WESLEY SERMONS #3

In this series, 60 of Wesley's sermons will be summarized into about 250 words. I'm using the work of Collins/Vickers as my source (for transcripts and order), but the summaries are mine (so any misrepresentations of Wesley may be attributed to me). 


FREE GRACE

We are saved by grace… and that grace is freely given (unconditional) and available to all (every individual). Some, however, believe that saving grace is only given to certain people. These individuals were selected to receive this grace in an eternal decree of predestination. The rest, it seems, are decreed for damnation.

Those who believe in this doctrine of predestination sometimes try to mitigate the apparent unfairness by suggesting that God only predestines the elect to salvation and not the non-elect to damnation. But this simply doesn’t work. If God doesn’t extend saving grace to the non-elect, it is impossible for them to be saved!

This view of predestination tends to destroy the call to evangelism, holiness, enemy-love, salvation, assurance, joy, and good works. Why bother with such things if our ultimate fate is predetermined? It also renders the cross obsolete (wasn’t their fate already sealed?) and destroy the consistency of Scripture by creating contradictions.

But if I’m right (and this view of predestination is wrong), then why aren’t all people saved? The answer is simple: Some willfully reject God’s gracious offer.

The view of predestination described here is blasphemous. It makes Jesus a hypocrite and destroys the Father’s character. In this view, God does Satan’s job for him! It ultimately makes God the devil! How much greater the alternative: Grace is free to all! There is hope!