John Wesley: The Baptism of The Holy Spirit or Living In Holiness

 

John Wesley

It May Surprise You

Since the 1700s, the Methodist Movement was used to bring about miracles of Grace.  The modern Global Methodist Church is also seeking to be used in a similar way by "Making disciples and spreading Scriptural holiness throughout the world." One big part of this is called, "Second Blessing Holiness" or "The Baptism of The Holy Spirit." And many Pentecostals credit Wesley with leading the way of the modern day "Pentecostal Movement."  What is surprising is John Wesley never used the phrase “baptism of the Holy Spirit" after a person is saved by grace. His doctrine of entire sanctification absolutely assumes a real, experiential, transformative work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer after justification, after a person has been saved by grace. This moves the Christ Follower into a deeper walk of grace which is also described as Scriptural holiness or going on to perfection. Personally, I know when the Holy Spirit came on me decades ago, this entire sanctification really transformed me all at once, and it led the way for spiritual growth and the ability to evangelize.

In other words: Wesley’s theology makes room for a significant, Spirit‑empowered deepening of grace, even if he didn’t use later Holiness terminology.

How Wesley’s theology naturally leads to this conclusion of Spirit Baptism

1. Wesley believed in a distinct work of the Spirit after new birth

He taught that:

  • Justification and new birth are initial works of grace

  • Entire sanctification is a further work of grace

  • This work can be instantaneous or gradual

  • It is accomplished by the Holy Spirit cleansing the heart from inward sin

That’s not Pentecostal language, but it is unmistakably Spirit‑driven transformation.

2. Wesley described this work in experiential terms

He regularly spoke of:

  • “A fuller assurance”

  • “A deeper communion with God”

  • “Perfect love filling the heart”

  • “The Spirit witnessing with our spirit”

These are not abstract doctrines. They are felt, perceived, life‑altering movements of the Spirit.

3. Wesley expected believers to seek this deeper work

He urged Methodists to:

  • Pray for it

  • Wait for it

  • Expect it

  • Testify to it

That’s why early Methodism was so spiritually dynamic — it was a movement built on expectation of the Holy Spirit’s distinct, and powerful ongoing work.

4. Later Methodists simply gave Wesley’s idea a new name

John Fletcher (Wesley’s close friend and chosen successor) was the first to call entire sanctification:

  • “The baptism of the Holy Spirit”

  • “The Pentecostal blessing”

He wasn’t contradicting Wesley — he was giving Wesley’s theology Pentecostal language before Pentecostalism even existed.

So what’s the bottom line?

Wesley’s theology absolutely supports the idea of a profound, Spirit‑empowered deepening of grace after conversion.

He didn’t call it “the baptism of the Holy Spirit,” but he described the experience that later Christians would call by that name.

If you put it in modern terms:

Wesley believed Jesus does save you, but the Holy Spirit brings you power, via this second event called, today, "The Baptism of The Holy Spirit,"  where the Spirit of God  keeps moving, cleansing, empowering, and filling you with love until your whole life is shaped by Christ. This is Scriptural holiness.  Or it is "the beauty of holiness."

Have you experienced this in your life? I encourage you, as did John Wesley, to pray for this experience, wait for this experience, expect it, and testify to it.

SoJourner 

 



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