Written By Rev. Law Hui Seng
24th may, 2009(Aldersgate Sunday)
Posted By Teresa Han
Ephesians 2:8
Main Idea: Saved by grace, through faith
Objective: To teach the doctrine of salvation – justification by grace through faith.
A. Introduction
- Methodist Church – movement of Methodism in Sarawak for at leat 107 years now.
- Since John Wesley (28th June, 1703) began the movement in England, it is more than 275 years; at the Aldersgate Event (24th May, 1738), only then he was sure of his salvation. Ever since, he was a different person; he was on fire for Jesus. Can our church produce more John Wesleys?
- We need to be like John Wesley to be so down to earth in examining his own faith; he struggled a lot and doubted much about his faith.
B. Before Aldersgate
- After coming back from Georgia to England, in his journal, he entered 4 key observations, 1st February, 1738.
- (1). First observation is about his faith (spiritual state). It is now 2 years and almost 4 months since I let my native country in order to teach the Georgian Indians the nature of Christianity. But what have I learned myself in the mean time? why (I the least of all suspected), that I who went to America to convert others, was never myself converted to God.
- (2). Second observation is this: He asked himself what it means to be a (real) Christian. 1st February, 1738, he wrote in his journal whether all his efforts make him acceptable to God? He said and I quote, “ ‘I know nothing of myself,’ that I am, as touching outward, moral righteousness, blameless? Or (to come closer yet) the having a rational conviction of all the truths of Christianity? Does all this give a claim to the holy, heavenly, divine a character of a Christian? By no means. If the oracles of God are true, if we are still to abide by “the law and the testimony,” all these things, though when enabled by faith in Christ they are holy, and just, and good, yet without it are “dung and dross.” You can see how he distinguished different levels of faith.
- (3). Third observation is this: ‘One most despairing all therefore the most inaccurate of all, I am a child of wrath, an heir of hell.’ He may not have realized the full extent of holiness that he had envisioned.
- (4). Fourth observation is this: Pointed observations in his journal, he indicated that the he wanted was “a sure trust and confidence in God, that through the merits of Christ my sins are forgiven, and I recounted to the favor of God.”
- On 7th February, 1738, he met Peter Bohler, a Moravian missionary and Peter really counseled him in his faith.
- Peter Bohler reassured Wesley and counseled him, “Preach faith till you have it, and then, because you have it you will preach faith.’
C. Aldersgate (events leading to it)
- In his spiritual summary, Wesley pointed out he realized there are 2 fruits inseparably connected with a living faith in Christ, namely: a. dominion over sin, and b. constant peace from a sense of forgiveness.
- Wesley wanted nothing less than a living faith in Christ which was “inseparable from a sense of pardon for all past, and freedom from all present sin.
- In the days just prior to 24th may, 1738, his spirit was by “strange, indifference, dullness, and coldness, and unusually frequent relapses into sin.”
- On 24th May, 1738, he confessed, “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 9, in the heart through faith in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
D. After Aldersgate.
- 11th June, 1738, he gave evidence of his new found faith and delivered what can be called his “evangelical manifesto” before the venerable at St Mary, Oxford.
- His sermon, “salvation by faith” took Ephesians 2:8 as its text – By grace are ye saved through faith and he considered 3 questions.
- Firstly, what faith it is through which we are saved? It underscored the truth that saving faith is not only an assent to the whole gospel of Christ, but also a full reliance on the blood of Christ, a trust in the merits of Christ’s life, death and resurrection
- An old Indian, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst flames. As the flames worked their way up to the centre where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the centre of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God, “Me…that worm!”
- Secondly, what is the salvation which is through faith? What is the effect of God’s grace on a person who is saved by Christ. Salvation of which Christianity speaks is a present salvation and it entails nothing less than redemption from sin here and now. This faith that is in Christ, they are saved both from the guilt and from the power of it.
- A woman attempted assassination of the first Queen Elizabeth of England. The woman sought to dress as an office boy and secreted herself in the queen’s bedroom, awaiting the convenient moment to stab the queen to death. But the queen’s attendant found her hidden among the gowns and brought her into the presence of the queen, after confiscating the pointed knife that she had hoped to plant into the heart of the queen. The would be assassin realized her case, humanly speaking, was hopeless. She threw herself down on her knees and pleaded and begged the queen as a woman to have compassion on her, a woman, and to show grace. Queen Elizabeth looked at her coldl and quietly said, “If I show you grace, what promise will you make for the future?” The woman looked up and said, “Grace that hath condition, grace that is fettered by precautions, is not grace at all. Queen Elizabeth caught the idea in a moment and said, “You are right; I pardon you of my grace.” And they led her away. History tells us from that moment Queen Elizabeth had no more faithful devoted servant than that woman who had intended to take her life. That is exactly the way of God works in the life in an individual – he or she becomes a faithful servant of God.. You see, unconditional salvation, owing to God’s grace, a person’s life is changed.
Main Idea: Saved by grace, through faith
Objective: To teach the doctrine of salvation – justification by grace through faith.
A. Introduction
- Methodist Church – movement of Methodism in Sarawak for at leat 107 years now.
- Since John Wesley (28th June, 1703) began the movement in England, it is more than 275 years; at the Aldersgate Event (24th May, 1738), only then he was sure of his salvation. Ever since, he was a different person; he was on fire for Jesus. Can our church produce more John Wesleys?
- We need to be like John Wesley to be so down to earth in examining his own faith; he struggled a lot and doubted much about his faith.
B. Before Aldersgate
- After coming back from Georgia to England, in his journal, he entered 4 key observations, 1st February, 1738.
- (1). First observation is about his faith (spiritual state). It is now 2 years and almost 4 months since I let my native country in order to teach the Georgian Indians the nature of Christianity. But what have I learned myself in the mean time? why (I the least of all suspected), that I who went to America to convert others, was never myself converted to God.
- (2). Second observation is this: He asked himself what it means to be a (real) Christian. 1st February, 1738, he wrote in his journal whether all his efforts make him acceptable to God? He said and I quote, “ ‘I know nothing of myself,’ that I am, as touching outward, moral righteousness, blameless? Or (to come closer yet) the having a rational conviction of all the truths of Christianity? Does all this give a claim to the holy, heavenly, divine a character of a Christian? By no means. If the oracles of God are true, if we are still to abide by “the law and the testimony,” all these things, though when enabled by faith in Christ they are holy, and just, and good, yet without it are “dung and dross.” You can see how he distinguished different levels of faith.
- (3). Third observation is this: ‘One most despairing all therefore the most inaccurate of all, I am a child of wrath, an heir of hell.’ He may not have realized the full extent of holiness that he had envisioned.
- (4). Fourth observation is this: Pointed observations in his journal, he indicated that the he wanted was “a sure trust and confidence in God, that through the merits of Christ my sins are forgiven, and I recounted to the favor of God.”
- On 7th February, 1738, he met Peter Bohler, a Moravian missionary and Peter really counseled him in his faith.
- Peter Bohler reassured Wesley and counseled him, “Preach faith till you have it, and then, because you have it you will preach faith.’
C. Aldersgate (events leading to it)
- In his spiritual summary, Wesley pointed out he realized there are 2 fruits inseparably connected with a living faith in Christ, namely: a. dominion over sin, and b. constant peace from a sense of forgiveness.
- Wesley wanted nothing less than a living faith in Christ which was “inseparable from a sense of pardon for all past, and freedom from all present sin.
- In the days just prior to 24th may, 1738, his spirit was by “strange, indifference, dullness, and coldness, and unusually frequent relapses into sin.”
- On 24th May, 1738, he confessed, “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 9, in the heart through faith in Christ, Christ alone for salvation, and an assurance was given me that he had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.”
D. After Aldersgate.
- 11th June, 1738, he gave evidence of his new found faith and delivered what can be called his “evangelical manifesto” before the venerable at St Mary, Oxford.
- His sermon, “salvation by faith” took Ephesians 2:8 as its text – By grace are ye saved through faith and he considered 3 questions.
- Firstly, what faith it is through which we are saved? It underscored the truth that saving faith is not only an assent to the whole gospel of Christ, but also a full reliance on the blood of Christ, a trust in the merits of Christ’s life, death and resurrection
- An old Indian, after living many years in sin, was led to Christ by a missionary. Friends asked him to explain the change in his life. Reaching down, he picked up a little worm and placed it on a pile of leaves. Then, touching a match to the leaves, he watched them smolder and burst flames. As the flames worked their way up to the centre where the worm lay, the old chief suddenly plunged his hand into the centre of the burning pile and snatched out the worm. Holding the worm gently in his hand, he gave this testimony to the grace of God, “Me…that worm!”
- Secondly, what is the salvation which is through faith? What is the effect of God’s grace on a person who is saved by Christ. Salvation of which Christianity speaks is a present salvation and it entails nothing less than redemption from sin here and now. This faith that is in Christ, they are saved both from the guilt and from the power of it.
- A woman attempted assassination of the first Queen Elizabeth of England. The woman sought to dress as an office boy and secreted herself in the queen’s bedroom, awaiting the convenient moment to stab the queen to death. But the queen’s attendant found her hidden among the gowns and brought her into the presence of the queen, after confiscating the pointed knife that she had hoped to plant into the heart of the queen. The would be assassin realized her case, humanly speaking, was hopeless. She threw herself down on her knees and pleaded and begged the queen as a woman to have compassion on her, a woman, and to show grace. Queen Elizabeth looked at her coldl and quietly said, “If I show you grace, what promise will you make for the future?” The woman looked up and said, “Grace that hath condition, grace that is fettered by precautions, is not grace at all. Queen Elizabeth caught the idea in a moment and said, “You are right; I pardon you of my grace.” And they led her away. History tells us from that moment Queen Elizabeth had no more faithful devoted servant than that woman who had intended to take her life. That is exactly the way of God works in the life in an individual – he or she becomes a faithful servant of God.. You see, unconditional salvation, owing to God’s grace, a person’s life is changed.
- How the unconditional grace of God for you changed your life for better?
- Have you tapped the incomparable riches of Christ’s grace for your life?
- Thirdly, how may we answer some objections?
E. The Need to reexamine your faith
- Do you have victory over sin?
- What and who do you really believe?
- Are you living consistently with the word of God?
F. Conclusion
- Work out your salvation. Philippians 2:12 “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed – not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence – continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling.”
