Methodist Beliefs on Salvation

Jackson Snyder Bible

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 John Wesley and the early Methodists of England never desired to form a new church.  He and his cohorts were priests and laymen of the Church of England (Anglican Episcopal Church).  They preached the tenets of Anglicanism as found in the Articles of Religion and The Book of Common Prayer and believe in the Apostolic Succession.  The separation of the Methodists from the Anglicans came primarily on account of the American Revolution.  The American Methodist Episcopals were, by and large, committed to the cause of the Revolution, thus could no longer envision King George II, their enemy, as the spiritual head of the church.   The American Methodists begged the elderly Wesley to ordain a Bishop to the Americas.  (In Episcopal thinking, only a bishop may ordain clergy.)  Wesley resisted doing this because (1) he wanted Methodists to remain a part of the Anglican Communion and (2) he had no authority to ordain anybody -- he was not himself a bishop.  But due to the severity of the war, Wesley grudgingly caved in and ordained a Bishop to the Americas, thus unwittingly starting the Methodist Episcopal Church.    

Methodists were committed to the tenets of the Anglican faith and, for the most part, still are.  Methodists, however, emphasize scriptural holiness, righteous living, mission and service, nurture in the parish and "attending on the ordinances of God."

These ordinances include the following:

• Except for the ceremonies and rites, the moral commandments of the Old Testament are binding upon Christians;

• Humans are not inherently good but corrupt and inclined to evil continually.

• The grace of Christ encourages us to turn to him, but we have free will to accept him or reject him.  We are not pre-ordained either way.

• One may fall from grace and be restored through repentance and amending our lives.

• Purgatory, worship of saints or relics and prayer to saints are unfounded in Scripture.

• Sacraments of Baptism and Lord's Supper are means of greater grace, not just memorials or rituals.  The Church of England supports seven sacraments; Methodists only two.

• Baptism distinguishes believers from nonbelievers, and is a sign of the new birth.  As such, baptism of children is retained.

• The Lord's Supper is not just a sign of mutual love, but, when received in faith, is the partaking of the body and blood of Christ in a spiritual and heavenly manner.  The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper is not to be worshiped.  The Methodists differ from the Church of England (Episcopal) Church in that they deny the doctrine of transubstantiation.  (That the wine and bread turn into actual blood and flesh.)  Methodists usually don't use the Common Cup anymore.  Since the Temperance Movement of the 19th and 20th century, the Methodist have replace the communion wine with unfermented juice.

• Methodists believe in holding private property and giving generous alms.

• Methodists may swear in court and serve in the Armed Forces. 

The most noted feature of Methodism is it's emphasis on holiness and salvation in several stages, or acts, of grace.  The natural man is spiritually dead (Eph 2:1).  There is no good in him.  But the Grace of the Heavenly Father is poured out on the earth, wooing the sinner to repentance.  Upon honest, heartfelt repentance, the spirit of man is born.

some of the table above courtesy xeno.com

Baptism in the Holy Spirit - what is the evidence?  Baptism in the Holy Spirit is a second work of grace apart from justification and the New Birth.  What is the evidence of the Baptism in the Holy Spirit? Wesley might say that the evidence of Spirit Baptism is boldness to witness of your faith (as were the Apostles after Pentecost, Acts 2) coupled with the development and demonstration of the Fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23).

The Pan-Methodist (Wesleyan) Churches include: United Methodists, Congregational Methodists, Primitive Methodists, African Methodist Episcopal, Christian Methodist Episcopal, African Methodist Episcopal Zion, Wesleyan Methodists,  Free Methodists, Nazarenes, Church of God (Cleveland), Church of God of Prophecy, Most Holiness, Free-will Methodists, Salvation Army, many Pentecostal and charismatic groups.

According to the Episcopal Ruling of 1976, a Methodist member may be a charismatic but not a Pentecostal.  Why, do you think?  

Jackson Snyder
November 13, 2001