Entire sanctification
A view held among orthodox Christians
The Wesleyan teaching that believers can, by a second work of grace, be freed from the inward bent to sin and filled with perfect love in this life.
Also called: Christian perfection, Wesleyan entire sanctification
What it means
Entire sanctification comes from John Wesley and the Methodist and Holiness traditions. It teaches that after conversion a believer may receive, by faith, a further work of the Spirit that cleanses the heart from inbred sin, so that the person loves God and neighbor with an undivided heart. Its holders do not claim freedom from mistakes, weakness, or temptation, and most teach that the experience can be lost and must be maintained.
Wesleyans draw on texts that call believers to be perfect, holy, and blameless, and they see the doctrine as a call to take holiness seriously rather than settle for a defeated Christian life. Many faithful churches in the Wesleyan tradition hold it.
The Reformed confessions disagree. The Westminster and 1689 confessions teach that sanctification is imperfect in this life and that remnants of corruption abide in every part of the believer until death. Reformed readers take "perfect" in these texts to mean mature or complete in Christ, and point to passages where the apostles confess ongoing sin.
In Scripture
Paul prays that God would sanctify believers completely and keep them blameless.
Jesus tells his disciples to be perfect as their heavenly Father is perfect.
One born of God does not keep on sinning, because God's seed abides in him.
Those who claim to have no sin deceive themselves; the Reformed cite this against the view.
Paul says he has not already been made perfect, which the Reformed see as the normal Christian state.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WCF 13.2; LBCF 1689 13.2
On this site: Sanctification
Related terms
Progressive sanctificationHistoric orthodoxy
The Reformed teaching that believers grow in holiness gradually throughout life, by the Spirit through ordinary means, without reaching sinless perfection before death.
Second blessingA view held among orthodox Christians
The teaching that, after conversion, believers should seek a distinct experience of the Holy Spirit that brings a new level of holiness or spiritual power.
Keswick theologyA view held among orthodox Christians
A teaching on holiness, named after conventions held at Keswick, England, which calls believers to a crisis of surrender that brings them into a higher, victorious Christian life.
ArminianismA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that God, by grace, enables every person to respond to the gospel, and elects to salvation those He foresees will freely believe.