11. Romans 5:20-21 (NIV)
20 The law was brought in so that the
trespass might increase. But where
sin increased, grace increased all the
more, 21 so that, just as sin reigned
in death, so also grace might reign
through righteousness to bring eternal
life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
12. Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)
6 What shall we say, then? Shall we go
on sinning so that grace may
increase? 2 By no means! We are
those who have died to sin; how can
we live in it any longer? 3 Or don’t
you know that all of us who were
baptized into Christ Jesus were
baptized into his death?
13. Romans 6:1-4 (NIV)
4 We were therefore buried with him
through baptism into death in order
that, just as Christ was raised from
the dead through the glory of the
Father, we too may live a new life.
14. Romans 6:5-7 (NIV)
5 For if we have been united with him
in a death like his, we will certainly
also be united with him in a
resurrection like his. 6 For we know
that our old self was crucified with him
so that the body ruled by sin might be
done away with,[a] that we should no
longer be slaves to sin— 7 because
anyone who has died has been set
free from sin.
15. Romans 6:8-10 (NIV)
8 Now if we died with Christ, we believe
that we will also live with him. 9 For
we know that since Christ was raised
from the dead, he cannot die again;
death no longer has mastery over
him. 10 The death he died, he died to
sin once for all; but the life he lives,
he lives to God.
16. Romans 6:11-14 (NIV)
11 In the same way, count yourselves
dead to sin but alive to God in Christ
Jesus. 12 Therefore do not let sin
reign in your mortal body so that you
obey its evil desires.
17. Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)
15 What then? Shall we sin because
we are not under the law but under
grace? By no means! 16 Don’t you
know that when you offer yourselves
to someone as obedient slaves, you
are slaves of the one you obey—
whether you are slaves to sin, which
leads to death, or to obedience, which
leads to righteousness
18. Romans 6:15-18 (NIV)
17 But thanks be to God that, though
you used to be slaves to sin, you
have come to obey from your heart
the pattern of teaching that has now
claimed your allegiance. 18 You have
been set free from sin and have
become slaves to righteousness.
19. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
1. There is such a thing as
perfection; for it is again and
again mentioned in Scripture.
2. It is not so early as
justification (forgiveness of
sin); for justified persons are
to “go onto perfection”
20. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
3. It is not so late as death; for
St. Paul speaks of living men
that were perfect.
4. It is not absolute. Absolute
perfection belongs not to man,
nor to angels, but to God
alone.
21. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
5. It does not make a man
infallible: None is infallible,
while he remains in the body.
(Unable to fail.)
6. Is it sinless? It is not
worthwhile to contend for a
term. It is “salvation from sin.”
22. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
7. It is “perfect love”. This is
the essence of it; its
properties, or inseparable
fruits, are, rejoicing evermore,
praying without ceasing, and
in everything giving thanks.
23. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
8. It is improvable. It is so far
from lying in an indivisible
point, from being incapable of
increase, that one perfect in
love may grow in grace far
swifter than he did before.
24. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
9. It is amissible, capable of
being lost; of which we have
numerous instances…
10. It is constantly both
preceded and followed by a
gradual work.
25. John Wesley, Works XI, pg 441-442
11. But is it in itself instantaneous
or not? It is often difficult to
perceive the instance when a
man dies; yet there is an instant
in which life ceases. And if ever
sin ceases, there must be a last
moment of its existence, and a
first moment of our deliverance
from it.
