“The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” (Romans 8:16-17, NIV)
In John Wesley’s writing, both assurance of our faith and perfection in our faith are cardinal. We believe we can have the assurance of our salvation; and our ultimate calling is holiness and Christian perfection – sanctification of intent and aim. Wesley himself provides classic witness in his testimony to the availability of assurance.
“In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins and saved me from the law of sin and death. I began to pray with all my might for those who had in a more especial manner despitefully used and persecuted me. I then testified openly to all there what I now first felt in my heart. After my return home, I was much buffeted with temptations, but I cried out, and they fled away. They returned again. I as often lifted up my eyes, and He ‘sent me help from his holy place.’ Herein I found the difference between this and my former state chiefly consisted. I was striving, fighting with all my might. But then I was sometimes, if not often, conquered; now, I was always conqueror.”
Wesley had been desperately seeking the assurance of his salvation. In a despondent mood, he went to a prayer meeting and found the watershed experience that gave him assurance of his salvation. Assurance is the privilege of every Christian; everyone can know they are
saved: saved to the uttermost. For Wesley, this meant Christian perfection, another term for sanctification. There must have been some misunderstanding, because he wrote to his brother Charles.
“Dear Brother, Some thoughts occurred to my mind this morning which I believe may be a means of understanding each other clearly; that we may agree as far as ever we can. I was thinking of Christian perfection, with regard to the thing, manner, and time. 1.By perfection I mean the humble, gentle, patient love of God ruling all tempers, words, and actions, the whole heart by the whole life. I do not include an impossibility of falling from it. 2. As to manner, I believe this perfection is always wrought in the soul by faith, consequently in an instant, but I believe in a gradual work both preceding and following that instant.”
For Wesley, Christian perfection, sanctification, and holiness carried the same meaning. Holiness is not optional for Christians. The Holy Spirit, through inspiration given to Peter, confirms this call: “As He who called you is holy, you should be holy in your conduct.” (1 Peter 1:15, NKJV) Throughout Wesley’s writings, the whole of salvation and the Christian life is all grace, the power of the Holy Spirit accessed through undoubting prayer and surrender.
The day after Wesley’s Aldersgate experience, he wrote, “the moment I awakened, ‘Jesus, Master’ was in my heart and mouth; I found all my strength lay in keeping my eye fixed upon Him, my soul waiting on Him continually. Being at St. Paul’s in the afternoon, I could taste the good word of God in the anthem which began, ‘My song shall be always of the loving-kindness of the Lord: with my mouth will I ever be showing forth thy truth from one generation to another.’ Yet the enemy injected a fear, ‘If thou dost believe, why is there not a more sensible change?’ I answered (yet not I), ‘That I know not. But this I know, I have now peace with God. And I sin not today, and Jesus my Master has forbidden me to take thought for the morrow.’”
Moment of Reflection: Have you experienced God’s assurance of your salvation?
Prayer: Loving Father, as you led Wesley, lead me to the company of those who will encourage my sanctification. I desire your sanctifying grace. Amen.
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