THE HOW OF TRANSFORMATION FOR JOHN WESLEY The Means of Grace

Recap from last week… “If there is anything that impresses us about John Wesley, it is his dedication, by the grace of God, to be an “altogether Christian” as opposed to an “almost Christian.” Like Wesley we need to be renewed together by the presence of the God of grace and power. We know that God is always seeking to renew us in our thinking together (theology), our living together (works of piety), and our serving together (works of mercy).” - Charles Yrigoyen

Defining Grace For Wesley, grace was transformative Grace - “By grace we mean the undeserved, unmerited, and loving action of God in human existence through the ever-present Holy Spirit.” – Book of Discipline Wesley spoke of grace in two ways  Free love, unmerited mercy through which we are reconciled to God  “… power of God the Holy Ghost which ‘worketh in us both to will and to do of his good pleasure.’”

What are the “means of grace?” Sermon 16. “The Means of Grace”  “By ‘means of grace’ I understand outward signs, words, or actions ordained of God, and appointed for this end—to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men preventing, justifying, or sanctifying grace.” In the sermon he lists three, also known as works of piety:  Prayer  Searching the Scriptures  The Lord’s Supper

Prayer Seems obvious it should be on the list Wesley’s reasons:  Many Scriptural texts, but Matt 7:7-8  “In his Sermon upon the Mount, after explaining at large wherein religion consists… he adds [Matt 7:7-8]. Here we are in the plainest manner directed… to ask in order to seek the grace of God.”  James 1:5 – “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally.”

Searching the Scriptures And that this is a means whereby God not only gives, but also confirms and increases, true wisdom, we learn from the words of St. Paul to Timothy: "From a child thou hast known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Tim. 3:15) 2 Peter 1:19 – “And we have the prophetic word made more sure. You will do well to pay attention to this as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.”

The Lord’s Supper Borrowing Paul’s words from 1 Cor 10 Wesley says,  "The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion," or communication, "of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ?" (1 Cor. 10:16) Is not the eating of that bread, and the drinking of that cup, the outward, visible means, whereby God conveys into our souls all that spiritual grace, that righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, which were purchased by the body of Christ once broken and the blood of Christ once shed for us? Let all, therefore, who truly desire the grace of God, eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.

Fasting – in Sermon 27, “Upon Our Lord’s Sermon on the Mount” One of the more difficult means, takes more effort to put this in place “But of all the means of grace there is scarce any concerning which men have run into greater extremes, than that of which our Lord speaks in the above-mentioned words, I mean religious fasting…. Whereas it is certain the truth lies between them both. It is not all, nor yet is it nothing. It is not the end, but it is a precious means thereto; a means which God himself has ordained, and in which therefore, when it is duly used, he will surely give us his blessing.” Reasons fasting is stressed  Helps us break ties with sins – i.e. an increase and a great variety of food is connected with an increase and variety of sin. Thus, decrease food and decrease sin.  A help to prayer – increases virtues, e.g. chastity, seriousness of spirit, earnestness, sensibility and tenderness of conscience, deadness to the world, and consequently the love of God, and every holy and heavenly affection.

Works of Mercy – in Sermon 92, “On Zeal” Examples – feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, visiting those in prison, preaching the gospel to save souls from death This was a big deal for Wesley:  “[The Christian believer should] show his zeal for works of piety; but much more but much more for works of mercy; seeing ‘God will have mercy and not sacrifice,’ that is, rather than sacrifice. Whenever, therefore, one interferes with the other, works of mercy are to be preferred. Even reading, hearing, prayer are to be omitted, or to be postponed, "at charity's almighty call;" when we are called to relieve the distress of our neighbour, whether in body or soul.”

Closing Remember the Christian life for Wesley was all about transformation, it was about being molded into the likeness of Christ, to make us holy The means of grace were the way in which God grace was bestowed upon us “Do not confuse the ends with the means: [In] using all the means, seek God alone. In and through every outward thing look singly to the power of his Spirit, and the merits of his Son…. Remember also to use all the means as means; as ordained, not for their own sake, but in order to the renewal of your soul in righteousness and true holiness.”