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Christian Perfection · §16 · John Wesley

Not free from temptation

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Nor can we expect till then to be wholly free from temptation. Such perfection belongs not to this life. It is true, there are those who, being given up to work all uncleanness with greediness (Ephesians 4:19), scarce perceive the temptations which they resist not, and so seem to be without temptation. There are also many whom the wise enemy of souls, seeing them fast asleep in the dead form of godliness (2 Timothy 3:5), will not tempt to gross sin, lest they should awake before they drop into everlasting burnings (Isaiah 33:14). I know there are also children of God who, being now justified freely, having found redemption in the blood of Christ (Romans 3:24), for the present feel no temptation. God has said to their enemies: Touch not my anointed, and do my children no harm (Psalm 105:15). And for this season, it may be for weeks or months, he causes them to ride on high places (Isaiah 58:14), he bears them as on eagles' wings (Exodus 19:4), above all the fiery darts of the wicked one (Ephesians 6:16). But this state will not last always, as we may learn from that single consideration, that the Son of God himself, in the days of his flesh (Hebrews 5:7), was tempted even to the end of his life. Therefore so let his servant expect to be; for it is enough that he be as his master (Matthew 10:25).

1771 text

8. Nor can we expect till then, to be wholly free from temptation. Such perfection belongeth not to this life. It is true, there are those who being given up to work all uncleanness with greediness, scarce perceive the temptations which they resist not, and so seem to be without temptation. There are also many whom the wise enemy of souls seeing to be fast asleep in the dead form of godliness, will not tempt to gross sin, lest they should awake, before they drop into everlasting burnings. I know, there are also children of God, who being now justified freely, having found redemption in the blood of Christ, for the present feel no temptation. God hath said to their enemies, Touch not mine anointed, and do my children no harm. And for this season, it may be for weeks or months, he causeth them to ride on high places, he beareth them as on eagles wings, above all the fiery darts of the wicked one. But this state will not last always, as we may learn from that single consideration, that the Son of God himself, in the days of his flesh, was tempted even to the end of his life. Therefore so let his servant expect to be; for it is enough that he be as his master.