Holiness movement

=== Definition of sin ===
Holiness adherents also hold to a distinctive definition of (actual) sin. They believe that "only conscious sins are truly sins."<ref>{{Cite web|title=Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod - Christian Cyclopedia|url=http://cyclopedia.lcms.org/display.asp?t1=h&word=HOLINESSCHURCHES|access-date=2021-07-31|website=cyclopedia.lcms.org}}</ref> Historian Charles Jones explained, "Believing that sin was conscious disobedience to a known law of God, holiness believers were convinced that the true Christian, having repented of every known act of sin, did not and could not willfully sin again and remain a Christian."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Jones|first=Charles|title=Perfectionist Persuasion|pages=32–33}}</ref> Historian Benjamin Pettit described the approach of the Wesleyan-Holiness movement as: <blockquote>1. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;"The person who sins is not a Christian but a sinner.

2. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;When a person is saved, he is out of the sin business (may but must not sin)

3. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;The sinner must repent and be restored to his lost relationship with God.

4. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;To sin results in spiritual death."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pettit|first=Benjamin|title=The Great Privilege of All Believers|pages=170}}</ref></blockquote>In his study of this question, Caleb Black concluded that "the consensus understanding of sin in the Holiness tradition is that sin is an avoidable, voluntary, morally responsible act that those born of God do not commit."<ref name="Black, Caleb p. 86">Black, Caleb. ''What About Sin?: An Appraisal of the Nature of Sin in the American Holiness Tradition'' (p. 86). Kindle Edition.</ref> Put simply, Holiness adherents adhere to the definition of sin, as explained by Wesley himself. <blockquote>
"Nothing is sin, strictly speaking, but a voluntary transgression of a known law of God. Therefore, every voluntary breach of the law of love is sin; and nothing else, if we speak properly. To strain the matter farther is only to make way for Calvinism."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wesley|first=John|title=The Works of John Wesley, Third Edition., Volume 12|publisher=Wesleyan Methodist Book Room|year=1872|location=London|pages=394}}</ref></blockquote>
Dr. Timothy Cooley explained, "If this definition is compromised, victorious Christian living becomes meaningless, and entire sanctification an impossibility."<ref>Black, Caleb. ''What About Sin?: An Appraisal of the Nature of Sin in the American Holiness Tradition'' (p. 1). Kindle Edition.</ref> "The definition and consequences of sin are a key theological distinctive of the Holiness Movement as it underlies their entire theological system. To differ on the conception of sin is to destroy the foundation of holiness theology."<ref name="Black, Caleb p. 86" />

With this definition of sin, Holiness adherents believe while Christians may fall into sin, they also have the God-given power to avoid committing sin, and in this sense be free from sin. Furthermore, not only does God enable this obedience he also requires it. One of the founders of the movement, J. A. Wood, explains "The lowest type of a Christian sinneth not, and is not condemned. The minimum of salvation is salvation from sinning. The maximum is salvation from pollution—the inclination to sin."<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wood|first=John|title=Perfect Love}}</ref> Another founder, C. J. Fowler explains that "We teach that regeneration does not allow the committing of conscious sin."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Fowler |first=C. J. |title=What We Teach and What We Do Not Teach}}</ref> Harry Jessop warns "It should ever be born in mind that believers cannot commit sin without forfeiting justification."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Jessop |first=Harry |url=https://www.whdl.org/sites/default/files/resource/book/EN_jessop_foundations_of_doctrine.pdf |title=Foundations of Doctrine |pages=44}}</ref> The founder of the [[Church of God (Anderson, Indiana)]], [[Daniel Sidney Warner|D. S. Warner]], explains "Holiness writers and teachers, as far as my knowledge extends, uniformly hold up a sinless life, as the true test and Bible standard of regeneration."<ref name="Daniel S. Warner 2005" /> This doctrine follows in the footsteps of Wesley who wrote “If a believer wilfully sins, he casts away his faith. Neither is it possible he should have justifying faith again, without previously repenting."<ref>Wesley, J. (1872). ''The Works of John Wesley'' (Third Edition, Vol. 8, p. 276). London: Wesleyan Methodist Book Room.</ref>
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