Confirmation Part 6/10: Advanced Methodist Teachings
This is part of a series of mix-and-match curriculum resource for UMC Confirmation Classes and Teachers
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Deeper Wesleyan Teachings
Justification by Grace Alone
In Christianity, "justification" is the event or process by which sinners are made or declared to be righteous in the sight of God. During John Wesley's time, two common Reformation teachings shaped the conversation: "Justification by Faith Alone" (sola fide), meaning that justification comes on the basis of faith, and "Scripture Alone" (sola scriptura), meaning that the Bible is the sole infallible source of authority for Christian faith and practice.
Wesley affirmed the importance of both faith and Scripture, but his teachings emphasized something distinctive: Justification by Grace Alone — salvation comes by divine grace, or "unmerited favor" only, not as something merited or earned.
Sanctification and Perfection
Sanctification (from sanctus, meaning "set apart" or "holy") is the process by which the believer is made holy and whole. For John Wesley, sanctification is the lifelong, continuing process of being made perfect in love and of removing the desire to sin.
The end result of this process is Christian Perfection. By "perfection," Wesley did not mean flawlessness. He meant something closer to personal wholeness or maturity. Wesley believed we could become perfect in love in this life. If Jesus invites us to seek perfection, then perfect love is possible. He didn't mean we would be free from mistakes, temptation, or failure — but that we could grow toward a love that orients our whole lives. A common Methodist saying is "Onward toward perfection!"
The Graces: Prevenient, Justifying, and Sanctifying
The Book of Discipline defines grace as "the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence through the ever-present Holy Spirit." Grace pervades all of creation and is universally present. Wesley emphasized three expressions of grace.
Prevenient Grace is God's grace that comes before we're even aware of it. Wesley described it as including "all that is wrought in the soul by what is frequently termed 'natural conscience.'" Prevenient grace is present in all creation — in the natural order, in human conscience, in the relationships and heritage into which we are born. Love of family, the Christian community, the sacraments, creation itself, and the pull toward a vision of what can be are all expressions of God's prevenient grace.
Justifying Grace is the assurance of forgiveness that comes from repentance — from turning toward God's gracious gift of new life. Wesley said, "Justification is another word for pardon. It is the forgiveness of all our sins, and our acceptance with God." Justifying grace means being reconciled and realigned with God, and accepting God's atoning act in Jesus Christ.
Sanctifying Grace is the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit that changes us so that our lives grow increasingly whole and loving. Sanctifying grace is God's freely given presence and power to restore the fullness of God's image in which we are created.
The Wesleyan Quadrilateral
John Wesley taught about using four sources for understanding God's will in our lives, often called the "Wesleyan Quadrilateral." The name can be misleading — it's not a square with four equal sides. Scripture holds a unique place as the primary source. Tradition, Reason, and Experience all help us understand Scripture more fully, and they work together as a system of accountability. Without Tradition, we lose the wisdom of Christians who came before us. Without Reason, we lose the ability to test our interpretations. Without Experience, Scripture stays theoretical rather than lived. And without Scripture as the foundation, the other three have nothing to stand on.
Scripture — Biblical teachings. For United Methodists, Scripture is the primary and foundational source for Christian teaching. Methodists take Scripture seriously, and also recognize that the books in the Bible come from many different writers at different times.
Tradition — The experience and witness of the development and growth of the faith through past centuries, across many nations and cultures. You are not the first person to encounter these texts. The church has been reading, debating, and living with them for two thousand years.
Reason — Through reason, the individual Christian brings discerning and critical thought to the Christian faith. Can this interpretation survive scrutiny? Does it cohere? Reason includes logic, scientific understanding, and honest questioning.
Experience — The individual's understanding of the faith in light of their own life. A chaplain reads the Psalms of lament differently after sitting with someone who is dying. A parent reads the prodigal son differently after their child comes home. Your personal experiences matter — they are where Scripture becomes real rather than theoretical.
The Simplest of Rules
Wesley could go deep — but he could also go simple. He gave tens of thousands of sermons throughout his life, but he summarized his teachings in three simple rules:
Do no harm.
Do good.
Stay in love with God.
— Pause here.
This is part of a series of mix-and-match curriculum resource for UMC Confirmation Classes and Teachers
