CE MIDTERMS

• John Wesley

  Anglican Clergyman, Evangelist, and founder of the Methodist Movement in the Church of England, along with his brother Charles
• John Wesley was born in Epworth, Lincoln Shrine England


  June 17, 1703
• John Wesley


  • Graduated from the University of Oxford
  • Became a priest in the Church of England in 1728
  • Participated in a religious study group in Oxford organized by his brother Charles, its members being dubbed the "Methodists" for their emphasis on methodical study and devotion
• John Wesley


  • Prominent figure in the 18th-century Christian revival known as the methodist movement
  • Played a key role in preaching and organizing Methodist societies, emphasizing personal faith, social justice, and outreach to marginalized communities
• John Wesley's Family


  • Raised in a Christian Family
  • Father was an Anglican Priest
  • Mother Sussana conducted rigorous training at home for her children
• John Wesley's Siblings


  • 18 siblings
  • Expected to memorize chunks of the new testament
  • Learned the original language of the Bible, Greek and Hebrew
  • Had Latin and Greek proficiency
• John Wesley's Spouse


  • Married in 1751 to Mary Vazeille, a widow and mother of four children, at the age of 48
  • Did not have any children
• John Wesley BEFORE his Heartwarming Experience


  • Profoundly influenced by a stormy sea journey in 1735, where the unwavering faith of Moravian Christians amidst chaos sparked spiritual reflection
  • Joined the Holy Club, a group committed to leading holy lives through Bible study, prayer, and acts of compassion
  • Despite spiritual disciplines and being an ordained minister, lacked the inner faith he yearned for
• John Wesley DURING his Heartwarming Experience

  • On May 24, 1738, experienced a profound warming of his heart while attending a society gathering where Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans was being read
  • Felt a deep sense of trust in Christ for salvation, with the assurance that his sins were forgiven, and he was saved from the law of sin and death
  • Overcame initial reservations about preaching outdoors and decided to support George Whitefield in his mission to the poor and working people, particularly coal miners
• John Wesley AFTER his Heartwarming Experience


  • Fueled by his new found spiritual vigor, embarked on a mission to spread the message of salvation and Christian holiness
  • His voice is not just for the gospel but also for humanity
  • Itinerant preaching and organizational skills played a crucial role in growth of Methodism
• Salvation by faith


  • Deliverance from danger or suffering
  • To save is to deliver or protect
  • Sometimes, the Bible uses the words saved or salvation to refer to temporal, physical deliverance
• Romans 10:9-10: '"That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved."'
• What is Salvation by faith?


  • It is a present salvation
  • You are saved from sin, both from the guilt and power of it
  • First, from the guilt of all past sin
  • They are saved from fear of the wrath of God and of falling away from the grace of God
  • Through this faith they are saved from the power of sin as well as from the guilt of it
  • People born of God no longer sin
  • This then is the salvation which is through faith, even in the present world: a salvation from sin and the consequences of sin
• What Does it Mean to be Saved Through Faith?

  • Salvation is a gift from God
  • Man cannot earn salvation by performing good works, but only through faith in the sacrifice of Jesus Christ
  • To be saved through faith means you are saved by believing and receiving what God has accomplished through the work of Jesus Christ
• According to Wesley, limited sense of salvation includes

  • Justification - the moment in which a person is pardoned of their sins and reconciled to God
  • Sanctification - the process by which Christians become holy, sloughing off their sinful character and taking on the loving character of Christ
• Justification by Faith according to John Wesley


  • Individuals are made right with God, not by their own good works or merit, but solely through faith in Jesus Christ
  • This faith should be active, producing a transformation in the believer's life, leading to acts of love and obedience
• John Wesley's understanding of Justification by Faith


  • Foundation in Scripture - firmly grounded in his interpretation of various biblical passages, especially those from the Pauline epistles
  • Faith as the Instrument of Salvation - faith serves as the instrument by which individuals receive the gift of salvation
  • Active Faith - true faith was not merely intellectual assent or belief but also involved trust, commitment, and surrender to God
  • Faith and Works - "Faith working by love is the scriptural definition of it"
  • Means of Grace - Prayer, Bible study, participation in the sacraments, and fellowship with other believers
• Justification by faith


  • The act of God not only forgiving the believer's sins but imputing to him the righteousness of Christ
  • Justification is not earned through our own works; rather, we are covered by the righteousness of Jesus Christ
  • The Christian, being declared righteous, is thus freed from the guilt of sin
• Galatians 2:16: '". . .yet we know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ, so we also have believed in Christ Jesus, in order to be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the law, because by works of the law no one will be justified."'
• Why is justification by faith such an important doctrine?

  It is the very knowledge of justification and of grace that motivates good works and spiritual growth; thus, justification leads to sanctification
• Sanctification


  The transformation from human to divine nature; being made holy
• Internal Purification is central to many religious traditions, symbolizing the cleansing of impurities and the restoration of holiness
• Apostle's Creed I believe in God, the Father Almighty,maker of heaven and earth;

  And in Jesus Christ his only Son, our Lord;who was conceived by the Holy Spirit,born of the Virgin Mary,suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, dead, and buried;*the third day he rose from the dead;he ascended into heaven,and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty;from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.

  I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic** church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.
• Psalm 23 A psalm of David. 1 The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.2 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,3 he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.4 Even though I walk; through the darkest valley,[a]I will fear no evil, for you are with me;your rod and your staff, they comfort me.5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.6 Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.