Catholicity & Distinctives

History & Distinctives of
the Wesleyan Church
Part 3: Wesleyan Doctrinal Distinctives

Catholic Agreements
 Apostle’s Creed
 Nicene Creed
 Athanasian Creed

Wesleyan Agreement
 One God, three-Persons (Father, Son, Spirit)
 Jesus as unique God-man
~ Virgin birth
~ Sacrificial death
~ Physical resurrection
~ Ascension to heaven
~ Future return for judgment
 The Old & New Testament as Scripture (66 books)
~ Inspired & Infallible
~ Inerrant in their original manuscripts
~ Transmitted w/o corruption of essentials
~ Contain all necessary truth
 Our purpose: Love God, Love people
 Marriage is 1 man, 1 woman in Covenant
 Fallen nature (inability to achieve righteousness)
 Universal prevenient grace enabling freedom
 Salvation through Christ alone
~ Includes incompetent & children
~ Accessed by repentance (Savior) & faith (Lord)
~ Expressed by joining God’s Church
 Good works as the fruit of genuine faith
 Gradual & entire sanctification
 Church is entire body of believers in Jesus Christ
 Sacraments (Water Baptism & Lord’s Supper)
 2nd Coming of Christ, General Resurrection/Judgment
 Eternal Heaven & Everlasting Hell
“The Wesleyan Church has grown out of a revival movement which has historically given itself to one mission – the spreading of Scriptural holiness throughout every land”

Social Concern
 Equal Rights: opportunity for all people
 Peace: war to be avoided if/when possible
 Military Service: will defend conscientious objector
 Substance Abuse: avoided except for legitimate use
 Sexuality: within marriage of 1 man, 1 woman
 Divorce: sinful when not biblical, not un-pardonable
 Lord’s Day: opposed to merchandising
 Religion in Public: for public mention/prayer
 Dancing: protests social dancing in public schools
 Oaths: reserves right to affirm by testimony
 Abortion: opposed except in case of mother’s life
 Leisure: careful regulation of media/addictions
 Modesty: dressing with modest simplicity

Worship & Fellowship
 No one form is necessary
 God may physically heal when for His glory
 Liberty concerning secondary issues
 Cross-denominational fellowship

Christian Stewardship
 God is the owner of all persons and all things
 Churches financed through storehouse tithing
 Cautionary fund-raising
 Thought to be given to last will and testament