The following article first appeared in the Doctrinal section of the 1926 edition of “The Preacher’s Magazine,” published by Nazarene Publishing House and edited by J.B. Chapman, former General Superintendent of the Church of the…
Posts By Jon Gossman
Vic Reasoner, “An Arminian Covenant Theology”
Too many Arminians have pushed their tray through the theological cafeteria, accepting a helping of whatever sounded good. Before we accept all the popular theology of the celebrity teachers, we had better determine upon what…
Vic Reasoner, “Primitive Methodism and the Twenty-First Century Church”
An undisciplined Methodist is a contradiction in terms. Methodism is as much a spiritual discipline as it is a system of theology. Here are three priorities we can adapt from primitive Methodism in order to…
Daniel Steele, “Why I Am Not A Premillenialist”
[Please note that SEA does not take an official position on millennial views. Members are free to hold any orthodox millennial view. We include this article on our website in recognition of its authorship by…
Vic Reasoner, “Interpreting the Word Accurately: Wrestling with Jacob’s Experience (2 Timothy 2:15)”
In Richard S. Taylor’s book Preaching Holiness Today he discusses three classes of holiness texts. A Class A text is a passage where entire sanctification is the main thrust of the passage. John Wesley built…
Joseph D. McPherson, “Born of Water, Born of the Spirit: What Did Jesus Mean by Being “Born of Water?”
Jesus’ words to Nicodemus found in John 3:5 are not only startling, but strongly enforced. Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter…
Tom Kiser, “The Character of Pure Christianity” (Part 2)
This is the conclusion of an article begun in the last issue. It is an adaptation Tom Kiser made of John Wesley’s description of Christian perfection. By this fruit you will recognize him: he loves…
Vic Reasoner, “Theological Uncertainty: A Critique of Ray Dunning’s Systematic Theology”
H. Ray Dunning is the professor of theology at Trevecca Nazarene College in Nashville. He was commissioned to produce a systematic theology in the Wesleyan tradition that is true to the doctrinal standards of the…
Joseph D. McPherson, “Modern Altar Methods: An Inadequate Substitute for the Methodist Class Meeting”
It would be altogether unwise for one to discount the testimonies of any who claim to have received help at an altar of prayer, especially if they give evidence of having been transformed in heart…
A. J. Smith, “Counterfeit Conversions”
Few will dispute the fact that there is something seriously wrong with the methods employed by popular holiness evangelists and workers at the altar services. Popular evangelists have those who desire to be saved sign…
Douglas A. Crossman, “Why the Holiness Movement Died”
In the Spring of 1994 Dr. Keith Drury preached a courageous and widely reported sermon to the Christian Holiness Association called “The Holiness Movement is Dead.” Briefly summarized, his reasons for the decline of the…
Vic Reasoner, “The Misconception of Unconditional Love”
The Christian counseling movement often uses the phrase “unconditional love.” They say that God’s love is unconditional. What exactly is meant by this phrase? God warned in Genesis 6:3 that His Spirit will not strive…
Tom S. Kiser, “The Character of Pure Christianity”
Editorial Note: John Wesley was impressed by the sketch of a “Perfect Christian” written by Clement of Alexandria about 200 A. D. In 1742 Wesley wrote such a sketch himself, called “The Character of a…
Joseph D. McPherson, “How Is One To Seek The Experience Of Christian Perfection?”
Many examples could be cited that would trace the holiness movement’s departure from early Methodism’s heritage and teachings. One important example of such departure is found in the instructions currently given to those who are…
Joseph D. McPherson, “Adam Clarke’s Defense of Water Baptism”
The modern holiness movement has tended to place far less importance upon the sacrament of water baptism than did the New Testament Church. By so doing they have departed from a plain Scriptural pattern. In…
Vic Reasoner, “Gliding With Grider”
The most recent attempt to state the Wesleyan interpretation of theology is found in Kenneth Grider’s A Wesleyan-Holiness Theology (Kansas City: Beacon Hill, 1994). Among Grider’s positive contributions: 1. He interprets “the old man” as…
A.J. Smith, “Delivered From Doubt”
Aaron Jacob Smith (1887-1960) was brought up in a Christian home and professed to have been converted in 1907. Five years later he attended college at University Park, Iowa and professed to be sanctified. He…
Vic Reasoner, “The Earle & Clarke Exposition”
Adam Clarke was once considered a dunce, yet he learned twenty languages. He overcame his fears to become the most able biblical scholar of his time in the English-speaking world. When he died the Conference…
Vic Reasoner, “The Spirit of Tolerance”
As leaders within the conservative holiness movement pronounce divine judgment upon each other over secondary issues, the younger generation continues to leave the movement disillusioned. If we have a future we must learn to speak…
C. Marion Brown, “Restitution”
While scanning both book lists and library shelves, I was rather startled at the absence of material on restitution. Many volumes have been written on various subjects and many have been “beaten to death” by…
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How Do You Deal with the Limited Atonement Argument that If Jesus Paid the Penalty for All, Then People Sent to Hell Would Be Paying the Penalty a Second Time?
