Grace Evangelical Society

P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202
  • About
    • Home
    • Beliefs
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
  • Resources
    • Grace in Focus Magazine
    • Grace in Focus Radio
    • Free eBooks
    • Journal of the GES
    • Book Reviews
    • Partners in Grace Newsletter
    • Audio Messages
    • Videos
    • Blog
    • Su Gracia Gratuita (Spanish Blog)
    • Graça sem limites (Portuguese Blog)
    • Email Subscription
    • Bookstore
    • Online Tracts
  • Store
    • Main Page
    • On Sale
    • Return Policy
    • Your Cart
    • Your Account
  • Events
  • Connect
    • Contact Us
    • Free Grace Church and Bible Study Tracker
    • Free Grace Jobs
    • Ministry Links
  • Donate
    • One Time Donation
    • Monthly Donation
    • Your Account
  • Search
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Home
→
Blog
→
John Wesley’s Early Evangelism

John Wesley’s Early Evangelism

May 3, 2018 by Shawn Lazar in Blog - almost Christian, Anglican, Church of England, methodism, Methodist, Wesley, Wesleyan

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, was an ordained Anglican priest. He considered Methodism to be a renewal movement within the Church of England and resisted attempts to make it a denomination in itself.

It is interesting to see how Wesley’s theology changed over time.

Later in life, Wesley would claim he had been an “almost Christian” during his early career. Why? Because he believed in salvation-by-works, not in justification by faith apart from works.

You see that in his early teaching.

As a young priest, Wesley went to the new colony of Georgia to be a missionary to the Indians. What message did he share when he evangelized them?

In his Journals, Wesley records a conversation with two Chickasaw Indian chiefs. The questions (Q) come from Wesley; the answers (A), from the Chickasaw:

Q. Where do the souls of white men go after death?

A. We can’t tell. We have not been.

Q. Our belief is that the souls of bad men only walk up and down, but the souls of good men go up.

A. I believe so too (Works of John Wesley, 18:167).

How does the soul go up, according to Wesley?

You “go up” if you’re good. You go down if you’re bad.

That’s salvation by works.

Later, Wesley records an evangelistic conversation he had with “a young Negro.” This is what he told her:

“But why do you think he made us, what did he make you and me for?” “I can’t tell.” “He made you to live with himself, above the sky. And so you will, in a little time—if you are good. If you are good, when your body dies your soul will go up, and want nothing, and have whatever you can desire” (Works of John Wesley, 18:180).

What is the condition for going to heaven, according to the young Wesley? Being good.

Wesley failed as a missionary and soon returned to England. There he joined with a Moravian small group, and during a reading of Martin Luther’s Preface to the book of Romans, Wesley came to believe in justification by faith apart from works, and gained assurance of his salvation. This became known as his “Aldersgate experience,” named after the road where the small group met.

From that time on, Wesley had a shocking testimony. He told people that he had not been a Christian up to that point. And neither, he thought, were most people in the Church of England.

That claim caused much controversy. People were shocked and offended. How could Wesley not have been a Christian? Wasn’t he baptized and ordained?

And how could he call into question their Christianity? They went to Church. They heard the Word of God. They took the sacraments. They believed in God and Jesus. Why weren’t they saved?

Nevertheless, Wesley insisted, they were “almost Christians.” Why “almost”? Because despite everything else they believed and did, they had not yet believed the saving message. They had not yet believed in Jesus for salvation.

During his initial crossing to Georgia, a Moravian had asked Wesley, “Do you know Jesus Christ?”

“I know He is the Saviour of the world,” Wesley answered.

“True,” the Moravian replied, “but do you know He has saved you?” (Works of John Wesley, 18:146).

Do you know that? Or are you an “almost Christian”?

Subscribe by Email

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Google+
  • Pinterest
  • LinkedIn
  • StumbleUpon
Shawn Lazar

by Shawn Lazar

Shawn Lazar is the Editor of Grace in Focus magazine and Director of Publications for Grace Evangelical Society. He and his wife Abby have three feral children. He is an ordained Baptist pastor. He has a BTh from McGill University and an MA from the Free University of Amsterdam. He has written two books: Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation and Chosen to Serve: Why Divine Election Is to Service, Not to Eternal Life.

If you wish to ask a question about a given blog, email us your question at ges@faithalone.org.

Cart

Recently Added

January 18, 2021

La Enormidad y la Naturaleza Esquiva del Arrepentimiento

Siempre que oigo decir que el arrepentimiento es una condición para la salvación eterna, pienso en San Sisoes el Grande (m. 429). Sisoes fue uno...
January 18, 2021

Why is 1 John Not About Assurance of Salvation but John’s Gospel Is?

In today’s episode, Shawn and Bob will be taking a look at the purpose of 1 John, in contrast to the gospel of John. Many...
January 18, 2021

A Prayer for 2021 (Ephesians 1:18-19a)

At the beginning of last year, you probably heard a sermon series that punned on 2020. There were titles such as “20/20 Vision,” or “God’s...

Grace in Focus Radio

All Episodes

Listen to Stitcher

Listen on Spotify

Grace In Focus Magazine

Grace In Focus is sent to subscribers in the United States free of charge.

Subscribe for Free

The primary source of Grace Evangelical Society's funding is through charitable contributions. GES uses all contributions and proceeds from the sales of our resources to further the gospel of grace in the United States and abroad.

Donate

Bookstore Specials

  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 2 $8.95 $2.50
  • The Gospel Under Siege: Faith and Works in Tension $16.00 $7.00
  • Here Walks My Enemy: The Story of Luis (Paperback) $6.95 $3.95
  • Beyond Doubt: How to Be Sure of Your Salvation $15.00 $7.00
  • Luke: The Life of Imitating Jesus - Volume 1 $8.95 $2.50
Grace Evangelical Society
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

(940) 270-8827 / ges@faithalone.org

4851 S I-35E Suite 203, Corinth, TX 76210
P.O. Box 1308, Denton, TX 76202

Tweets by GESwebmaster