Rev. Dr. Travis Stevick

For the past several months, I have used this space to work through a Wesleyan understanding of grace and salvation. Throughout that journey, I have done two things: First, I used the traditional theological language (prevenient, sanctification, etc.). This was to introduce the terms to anyone who might not already be familiar with them, and to make it clear how these discussions might show up in other places. The other thing I did on purpose, though it is up to the reader to determine how...

The first reaction almost everyone has to the fact that John Wesley taught a doctrine called "Christian Perfection” is to be upset about it. We wonder what he could possibly be thinking. After all, doesn’t Paul say, in Philippians 3:12, “Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus?” If not even Paul can say that he is perfect, what hope do the rest of us have to be perfect?...

At some point during their discipleship journey, nearly everyone will wonder about whether they are really saved, whether they have given their lives to Christ, and how they would know one way or the other. If it is true that we are not saved by anything that we have done but because we believe in Christ and have put our trust in him, how can we know for sure that we have done this? After all, it would be a tragedy if we think we have come to believe in Jesus only to find, after it is too...