Świętość Kościoła i świętość chrześcijanina w doktrynie metodystycznej i dialogu katolicko-metodystycznym

Abstract

Methodists as well as Catholics profess the Creed of Nicene-Constantinople where the Church is defined as „One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic”. According to the Methodist doctrine the Church is holy by the given from God holiness of its members. The holiness of the Church is based on God’s justifying grace enabling a Christian gaining maturity in faith. This process begins with the „new birth” given by God’s sanctifying grace. The question of the holiness of the Church and of a Christian was one of the subjects of the Roman Catholic-Methodist dialogue on the world level. In several Reports the Joint Commission agreed in a substantial way as to the understanding of holiness among Catholics and Methodists. The path of sanctification for all Christians leads – according to the Commission – by receiving „God’s transforming love” Catholics and Methodists do understand holiness in a very common way, though they usually express it different traditional formulations.