John Wesley

I haven't read any of John Wesley's books, but recently when I read this article by him I was very encourage by God at how whole-hearted John Wesley was and that he followed the REAL gospel that Jesus preached, unlike the lukewarm / humanistic gospel that we so commonly see preached today.I don't know enough about the man to know that he was or wasn't off in some areas but I think he lived as a bondservant of Jesus Christ, denying himself daily, carrying his cross and forsaking all that God might recieve glory from from the good fruit of his service.Holiness is not Legalismby John WesleyWithout holiness no man shall see the Lord." Nothingunder heaven can be more sure than this; "for themouth of the Lord hath spoken it." And "though heavenand earth pass away, yet His word shall not passaway." As well therefore might God fall from heaven,as His Word fall to the ground. (Heb. 12:14; Mic. 4:4;Matt. 5:18). No one who is not saved from sin here can be savedfrom hell hereafter. No one can see the kingdom of Godabove, unless the kingdom of God be in him below.Whoever will reign with Christ in heaven, must haveChrist reigning in him on earth. And yet as sure asthis is, and as clearly as it is taught in every partof the Holy Scripture, among all the truths of God,there is probably none which is less received by men. Yes, professing Christians invariably invent one wayor another to get to heaven without holiness. In theplace of holiness, some have substituted penance,pilgrimages, and praying to saints and angels.Thousand of professing Christians have no doubt butthat, by a diligent use of these things—without anyholiness at all—they shall see the Lord in glory. However, Protestants will not be satisfied in thatmanner. They are convinced that whoever leans on suchthings leans on the staff of a broken reed. Yet,thousands of such Protestants also think that they toowill see God without holiness. How? Why, by doing noharm, generally doing good, going to church, andreceiving the sacraments. And many thousands arecontent with this, believing they are on the high roadto heaven. Yet, that is not much better than the hopesof the first group. However, other Protestants recognize that such nominalChristianity is not sufficient. They correctly saythat such a religion does not stand on the rightfoundation. However, they go on to say that Christ hasalready accomplished and suffered everything for us.They say that His righteousness is imputed to us;therefore, we need none of our own. Since there is somuch righteousness and holiness in Him, there needs tobe none in us. In fact, they claim, that to think wehave any holiness, or to desire to seek any holiness,is to renounce Christ. That from the beginning to theend of salvation, all is in Christ, nothing is in man.And that those who teach otherwise are preachers oflegalism, and know nothing of the gospel. What evasion! What has Satan done? He has persuadedthe very men who receive it to "turn the grace of Godinto licentiousness" (Jude 4). This is indeed a blowat the root, the root of all holiness, all truereligion. The whole design of Christ’s death was "todestroy the works of the devil" (I John 3:8). But nowthis is overthrown in one stroke. THE FRUITS OF CHEAP GRACE For wherever this doctrine of easy grace is received,it leaves no place for holiness. It forbids all suchexhortations as might excite a desire for holiness.Nay, it makes men afraid of personal holiness, afraidof cherishing any thought of it. For they fear thatany step toward holiness might be a denial of thefaith, and a rejection of Christ and Hisrighteousness. So that, instead of being "zealous forgood works," good works are a stench to theirnostrils. In short, they are infinitely more afraid ofthe works of God, that the works of the devil. Here is Satan’s masterpiece! We are to believe thatmen are holy, without a grain of holiness in them!Holy in Christ, however unholy in themselves. They aresupposedly in Christ, although they have not one jotof the mind that was in Christ. They are "complete inHim," although they are as proud, as vain, ascovetous, and as lustful as ever. They think they cancontinue in unrighteousness because Christ has"fulfilled all righteousness." O ye simple one, do not be deceived. For as surely asthe Lord lives, "neither fornicators, nor idolaters,nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, northieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers,nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God.""Such" indeed "were some of you. But you are washed,but you are sanctified," as well as "justified, in thename of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God"(1 Cor. 6:9-11). You are really changed! You are notonly accounted as righteous, you are made righteous. The inward power of the Spirit has made youfree—really, actually free—from the law or power "ofsin and death" (Rom. 8:2). This is liberty, truegospel liberty, experienced by every true believer.This is not freedom from the law of God, or the worksof God, but from the law of sin and the works of thedevil. See that you stand fast in this real, notimaginary, liberty. Take heed that you "be notentangled again," by means of these vain boasters, "inthe yoke of" that vile "bondage of sin," from whichyou have cleanly escaped. (Gal. 5:1). I testify unto you, that if you still continue in sin,Christ shall profit you nothing. That Christ is noSavior to you, unless He saves you from your sins. Andthat unless it purifies your heart, faith shall profityou nothing. Oh, when will you understand, that tooppose either inward or outward holiness, under colorof exalting Christ, is directly to act the part ofJudas, to "betray the Son of man with a kiss?" What? Make Christ destroy His own kingdom? Set Christagainst holiness? Talk of Christ as saving His peoplein their sins? It is no better than to say, He savesthem from the guilt, but not from the power, of sin.Will you make the righteousness of Christ a cover forthe unrighteousness of man? So that by this means,"the unrighteous" of every kind "shall inherit thekingdom of God!" Stop! Consider! What are you doing?Who has corrupted you from the simplicity of Christ,from the purity of the gospel? You did know, "He that believeth is born of God: Andwhosoever is born of God sinneth not" (1 John 3:9). Ocome back to the true, the pure, the old gospel! Thatwhich you received in the beginning. Come back toChrist, who died to make you a holy people, "zealousfor good works" (Tit. 2:14). "Remember from whence youare fallen, and repent, and do the first works" (Rev.2:5). For "wilt thou know, O vain," O empty "man, thatfaith without works is dead" (Jas. 2:17)? Do not stupidly and senselessly call holinesslegalism—a silly, meaningless word. Be not afraid ofbeing under the law of God. Rather, fear being under"the law of sin" (Rom. 7:23). Love the strictestpreaching best. That which most searches the heart,and shows you wherein you are unlike Christ. Thatwhich presses you most to love Him with all yourheart, and serve Him with all your strength. Permit me to warn you of another silly, meaninglessphrase: Do not say: "I can do nothing." If so, thenyou know nothing of Christ. Then you have no faith.For if you have faith, if you believe, then you "cando all things through Christ who strengthens you"(Phil. 4:13). You can love Him and keep Hiscommandments; and to you His "commandments are notgrievous" (1 John 5:3). Grievous to them thatbelieve? Far from it! They are the joy of your heart. Show then your love for Christ by keeping Hiscommandments, by blamelessly walking in all Hisordinances. Honor Christ by obeying Him with all yourmight, by serving Him with all your strength. GlorifyChrist by imitating Christ in all things, by walkingas He walked. Trust in Christ to live and reign inyour heart. Have confidence in Christ that He willfulfill in you all his great and precious promises.That He will work in you all the good pleasure of Hisgoodness, and all the work of faith with power. Cleaveto Christ, until His blood has cleansed you from allpride, all anger, all evil desire. Let Christ do all.Let Him who has done all for you, do all in you. Exalt Christ as a Prince to give repentance. A Saviorboth to give remission of sins, and to create in you anew heart, to renew a right spirit within you. This isthe gospel, the pure, genuine gospel; glad tidings ofgreat salvation. Not the new, but the old—theeverlasting gospel.

A Plain Account of Christian Perfection: by John Wesley. Wesley believed that God's special commission was for the restoration of Scriptural Holiness.The Burning Heart. John Wesley: Evangelist by A Skevington Wood, Paternoster Press.there is quite a bit of Wesley stuff online at cceland at the Wesley Center for Applied Theologyand in particular The Works of John Wesley