Trinitarian monotheism; holy love; omnipotent, omniscient, eternal Creator
The Wesleyan Church affirms the classical Christian understanding of God as infinite, eternal, omnipotent, omniscient, and immutable. God is one, yet existing eternally as three persons. The primary divine attribute emphasized in Wesleyan theology is 'holy love'—God's infinite goodness and perfect justice combined with His merciful concern for the salvation of all human beings. God is the Creator of all things from nothing and sustains all creation in existence.
God's love is not limited to an elect few but extends universally to all humankind, providing grace sufficient for the salvation of all. This is why the Wesleyan Church has historically affirmed that God desires the salvation of everyone and offers salvation to all through the universal atonement of Christ. God is personal, responsive to prayer, and intimately involved in the lives of His people, guiding and empowering them toward sanctification.
Key Distinctions
- Theism type:
- classical theism — one infinite, eternal, omnipotent God
- Primary divine attribute:
- holy love — justice and mercy combined; universal benevolence
Scripture References
Sources
- The Wesleyan Church Discipline (2016), §§1000–1017
- John Wesley, Sermons on God's Love and Mercy
- Wesleyan Theological Heritage Collections