^	Methodist Beliefs About Salvation Ordinances include: Old Testament, Corrupt Humanity, Free Will, Fall from Grace, Popery, Sacraments, The Eucharist, Private Property, War.	[]
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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 believed in 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 two Bishop to the Americas, Coke and Asbury, thus unwittingly starting the Methodist Episcopal Church of America.       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: Old Testament: Except for the ceremonies and rites, the moral commandments of the Old Testament are binding upon Christians; Corrupt Humanity: Humans are not inherently good but corrupt and inclined to evil continually. Free Will: 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. Fall from Grace: One may fall from grace and be restored through repentance and amending one's life. Popery: Purgatory, worship of saints, relics, sacrament, and prayer to saints are unfounded in Scripture. Neither the Pope nor the King has the last word in matter of faith.  Sacraments: 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 Eucharist 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. Private Property: Methodists believe in holding private property and giving generous alms. War: 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.  Such is called prevenient grace because it goes before us.  Upon honest, heartfelt repentance, and through a miraculous act of grace, the right spirit of man may born from above. Justification Sanctification Glorification (Gal 2:16) A man is not justified by the works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus. (Rom 6:22) But now having been freed from sin and enslaved to God, you derive your benefit, resulting in sanctification, and the outcome, eternal life. (Phil 3:21) Who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory. legal righteousness imputed; deliverance from sin's Penalty personal righteousness imparted; deliverance from sin's Power moral perfection & resurrected bodies; deliverance from sin's Presence new birth / water baptism baptism in the Holy Spirit / fire resurrection "right spirit of Adam" born Holy Spirit empowers Holy Spirit and man become one one act of faith many acts of faith / perfection in love (Entire Sanctification) no act of faith once-for-all-time progressive, dynamic, never-ending in this life ("spiritual growth") once-for-all-time establishes Position transforms Condition matches Condition with Position 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?   You may read that ruling here: http://www.jacksonsnyder.com/arc//Indices/Guidelines%20Archive.htm   Jackson Snyder November 13, 2001