A Presentation of Perfection - Media Sabda Org

But it may be asked with earnestness, "Is not the work of God perfect in
regeneration?" and we answer, it is a perfect regeneration. But a perfect regeneration
is not a perfect sanctification, no more than perfect penitence is regeneration. The
soul is perfectly born anew, but it is not perfectly made holy. [18]
Foster in his writings was also concerned about what he considered negative aspects of Palmer's
"altar theology." She encouraged seekers to come to the altar to literally present their bodies a living
sacrifice to God. Foster, among others, felt that sometimes this methodology caused people to
experience sanctification by mental assent only. He believed there was more to becoming entirely
sanctified than just believing and the work would be done. Foster says,
Those who teach this new doctrine tend to substitute 'mere belief' for 'confiding trust.'
For Wesley, sanctifying faith, like justifying faith, is more than intellectual assent;
it is the warm trust of the heart. [19]
Miner Raymond
There was still an unrest in Methodism over holiness when Raymond wrote his work. Greathouse
has written,
During the holiness controversy in American Methodism, Miner Raymond
(1811-97), professor of systematic theology at Darrett Biblical Institute, produced his
three-volume Systematic Theology. Published in 1877, it was placed in the Methodist
Episcopal Course of Study in 1880, where it remained until 1908. [20]
Raymond, like Foster, was a staunch supporter of a Wesleyan view of Christian Perfection. He
did point out a couple of things to which Methodism should be aware. First, no person should build
his faith on another person's experience. He said that God works individually with us in our
experiencing sanctification. Secondly, he did admit that it was difficult to define Christian
Perfection. However, he wholeheartedly believed in the experience. He said,
The propriety of affirming the doctrine of Christian Perfection cannot be denied. The
Scriptures recognize a state of grace which they speak of as a state of maturity, and
they call that grace perfect love. They further assure that this is a state of grace which
[21]
may be sought, obtained, and enjoyed. Christian perfection, therefore, despite the
difficulty of definition, includes at least these two ideas: maturity and perfect love.
Explore those concepts and the breadth of the doctrine is evident. [22]
John Miley
John Miley was a professor of systematic theology at Drew Theological Seminary. His
two-volume Systematic Theology was published in 1894 and was reprinted as recently as 1989. The
conclusions he arrived at had a far-reaching effect in the religious world, especially in Methodism.