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The Evangelical Methodist Church

catechism the journey of faith __________

“We should so work as if we were to be saved by our works; And so rely on Jesus Christ, as if we did no works.” —Francis Asbury: God’s Circuit Rider (1745-1816)

The Evangelical Methodist Church

CATECHISM Published by the authority of the 30th General Conference of the Evangelical Methodist Church, held in Indianapolis, Indiana March 12-15, 2010 General Editor: Dr. Edward W. Williamson, General Superintendent Department of Publications Editor: Mrs. Peggy Trim, Deaconess

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without written permission from the Department of Publications. All Scripture is quoted from the New International Version (NIV) of the Bible unless otherwise noted. Printed in USA by 48HrBooks (www.48HrBooks.com)

Evangelical Methodist Church International Headquarters P. O. Box 17070 Indianapolis, IN 46217 Location: 6838 South Gray Road Indianapolis, IN 46237

Additional copies of this publication may be ordered by contacting the Department of Publications at:

Phone: 317-780-8017 Email: publications@emchurch.org www.emchurch.org

Table of Contents Foreword .................................................................................. 6 Lesson 1: Our History and Commitment ............................... 7 Lesson 2: The Articles of Religion ....................................... 15 Lesson 3: A Biblical View of the Scriptures ........................ 39 Lesson 4: A Biblical View of God and Humanity ................. 41 Lesson 5: A Biblical View of Sin and Redemption .............. 47 Lesson 6: A Biblical View of God’s Plan for Salvation ........ 51 Lesson 7: Sanctification ..................................................... 55 Lesson 8: A Biblical View of the Church and the Sacraments ......................................................... 59 Lesson 9: A Biblical View of Eternity .................................. 65 Lesson 10: Missions ............................................................ 69 Lesson 11: Our Government: Congregational and Connectional ............................................... 79 Lesson 12: Membership Responsibility ………. .................... 83 Lesson 13: Membership ...................................................... 89 Membership Covenant ...................................... 90 Appendix A: John Wesley’s The Scripture Way of Salvation A Break-Through Sermon .................................... 91 Appendix B: The Scripture Way of Salvation, John Wesley’s Sermon in Modern English … ............... 99 Appendix C: Explanatory Notes, Evangelical Methodist Articles of Faith ……………………… ................. 113 Appendix D: Basic Denominational Principles .................. …..127 Answers to Lesson Questions ................................................ 129

Forward The General Board of Christian Education congratulates you for taking this step in expanding your knowledge of the basic doctrinal teachings to which the Evangelical Methodist Church adheres. The EMC is Wesleyan in doctrine which promotes purity of heart and a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. It is the desire of this Board that as you embark upon your journey through this study you will come to know the EMC better and appreciate its stand for holiness. While this study perhaps will not answer all your questions, it will serve as a foundation upon which you, as a student, may build your understanding of the Wesleyan tradition. As you work your way through this study, you will not only develop a better understanding of what the EMC is, but also establish personal disciplines of study which will serve you well as you grow in your personal relationship with the Lord. While this study gives you a basic understanding of the EMC, it also gives you information for becoming a disciple of Jesus Christ. Another study, Discipleship Training, A Venture in Learning and Accountability offered by the General Board of Christian Education, will help you become more disciplined in your daily walk with the Lord. It will also give you tools to disciple others, thus fulfilling the Great Commission that Jesus gave the Church while it waits for His return. The pastor and lay leaders will enlarge and supplement this material to accommodate their local church mission statement and unique missional ministries. 2010-2014 General Board of Christian Education Members: Rev. Debbie Miller, Chair Rev. Dan Cottrell Dr. William Dean Rev. John Gentry Mr. Benoit Kitenge Rev. Robert Perkins Rev. Daniel Stiles

esson 7 Sanctification

Sanctification, entire sanctification, Christian perfection, and holiness are all watchwords of Methodism. John Wesley fully laid out his teaching about these things in his sermon, A Plain Account of Christian Perfection, but his teachings on them are also present throughout his writings, and very solidly based in Scripture. To be methodical in our discussion of sanctification, we need to go back to what leads up to it. In brief, we hold that through God's Holy Spirit, His prevenient grace—that grace which goes before us in our conversion—encourages us and enables us to turn to Him. Grace is a free and unmerited gift of God; we cannot earn it in any way, and yet God still gives us grace out of His love. This prevenient grace enables us to call on His name, and to have faith in Christ Jesus as our Savior. It is that faith in Christ which is the channel through which He, again, by His grace, justifies (saves, delivers, protects) us. As Scripture says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast” Ephesians 2:8-9. (See also Acts 26:17-18.) In John Wesley's sermon Justification by Faith, he notes that sanctification is the immediate fruit of justification. This means that sanctification begins at the moment of justification. God sanctifies you (sets you apart, makes you suitable for His service, makes you holy) the very moment He saves you by His grace through your faith in Jesus. Sanctification is an integral part of salvation, and just like justification, sanctification is the gracious gift of God, received through faith. As we noted just above, the word sanctified means set apart, made suitable for His service, and made holy, and it also means purified and consecrated to God. In the Old Testament, there were rites and ceremonies for sanctification. Moses is told by God 55

to sanctify the people for God's service. In the New Testament, we continue to read about sanctification as an event that happens as people believe and are saved, but if we read closely, we find that sanctification is supposed to become a way of life for the Christian. Let's look at this again. We read in John 17:19 (KJV) that Jesus prays to the Father for His followers to be sanctified. He says, “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” Sanctification is introduced here as an event, but it is not just an event; it is also shown as a process, something which will continue to happen in us. Paul writes to the Corinthians (1 Corinthians 6:11), “But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” Now, look at the context, the rest of that chapter; Paul is showing them how to live sanctified lives. Sanctification is an event, but it is also a process, or rather, a way of life. Sanctification is what turns us from takers into givers, and what keeps us that way. Wesley noted that by a separate work of God's grace after salvation, the Holy Spirit would eliminate the root of original sin. He wrote, “It is thus that we wait for entire sanctification; for a full salvation from all our sins, from pride, self-will, anger, unbelief; or as the Apostle expresses it, 'go on unto perfection.'” (Sermon 43 The Scripture Way of Salvation) This event is often called entire sanctification and being filled with the Spirit. As a result of this work of God's grace, a believer is able to live free of conscious sin. In this state of Christian perfection, a Christian will still grow in grace and maturity and is still subject to human weaknesses. We need to remember, though, that the experience of entire sanctification is no guarantee that the believer may not later fall from grace. Nevertheless, a Christian can enjoy perfect love in which he, from pure motives, pursues holiness without taint of sin. But what is perfection? The word has various senses: Here it means perfect love. It is love excluding sin; love filling the heart, taking up the whole capacity of the soul. It is love “rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, in everything giving thanks.” He also wrote: “Entire sanctification, or Christian perfection, is neither more nor less than pure love; love expelling sin, and governing both the heart and life of a child of God. The Refiner's fire purges out all that is contrary to love and that many times by a 56

pleasing heart. Leave all this to Him that does all things well, and that loves you better than you do yourself.” [Letters to Mr. Walter Churchey, of Brecon] Is entire sanctification possible in this life? We know so. Paul wrote, “May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it” 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. To summarize: sanctification is a second definite work of grace subsequent to regeneration, accomplished by the baptism of the Holy Spirit, thereby purifying the heart from original sin of self centeredness and empowering for continuous growth in grace until death in victorious living and fruitful service. Lesson 7 – REVIEW Sanctification TRUE or FALSE: 1.

______ Sanctification begins at the moment of justification. God sanctifies you the very moment He saves you by His grace through your faith in Jesus.

______ The word sanctified means “set apart,” “made suitable for His service,” and “made holy,” and it also means “purified” and “consecrated to God.”

______ Sanctification is an event, but it is also a process, or rather, a way of life.

4. ______ When Jesus tells us to “be perfect,” He is telling us to live lives striving toward holiness. For discussion: Sanctification is what turns us from takers into givers, and what keeps us that way.

—N O T E S—