⁷ For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit, and the desires of the Spirit are against the flesh, for these are opposed to each other, to keep you from doing the things you want to do. ¹⁸ But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. ¹⁹ Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, ²⁰ idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, ²¹ envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. ²² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. ²⁴ And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. ²⁵ If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit. ²⁶ Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
–Galatians 5:16-26 (ESV)–

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It is nothing more nor less than that habitual disposition of the soul which, in sacred writings, is termed holiness; and which directly implies, the being cleansed from sin, “from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit,” and by consequences, the being endued with those virtues which were also in Christ Jesus; the being so “renewed in the spirit of our mind,” as to be “perfect as our Father in heaven is perfect…” Perfection in the sense of infallibility does not exist on
the face of the earth.*
–John Wesley–

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* Leonard Lovett, in Aspects of Pentecostal-Charismatic Origins (Logos, 1975), p. 128. This is said to be a direct quote from John Wesley, but it appears to be a mixture of things he said on the nature of Christian perfection–which we might call the addiction breaking stage of sanctification. Lovett cites the following as the source of this quote: Thomas Jackson, ed. The Works of John Wesley (Zondervan, 1959): XI, p. 394. The quote is also referred to in William Cannon’s The Theology of John Wesley (Abingdon, 1946), p. 241. It seems to be based on Wesley’s sermon “The Circumcision of the Heart,” 1.1 and A Plain Account of Christian Perfection (Lane and Sandford, 1844), p. 55, where he said, “It does not make a man infallible; none is infallible while he remains in the body.” Last but not least, the quote above is filled with King James Bible verses without the proof texts: 2 Corinthians 7:1, Ephesians 4:23, and Matthew 5:48.

Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness,
and all these things will be added to you.
–Matthew 6:33 (ESV)–

The woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet, and adorned with gold and jewels and pearls, holding in her hand a golden cup full of abominations and the impurities of her sexual immorality…And I saw the woman, drunk with the blood of the saints, the blood of the martyrs of Jesus.
–Revelation 17:4, 6 (ESV)–

Two are better than one,
because they have a good reward for their toil.
For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls
and has not another to lift him up!
–Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (ESV)–

¹³ She seeks wool and flax,
and works with willing hands.
¹⁴ She is like the ships of the merchant;
she brings her food from afar.
¹⁵ She rises while it is yet night
and provides food for her household
and portions for her maidens.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She dresses herself with strength
and makes her arms strong.
¹⁸ She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ She puts her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
²⁰ She opens her hand to the poor
and reaches out her hands to the needy.
²¹ She is not afraid of snow for her household,
for all her household are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes bed coverings for herself;
her clothing is fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is known in the gates
when he sits among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them;
she delivers sashes to the merchant.
–Proverbs 31:13-24 (ESV)–

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Richard Steele, The Religious Tradesman (Sprinkle Publications, 1989).

Larry Burkett, The Word on Finances (Moody, 1994).

Dr. John R. Rice, False Doctrines Answered (Sword of the Lord, 1970), pp. 382-393.

William Mathews, Getting On In the World (S. C. Griggs, 1879).

Paul Edwards, Secrets of Successful Self-Employment (Nightingale Conant, 1995).