―Principles of Faith, Emmanuel Association of Churches[11]The systematic theologian of Methodism, John William Fletcher, terms the reception of entire sanctification as Baptism with the Holy Spirit.
That something is variously termed in Scripture the "carnal mind," "our old man," "the sin which doth so easily beset us" and "the flesh that lusteth against the spirit."
The Christian finding himself in this condition and desiring to escape the corruption of the "old man" consecrates himself definitely and wholly to God (Rom.
[13]Fletcher additionally emphasizes that the experience of entire sanctification, through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, empowers the believer for service to God.
In Wesleyan-Arminian theology, the second work of grace is considered to be a cleansing from the tendency to commit sin, an experience called entire sanctification which leads to Christian perfection.
We understand it to begin in the new birth, include a second work of grace that empowers, purifies and fills each person with the Holy Spirit, and continue in a lifelong pursuit.
[26] George Fox, the founder of Quakerism (Religious Society of Friends), taught perfection in which the Christian believer could be made free from sin.
And the Apostles that were in the Light, Christ Jesus, (which destroyes the Devil and his works) spoke Wisdom among them that were Perfect, though they could not among those that were Carnal; And their Work was for the perfecting of the Saints, for that cause had they their Ministry given to them until they all came to the Knowledge of the Son of God, which doth destroy the Devil and his works, And which ends the Prophets, first Covenant, Types, Figures, Shadowes; And until they all came to the Unity of the Faith which purified their hearts, which gave them Victory over that which separated [sic] from God, In which they had access to God, by which Faith they pleased him, by which they were Justified; And so until they came unto a Perfect Man, unto the Measure of the Stature of the fulness of Christ; and so the Apostle said, Christ in you we Preach the hope of Glory, warning every man, that we might present every Man Perfect in Christ Jesus.
[27]The early Quakers, following Fox, taught that subsequent to the New Birth, through the power of the Holy Spirit, man could be free from actual sinning if he continued to rely on the inward light and "focus on the cross of Christ as the center of faith".
[19] William J. Seymour and Charles Fox Parham, the architects of Holiness Pentecostalism, taught three definite works of grace that were accomplished instantaneously: (1) the New Birth, (2) entire sanctification, and (3) speaking in tongues.