I have come up with an analogy, that at least in my mind, paints a clear picture of John Wesley‘s idea of Christian perfection (also called entire sanctification). I make no claims to having read every book or article on Wesleyan doctrine, so someone may have already used this analogy in the past, but I never read it. Here it is.
In my backyard, there is a tree. It is a full-grown tree, not seed, not a sapling, but a mature, adult tree. It has good roots, strong wood, enough sap, healthy bark, branches, limbs, and leaves. It is a complete tree. It produces fruit in its season, will not be blown over in storms, and survives through every winter. It is healthy, and by any biologist’s or arborist’s definition, it is a perfect specimen of a tree.
Yet we must not forget one more important factor that makes this tree a perfect specimen; it is alive!
- Because it is alive, it still needs water, air, and sunshine. These things which are outside of itself.
- Because it is alive, it is still growing. It can reach higher, or broader, and produce even more fruit.
- Because it is alive, it will still sometimes need pruning. It may grow in a direction that is not ideal. It may need to be thinned out to let more light in for its own growth or for the growth of other plants.
Now let’s spell it out in terms of an entirely sanctified Christian.
- This person is mature in the faith and in life. This person is not a new convert nor an immature babe in Christ. This person knows the faith, holds onto the faith, lives the faith, and can teach the faith. All this they do in love. This person has everything they need for life and godliness. (1 Tim. 3:1-7; 1 Cor. 3:1-3; Eph. 4:11-16; 1 Cor. 13:1-3; 2 Pet. 1:3-4)
- This person still needs the grace of God. This person seeks out and uses the means of grace God provides. This person is still led, protected, prayed, and ministers by means of the Holy Spirit, and abides in Christ. (1 Cor. 11:17-34; Heb. 10:19-25; Gal.5:13-26; Eph. 6:10-20; John 15:4)
- This person is still growing. Thus this person may be more, in fact should be more, Christ-like tomorrow than they are today. This person still may be pruned or disciplined by the Father. (2 Pet. 3:17-18; John 15:1-4; Heb. 12:5-12)
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither– whatever they do prospers. (Psa. 1:1-3 NIV)
