THE MEANING OF GRACE ACCORDING TO JOHN WESLEY, part 2

Written 10/3/26 by Randy Miller

I think God is working on me about the word GRACE.

I wrote in my blog post on October 3, about how, between music and my study of Fred Sanders’ book entitled “Wesley on the Christian Life, The Heart Renewed in Love” (2013, Crossway Books), God has been working on me about how his Grace works in my life, and how it can work in others.

Part 2 of this theme, today’s blog, further quotes some of Sanders’ writings about John Wesley’s grasp of how grace is part of our spiritual relationship with Christ. Here are some quotes from Sanders on Wesley’s approach to grace (page 170):

“Wesley’s approach (to salvation) helped launch the great evangelical awakening of the eighteenth century. This awakening was, in fact, a work that God wrought through him (Wesley). Grace means free forgiveness, in which we receive from God the favor that we do not deserve and are guilty of having violated. But grace also means God’s empowering us and drawing us to become more Christlike, freely giving us the help and power we also do not deserve and are also guilty of having violated. Wesley knows that both of these free gifts are grace, and that even in reading the New Testament, we need to have both meanings in mind.”

“To (grace) he (Wesley) connects everything he has to say about conversion, the Christian life, and the church. All God’s ways with man pass through grace, and the theme grew more expansive as Wesley continued to preach it.”

Grace is not something we EARN. It’s already there offered to us by God. All we haves to do is TAKE it by asking Jesus to forgive our sins, cleanse our heart, and give us a new heart that is more like Him. Will we mess up along the way? Sure. But you know, God’s grace is there for us in those times as well, as long as we admit our screw-ups to Him and ask Him for further guidance in our lives.

It’s GRACE that makes it all happen. And, it’s FREE for the asking. God is waiting. Will we accept it?

My prayer is that today, if you haven’t experienced God’s GRACE, you’ll pray the simple prayer: “God, I’m a sinner. Forgive me of my sins, cleanse my heart from all the bad stuff I’ve done, and fill me with Your Love. Amen.”

And, remember, you’re NOT alone in the journey! Dig into His Word, get encouragement from other believers in whatever church you think is feeding you spiritually, select friends that can come along with you on the journey.

Your life has just begun….again!!!

Walk on STEADY GROUND today with Christ!!!

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THE MEANING OF GRACE ACCORDING TO JOHN WESLEY, part 2

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