Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall.... 
2 Peter 1:10, KJV

John Wesley was raised in a pastor's home. His mother spent an hour per week with each of her children. He was a deeply religious person. He even became an Anglican missionary to the Indians in what is now Georgia, USA. He failed miserably and later he found out why. He had mental assent to Christianity, but did not have saving faith that resulted in being born again.

Once, he was on the ocean in a wooden ship when a horrific storm hit. He was gripped by fear and rightfully so. There was no radio to seek help and if there were, no ship could reach them in time. As far as human help, there was none.

Wesley noticed a group of Moravians aboard the ship, who were calm and singing praises to God. This gained his attention. When he was back in England, he became friends with Peter Bohler, who was the Moravian leader. He confessed that he did not have [saving] faith.

Here are some qotations from John Wesley's Journal:

I went to America, to convert the Indians; but oh! Who shall convert me? Who, what is he that will deliver me from this evil heart of mischief? I have a fair summer religion. I can talk well; nay, and believe myself, while no danger is near; but let death look me in the face, and my spirit is troubled. Nor can I say, 'To die is gain!

It is now two years and almost four months since I left my native country [England] in order to teach the Georgian Indians the nature of Christianity. But what have I learned myself in the meantime? Why (what I the least of all suspected), that I who went to America to convert others was never myself converted to God.

I found my brother at Oxford, recovering from his pleurisy; and with him Peter Bohler; by whom, in the hand of the great God, I was, on Sunday, the fifth, clearly convinced of unbelief, of the want of that faith whereby alone we are saved. Immediately it struck into my mind, “Leave off preaching. How can you preach to others, who have not [saving] faith yourself?” I asked Bohler whether he thought I should leave it off or not. He answered, “By no means.” I asked, “But what can I preach?” He said, “Preach faith till you have it; and then, because you have it, you will preach faith.”

I Felt My Heart Strangely Warmed 

In the evening I went very unwillingly to a society in Aldersgate Street, where one was reading Luther’s preface to the Epistle to the Romans. About a quarter before nine, while he was describing the change which God works in the heart through faith in Christ, I felt my heart strangely warmed. I felt I did trust in Christ, Christ alone, for salvation; and an assurance was given me that He had taken away my sins, even mine, and saved me from the law of sin and death.

Wesley is not alone in his experience. Here are two more examples.

When I was a child, we would to listen to Pastor L. R. Sheldon, who had a Christian program on a New Orleans radio station. He gave an amazing testimony that is indelibly stamped in my memory. He said that he had been a pastor for twenty-five years and never had been born again. Then, he was saved and later pastored a church in New Orleans.

Our pastor told this amazing story. He and and one of his faithful members were out visiting people in their town. They walked up to this house, knocked on the door and were greeted by an older lady. She invited them in. They began to witness to her. She said that she had grown up in her particular denomination, had been baptized and attended church services all her life. As our pastor and his friend began to witness to her, she was shocked to know that she had never been saved. She was gloriously saved. Two weeks later, she passed away.

My friend, do you know that if you were to die, you would go to heaven? You can make your calling and election sure. Please read the plan of salvation and receive Christ now: http://www.jrcministries.org/…/3-now-that-you-are-a-christi… . There are also instructions that you should follow after you have received Christ.

Please message me if you have received Christ. Tell others that you are now a Christian. May the Lord bless you.

Copyright © Dr. John E. Russell, 2018

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