By Ken Yates
INTRODUCTION
Charles Haddon Spurgeon (1834-1892) was one of the most famous preachers who ever lived. He was a staunch Calvinist who believed that a “true” believer could never lose eternal salvation. He proclaimed that it was denying the grace of God to say that eternal salvation could be lost.
But Spurgeon had some interesting things to say about John Wesley, who powerfully preached that a believer could lose his salvation. Regarding Wesley, Spurgeon said:
I can only say concerning him, that while I detest many of the doctrines which he [John Wesley] preached, yet for the man himself, I have a reverence second to no Wesleyan, and if there were wanted two apostles to be added to the number of the twelve, I do not believe that there could be found two men more fit to be so added than George Whitfield [another Wesleyan who believed that one could lose salvation] and John Wesley.
Spurgeon went on to say that Wesley’s life was the epitome of holiness and communion with God.i
That is high praise! Spurgeon wrote that Wesley, who preached things Spurgeon detested, was worthy to be counted with the original twelve apostles who formed the foundation of the Church. If one wanted to have intimacy with God, Spurgeon said he should follow the example of Wesley.
How should we view such comments? We can do so in two different ways.
SPURGEON WAS GRACIOUS
Many would say that Spurgeon set an example for us to follow. He did not allow theological differences to get in the way of how he viewed another person. The two men never met; Wesley died years before Spurgeon was born. But Spurgeon had read about Wesley’s life.
Wesley was a sincere man. He clearly believed what he preached. Desiring to convert the Indians, he traveled from England to Georgia before the United States declared its independence from England.
Returning to England after a few years of very difficult work, Wesley then confronted the doctrinal errors of the Church of England. He traveled hundreds of thousands of miles on horseback, often preaching two or three times a day. Many attacked him in print and even physically.
Prayer was a staple of Wesley’s life. To better serve the Lord, he remained celibate for most of his life. As a result of his hard work, he founded Methodism. He and his followers met the needs of the poor and sick. They established many charities, orphanages, and schools, providing food and education for neglected children. They even helped to pioneer some medical breakthroughs. Wesley himself gave much of his own money to those in need.
Today, many people know Wesley because of the many songs he wrote.ii They are some of the most beloved hymns sung in Evangelical churches.
Understandably, Spurgeon was impressed by such a life. The world, and even most in Christendom at large, would agree with Spurgeon’s assessment of Wesley. Very few people in history could measure up to Wesley’s devotion and sincerity. Most would say that Spurgeon is to be commended. He was willing to set aside doctrinal differences and recognize spiritual greatness when he saw it. Even though he disagreed with most of what Wesley taught, Spurgeon placed him on the same spiritual level as the apostles Paul, John, and Peter.
Many would say we should all be that gracious.
But there is another way to look at Spurgeon’s assessment of Wesley.
SPURGEON WAS COMPROMISING
While many would applaud Spurgeon’s high assessment of Wesley, especially in a day when truth is relative, it is difficult to understand how he arrived at such a view of the man. Like Wesley, Spurgeon was also a prolific preacher, delivering thousands of sermons. He told his audiences that there was only one gospel. God had given it, and all other gospels were false. His entire ministry was based upon the five points of Calvinism.
Wesley disagreed with all five points. (I do too, but for different reasons.) In Spurgeon’s eyes, Wesley denied the truths that God wanted unbelievers to hear and believe. This is what Spurgeon meant when he said that he detested Wesley’s “doctrines.”
If Spurgeon believed the things he so forcefully preached—and I am sure he did—to elevate Wesley to the status of an apostle could be done only by compromising his own beliefs. If Wesley was that pleasing to God, then the things Spurgeon preached were at the very least unimportant, or even worse, heretical. If Wesley was one of the most faithful and godly thirteen men who ever lived, then Spurgeon should have abandoned what he had been teaching and have taught instead the doctrines he “detested.”
It is one thing to study the life of a man like Wesley and wish we had the same devotion and commitment to our beliefs. We can be convicted by our lack of discipline and our unwillingness to go the extra mile for the Lord. We can even discuss Wesley and acknowledge that he is an example for all of us in these areas.
But if we say that a man teaches “detestable doctrines,” we cannot simultaneously say that he belongs in the kingdom’s hall of fame, as the twelve apostles do. We cannot do that if doctrine and truth matter. If, in Spurgeon’s mind, Wesley denied the truth revealed by God in the Scriptures, then Wesley does not belong in the company of the Twelve. Spurgeon could place him there only by compromising what he preached.
AN ILLUSTRATION
No illustration is perfect, but I would like to provide one to illustrate my point. Suppose a town has two doctors who treat patients with diabetes. One cautions his patients to avoid sugary foods, to eat vegetables, and to exercise. He tells them that these things will control their blood sugar levels.
The other doctor tells his patients to eat cheesecake for every meal. He states that there is no evidence to support the notion that exercise is beneficial in treating diabetes. He worries about and loves his patients. He sincerely believes what he tells them. He wants them to get better. When they fall ill, he treats them at no cost. He visits them when they are hospitalized and gives them his cell phone number so they can call him at any time of day. When they die, he pays for their funerals. In his will, he leaves his entire estate to pay the college expenses for the children of his patients who died. The whole town knows how much he loves those he cares for. He even provides free coffee and cheesecake in his waiting room.
What would we think of the other doctor if he said, “I really hate what my fellow doctor told his patients. He did not tell his patients the truth. But he was sincere and loved them. He worked hard. He was more concerned and devoted to them than I was to my patients. He was one of the greatest doctors who ever lived. If there is a medical hall of fame, he belongs in it.”?
We would all think that the other doctor compromised the truth. I might be accused of being ungracious, but that is what Spurgeon did when he wrote about Wesley.
CONCLUSION
Truth is important. There are minor doctrinal issues over which we can disagree. We should be gracious in those areas. But whether one receives eternal life by grace or by works is not a minor issue. Neither is the belief that one can lose eternal life.
Wesley taught one thing concerning both these areas of doctrine. Spurgeon taught another. Spurgeon appeared to be gracious when he heaped praise upon Wesley. Actually, he was compromising.
I do not doubt that both Wesley and Spurgeon were better men than I. I know they worked harder than I do. I can respect their dedication.
But I disagree with both on major doctrinal issues. Wesley taught that Christians could lose eternal life. Spurgeon, as a strong Calvinist, taught that a believer had to continue doing good works until the end of his life to prove that he was saved. He denied that one could have the assurance of salvation. I teach that the one who believes in Jesus Christ knows, at the moment of faith, that he has eternal life. He can never lose it.
Did Wesley and Spurgeon do many good works? Absolutely. We can graciously say that. But I cannot say that they belong in the council of the apostles without compromising the truth.
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Ken Yates is a retired Army chaplain (Lt. Col). He has many theological degrees, including a Ph.D. from D.T.S. in New Testament. He leads the GES international ministry, cohosts the daily podcast, and assists Bob in all aspects of the GES ministry. His new book, Mark: Lessons in Discipleship, is a wonderful explanation of Christ’s call to discipleship. He and his wife, Pam, live in Columbia, SC.
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i C. H. Spurgeon, “The Man with the Measuring Line.” https://efectualgrace.com/spurgeon-on-calvinism. Accessed 11/2/2025.
ii Editor’s note: John Wesley wrote hundreds of hymns. He also translated and adapted over twenty German hymns into English. But his greatest work in hymnody was editing and publishing many hymns written by his brother, Charles Wesley, who wrote over 9,000 hymns (including “Hark! The Herald Angel Sing” and “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today”).
