"Grace is the source, faith the condition, of salvation."
Salvation. In my experience, it seems that the doctrine of salvation is one of the most debated and divisive doctrines in the Christian Church. John Wesley takes it head on without shame.
Do you receive salvation through faith alone or by your righteous works? Or, is it a complicated combination of the two?
Does an individual have the opportunity to choose to trust in Christ's atoning sacrifice or must they be chosen before creation as a recipient of God's grace through Christ?
Can you have confidence in your sure salvation or must you always be working to be righteous so not to lose the approval and grace of God.
In this sermon and other works by John Wesley he chooses the first option in each of these questions. He renounces salvation by works in saying, "for none can trust in the merits of Christ, till he has utterly renounced his own."
Faith. Faith is defined in "A Handbook of Theological Terms" by two different viewpoints. It is viewed as either an intellectual assent to the truth of the Biblical God (impersonal) or as a "basic orientation of the total person that is best described as trust, confidence, or loyalty" (personal).
John Wesley's view of faith is clearly defined in the following quote from the sermon:
"Christian faith is then, not only an assent to the whole gospel of Christ, but also a full reliance on the blood of Christ; recumbency (leaning) upon him as our atonement and our life, as given for us, and living in us; and, in consequence hereof, a closing with him, and cleaving to him, as our 'wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption' or, in one word, our salvation."
Sin. Any honest discussion of the doctrine of salvation should begin with a biblical view of the true need for salvation, the separation caused by the sinful nature of humans. John Wesley only spends two paragraphs on the subject of sin, but he uses those paragraphs well. He boldly says, "There is nothing we are, or have, or do, which can deserve the least thing at God's hand." He reminds us of Romans 3:23 saying that "(man's) heart is altogether corrupt and abominable; being 'come short of the glory of God,' the glorious righteousness at first impressed on his soul, after the image of his great creator."
Salvation by Faith. Paul is rather clear that he also supports salvation by faith in scriptures such as Romans 10:9-10 and Ephesians 2:8-9. However, Paul and James are emphatic on balancing saving faith, in Ephesians 2:10 and James 2:14-26 respectively, with a lifestyle of righteous works in response to the true reception of the free gift of grace.
Wesley jumps into a discussion of what faith is not. Faith is not the faith of a "heathen," because the heathen believes in a supernatural spirit or person(s), lives by their own moral code, and worships their god how they choose. Faith is also not the faith of a devil who believes in the true God yet willfully chooses to oppose Him and reject Him as Lord.
He asks, "What faith is it then through which we are saved?" Faith is a true disposition of the heart that trusts in "Christ and God through Christ" and "acknowledges the necessity and merit of his death, and the power of his resurrection." And this salvation is "the atonement of Christ actually applied to the soul of the sinner now believing on him."
Wesley builds on Scripture like Romans 8:15 to propose that we are saved from the guilt, fear, power, and (eternal) consequences of sin. Passages from 1 John remind us that in Christ a person is a new creation "born of God" and is no longer under the power of their sinful nature, proving that after salvation sin becomes a conscious choice of disobedience.
I will conclude with his strong conclusion. "Thou shalt march on, under the great Captain of thy salvation, 'conquering and to conquer,' until all thine enemies are destroyed, and 'death is swallowed up in victory.'"
March on,
Daniel
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Beginning the Wesley Sermons
I have had this next blog post on my 'to-do' list for several weeks and just haven't been able to stop long enough to get it done. Since the 7.0 earthquake hit Haiti, I have been more consumed with work as we are doing what we can to aid our partners in their response efforts. NBC DFW ran an article on us: Click Here Watch the video that is linked about halfway down the page. The workload has slowed down and I have some time this afternoon to write.
There are 141 sermons by John Wesley included in the book that I'm reading from. With my next blog post, I begin with #1 and will continue with Wesley until God guides me in another direction.
I find it an interesting challenge to write a short post about an incredible sermon that is packed full of Scripture and wisdom. I question whether I should write a commentary, summary, or message of my own on the subject. I'm sure that my posts will be a mixture of these three options.
With this sermon, however, I feel like it would be best just to quote the whole thing or encourage you to read it for yourself. Please provide comments with feedback and suggestions on my writing style with these posts. I am a big believer in constructive and honest feedback.
Daniel
There are 141 sermons by John Wesley included in the book that I'm reading from. With my next blog post, I begin with #1 and will continue with Wesley until God guides me in another direction.
I find it an interesting challenge to write a short post about an incredible sermon that is packed full of Scripture and wisdom. I question whether I should write a commentary, summary, or message of my own on the subject. I'm sure that my posts will be a mixture of these three options.
With this sermon, however, I feel like it would be best just to quote the whole thing or encourage you to read it for yourself. Please provide comments with feedback and suggestions on my writing style with these posts. I am a big believer in constructive and honest feedback.
Daniel
Sunday, January 10, 2010
A Humble Perspective
John Wesley made the following statement about 8 years before his death "while contemplating his critical situation" during a serious illness that he thought would end his life:
I have been reflecting on my past life; I have been wandering up and down between fifty and sixty years, endeavouring in my poor way to do a little good to my fellow-creatures; and now it is probable, that there are but a few steps between me and death; and what have I done to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this, 'I the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me.' This was his language to the last.
When John Wesley was born, there was not a major global denomination or even a small group of people called the Methodists. The Church of England (Anglican) was the established dominant church of the day and nobody had significantly tried to reform the church or build a separate denomination to challenge it. Mr. Wesley dates his conversion in 1738 and the first Methodist Society was formed in 1739 and was comprised of John, his brother Charles, and a small congregation of disciples. They set themselves apart from the other Anglicans by their disciplined "methods" of following Christ and their devoted focus to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. The Society grew exponentially throughout John's life and at the time of his death the church was in many different countries and the global membership had surpassed 1 Million (600,000 in the USA).
John Wesley had assurance of his salvation and had accomplished plenty to be proud of. Yet he sincerely said, "I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at."
Who honestly says this kind of thing?
This humble perspective on life and personal accomplishment reminds me of chapter 3 of Paul's letter to the Philippians.
In verse 4 Paul says, "If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more" before he lists all of the personal accomplishments that he could brag about. But he goes on to say, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ..."
These two humble perspectives both challenge and bother me. I say "bother" because I know that this is the right and true perspective that a Christ follower ought to have and I know that I don't most of the time. My personal accomplishments and fruit produced through ministry don't begin to compare to those of Apostle Paul and John Wesley, yet I find that I am guilty of claiming them for myself at times and taking pride in them.
I am humbled as I'm reminded that the redeeming work of Christ on the cross is the true work that brings salvation and brings us back into relationship with our Creator, therefore enabling fruitful work through his followers.
Stay Humble,
Daniel
Source: "The Life of the Rev. John Wesley." In The Works of John Wesley, Vol 5., 9-47. Third ed. Reprinted from 1872 edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
I have been reflecting on my past life; I have been wandering up and down between fifty and sixty years, endeavouring in my poor way to do a little good to my fellow-creatures; and now it is probable, that there are but a few steps between me and death; and what have I done to trust to for salvation? I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at. I have no other plea than this, 'I the chief of sinners am, But Jesus died for me.' This was his language to the last.
When John Wesley was born, there was not a major global denomination or even a small group of people called the Methodists. The Church of England (Anglican) was the established dominant church of the day and nobody had significantly tried to reform the church or build a separate denomination to challenge it. Mr. Wesley dates his conversion in 1738 and the first Methodist Society was formed in 1739 and was comprised of John, his brother Charles, and a small congregation of disciples. They set themselves apart from the other Anglicans by their disciplined "methods" of following Christ and their devoted focus to the doctrine of salvation by grace through faith. The Society grew exponentially throughout John's life and at the time of his death the church was in many different countries and the global membership had surpassed 1 Million (600,000 in the USA).
John Wesley had assurance of his salvation and had accomplished plenty to be proud of. Yet he sincerely said, "I can see nothing which I have done or suffered that will bear looking at."
Who honestly says this kind of thing?
This humble perspective on life and personal accomplishment reminds me of chapter 3 of Paul's letter to the Philippians.
In verse 4 Paul says, "If anyone else has a mind to put confidence in the flesh, I far more" before he lists all of the personal accomplishments that he could brag about. But he goes on to say, "But whatever things were gain to me, those things I have counted as loss for the sake of Christ. More than that, I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ..."
These two humble perspectives both challenge and bother me. I say "bother" because I know that this is the right and true perspective that a Christ follower ought to have and I know that I don't most of the time. My personal accomplishments and fruit produced through ministry don't begin to compare to those of Apostle Paul and John Wesley, yet I find that I am guilty of claiming them for myself at times and taking pride in them.
I am humbled as I'm reminded that the redeeming work of Christ on the cross is the true work that brings salvation and brings us back into relationship with our Creator, therefore enabling fruitful work through his followers.
Stay Humble,
Daniel
Source: "The Life of the Rev. John Wesley." In The Works of John Wesley, Vol 5., 9-47. Third ed. Reprinted from 1872 edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Original Post (Explaining the title)
Hello! My name is Daniel David. I am a follower of Jesus, the husband of my beautiful bride, a layman in our church in Irving, TX, and a born and raised Texan. I am a purpose driven person that is always seeking truth to grow in my understanding of God, my relationship with Him, the Church, and the world in which I live. I plan to use this blog as a platform to share and discuss the knowledge that I gain through my studies. I invite you to join me on this journey.
I was inspired to name this blog "The best of all is God is with us" through the discription of the final days of Reverend John Wesley in his biography found in the front of my copy of his sermons.
Here is an excerpt from the biography:
"Having given directions respecting his funeral, he again begged they would pray and praise. Several friends who were in the house being called up, they all kneeled down again, and he joined with them in great fervour of spirit; but in particular parts of the prayer, his whole soul seemed to be engaged in a manner which evidently showed how ardently he longed for the full accomplishment of their united desires. And when one of the Preachers prayed, that if God were about to take away their father to his eternal rest, He would be pleased to continue and increase his blessing upon the doctrine and discipline which He had long made his servant the means of propagating and establishing in the world; Mr. Wesley responded, "Amen," with such a fervour and strenth of voice as indicated how intense was his desire that the petition should be answered. In the course of the same day, he attempted to speak to one who came into his room; but, perceiving that he did not make himself understood, he paused a little, and then, with all the remaining strength he had, cried out, The best of all is, God is with us; and soon after lifting up his dying arm in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be described, he again repeated the heart-reviving words, The best of all is, God is with us. During the night following, he frequently attempted to repeat the psalm, part of which he had before sung; but such was his weakness he could only utter, "I'll praise - I'll praise."
"On Wednesday morning, March 2nd, it was evident that the closing scene drew near; and Mr. Bradford having prayed with him, he was heard to articulate, "Farewell!" This was the last word he uttered; and while several of his friends were kneeling around his bed, he passed without a groan or struggle into the joyful presence of his Lord" (pp 43-44).
Isn't that powerful! I hope that the dying words of John Wesley inspire you as they have inspired me. I will continue to explore the teaching of John Wesley through his sermons and will articulate my thoughts and encourage discussion through this blog.
I'll praise!
Daniel
Source: "The Life of the Rev. John Wesley." In The Works of John Wesley, Vol 5., 9-47. Third ed. Reprinted from 1872 edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
I was inspired to name this blog "The best of all is God is with us" through the discription of the final days of Reverend John Wesley in his biography found in the front of my copy of his sermons.
Here is an excerpt from the biography:
"Having given directions respecting his funeral, he again begged they would pray and praise. Several friends who were in the house being called up, they all kneeled down again, and he joined with them in great fervour of spirit; but in particular parts of the prayer, his whole soul seemed to be engaged in a manner which evidently showed how ardently he longed for the full accomplishment of their united desires. And when one of the Preachers prayed, that if God were about to take away their father to his eternal rest, He would be pleased to continue and increase his blessing upon the doctrine and discipline which He had long made his servant the means of propagating and establishing in the world; Mr. Wesley responded, "Amen," with such a fervour and strenth of voice as indicated how intense was his desire that the petition should be answered. In the course of the same day, he attempted to speak to one who came into his room; but, perceiving that he did not make himself understood, he paused a little, and then, with all the remaining strength he had, cried out, The best of all is, God is with us; and soon after lifting up his dying arm in token of victory, and raising his feeble voice with a holy triumph not to be described, he again repeated the heart-reviving words, The best of all is, God is with us. During the night following, he frequently attempted to repeat the psalm, part of which he had before sung; but such was his weakness he could only utter, "I'll praise - I'll praise."
"On Wednesday morning, March 2nd, it was evident that the closing scene drew near; and Mr. Bradford having prayed with him, he was heard to articulate, "Farewell!" This was the last word he uttered; and while several of his friends were kneeling around his bed, he passed without a groan or struggle into the joyful presence of his Lord" (pp 43-44).
Isn't that powerful! I hope that the dying words of John Wesley inspire you as they have inspired me. I will continue to explore the teaching of John Wesley through his sermons and will articulate my thoughts and encourage discussion through this blog.
I'll praise!
Daniel
Source: "The Life of the Rev. John Wesley." In The Works of John Wesley, Vol 5., 9-47. Third ed. Reprinted from 1872 edition. Grand Rapids: Baker Books, 2007.
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