John Wesley’s Testimony
The words of John Wesley. “As a young boy in the family of a clergyman I had been “carefully taught that salvation could only be obtained by keeping all the commandments of God. I hoped to be saved, by, (1) Not being so bad as other people. (2) Having a kind of religion. And, (3) Reading the Bible, going to church, and saying my prayers. I had no doubt that I was a good Christian. I was eventually ordained as a minister and lived very strictly. I omitted no sort of self-denial but this brought me no peace with God. I went as a chaplain to the American Colonies and came under the influence of Moravian Christians and on my return to England in that January I realized that what I was lacking was “faith in and through Christ”. I was resolved to renounce all dependence upon my own works or righteousness and instead turned to a saving faith, a full reliance on the blood of Christ shed for me. I finally knew I had been deceived and was converted when my heart was strangely warmed within and an assurance was given to me that He had taken away my sins.” (The Journal of John Wesley, May 24, 1738)