How can Paul possibly address the members of the church in Corinth as “saints”? As someone who embraces the Wesleyan-Holiness heritage I’ve always struggled with this. The Wesleyan-holiness heritage, which is largely defined by Wesley’s doctrine of Christian Perfection, puts a strong emphasis on the importance of the doctrine of actual holiness, which promotes the idea that believers can actually live holy and righteous lives by overcoming temptation by the indwelling power of the Holy Spirit. Said another way, the Wesleyan-holiness heritage promotes the message that believers can actually take on the image of Christ particularly expressed in the posture of the heart. Wesley’s doctrine was developed to combat antinomianism (lawlessness)—the problem of people using the Cross as a license to sin freely.
Wesley wasn’t the first to deal with this issue. Antinomianism is also what Paul was combatting when he says, “What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means!” (Rom 6:15). The simple fact that Paul has to make this statement highlights the risk of misinterpreting what the Cross accomplishes for believers. Experience attests to the fact that as sinners, we will do whatever it takes to justify our sin. This in itself is one of the main symptoms of sin: thinking that there is nothing wrong with us!
Amazing isn’t it, that as sinners we are able to take the very saving work of God on the Cross and twist it to justify sinful behavior? Sin perverts justice. Unfortunately, this is precisely how some interpret the doctrine of justification—license to sin freely because Jesus paid the penalty for that sin.
My point is this, even a completely innocent, self-giving act (such as the Cross) that is driven by love and compassion can, and will be perverted by the World. This reality, however, does not give license to do anything less than follow Jesus’ example.
It’s easy to die for people who love you. It is dying for our enemies—those who will hate us even though we’ve given life for them—this is what the Holy Spirit wishes to empower us to do.
–From Holiness in Fresh Perspective: Covenant, Cross, and Kingdom (Wipf and Stock)
[1] See John Wesley, “Christian Perfection”
