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or weeping and gnashing of teeth...
which alternative are you betting your life on? |
Notes on Wesley’s sermon describing The Way to the Kingdom
Kenneth Cain Kinghorn. John Wesley on Christian Beliefs: The Standard Sermons. 2002 Nashville: Abingdon Press. The Way to the Kingdom
- True religion resides in the heart, not in outward things, like ceremonies and rituals created by man. The essence of real religion is righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit
- Ceremonies are good in their place, as long as they remain subservient to real religion.
- Anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it... has no real religion.
- Two people can feed the hungry or clothe the naked, but only those that act from their love of God has real religion, while those who act to be seen by others have no religion.
- Religion lies in the heart. If orthodoxy and religious beliefs lie only in the mind, they are not true religion.
- The first branch of Christian righteousness is “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind.”
- The second branch of righteousness reveals “you shall love your neighbor as yourself.” Every child of Adam is your neighbor, including those you think to be evil.
- All who truly love others, whenever they have opportunity, work for the good of all. Love without partiality or hypocrisy is full of mercy and good fruits.
- In addition to holiness, real religion also implies happiness. Happy are those whose transgression is forgiven; and whose sin is covered.
- Holiness and happiness are sometimes referred to in the Bible as... the Kingdom of God.
- God consistently tells us that “God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son.” Those who have the Son reigning in their hearts “have everlasting life.” And those to whom this grace is given may confidently commune with God, even though they might be in the middle of a furnace of blazing fire.
- Whenever the gospel of Christ is preached, the kingdom of God is near. It is not far from every one of you... you may enter in at this very hour. Just listen to the invitation... repent and believe the gospel.
- The way into the kingdom begins when we earnestly repent. We need self-understanding that our passions, desires, aversions, joys, sorrows, hopes, and fears are either excessive in their measure or fixed on forbidden things.
- This attitude leads to self-sufficiency... I am rich, I have prospered, and I need nothing! Our pride prompts us to say... Who is the Almighty, that I should serve him?
- Are you completely convinced that you deserve God’s wrath and everlasting damnation? Do you sincerely understand that you individually deserve to descend into the unquenchable fire? If God has given you a heart to truly repent... you will have a deep sense that these things are so.
- It is when you understand that it is by God’s mere mercy that you are not immediately consumed and swept off the face of the earth. Only then will you repent for each sin and seek to atone for every evil work, word or thought.
- Then you learn that even if you lived obediently until death... that would never atone for what is past. Conviction of sin is the prologue to the kingdom of God.
- You are not far from the kingdom of God if you feel remorse and self-condemnation. Take one more step and you will enter God’s kingdom... (by believing in the gospel!)
- The gospel, which is good news for guilty, helpless sinners, is the entire revelation Jesus Christ made to mankind. The substance of the gospel is that God loved the world so much, God sent his Son into the world to save every sinner, so that everyone who believes in Him may not perish but have eternal life.
- Again, He was wounded for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the punishment that made us whole, and by his bruises... we are healed.
- Believe in the gospel... and the kingdom of God is yours. Christ pardons and absolves all who truly repent and sincerely believe his holy gospel. His kingdom comes as soon as God speaks to your heart... “Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.” You then have righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.
- Faith is a personal trust in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me and that even I am now reconciled to God by the blood of his cross.
- And you who do not yet know the Lord, do not allow foolish people to make you ashamed of the gospel of Christ. Be in no way apprehensive about those who speak evil against the things of which they are ignorant. God will soon turn your faint spirit into joy.
- Jesus... who vindicates is always near. However many your sins may be, just now cast yourself upon the Lamb of God. Then, an entry into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be richly provided for you!
Kenneth Cain Kinghorn. John Wesley on Christian Beliefs: The Standard Sermons. 2002 Nashville: Abingdon Press. The Way to the Kingdom