John Wesley’s decade long struggle between nature and grace

Excerpt from John Wesley’s testimony, in journal entry dated May 24, 1738:  In this vile, abject state of bondage to sin, I was indeed fighting continually, but not conquering. Before, I had willingly served sin; now it was unwillingly; but still I served it. I fell, and rose, and fell again. Sometimes I was overcome, and in heaviness: Sometimes I overcame, and was in joy. For as in the former state I had some foretastes of the terrors of the law, so had I in this, of the comforts of the Gospel. During this whole struggle between nature and grace, which had now continued above ten years, I had many remarkable returns to prayer; especially when I was in trouble: I had many sensible comforts; which are indeed no other than short anticipations of the life of faith. But I was still “under the law,” not “under grace:” (The state most who are called Christians are content to live and die in:) For I was only striving with, not freed from, sin. Neither had I the witness of the Spirit with my spirit, and indeed could not; for I “sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law.”

Not one uneasy thought. Not one unholy desire.

John Wesley’s journal, May 29, 1738, four days after his new birth experience at Aldersgate: “I set out for Dummer with Mr. Wolf, one of the first-fruits of Peter Bohler’s ministry in England. I was much strengthened by the grace of God in him: Yet was his state so far above mine, that I was often tempted to doubt whether we had one faith. But, without much reasoning about it, I holden here: “Though his be strong and mine weak, yet that God hath given some degree of faith even to me, I know by its fruits. For I have constant peace; - not one uneasy thought. And I have freedom from sin; - not one unholy desire.””

He that fears God and works righteousness is accepted with Him

 1 John 4:18

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. 

John Wesley commentary: "A natural man has neither fear nor love; one that is awakened, fear without love; a babe in Christ, love and fear; a father in Christ, love without fear."

Acts 10:34-35

Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him. 

John Wesley commentary:  “But in every nation he that feareth God and worketh righteousness - He that, first, reverences God, as great, wise, good, the cause, end, and governor of all things; and secondly, from this awful regard to him, not only avoids all known evil, but endeavours, according to the best light he has, to do all things well; is accepted of him - Through Christ, though he knows him not. The assertion is express, and admits of no exception. He is in the favour of God, whether enjoying his written word and ordinances or not. Nevertheless the addition of these is an unspeakable blessing to those who were before in some measure accepted. Otherwise God would never have sent an angel from heaven to direct Cornelius to St. Peter.”

Can a dead man “work for life”?

 Rev. John Fletcher of Madeley:  “You suppose, that free preventing grace does not visit all men; and that all those in whom it has not prevailed, are as totally dead to the things of God, as a dead body is to the things of this life: and from this unscriptural supposition you very reasonably conclude, that we can no more turn to God than corpses can turn themselves in their graves; no more work for life, than putrid carcasses can help themselves to a resurrection.”

“This main pillar of your doctrine will appear to you built upon the sand, if you read the Scriptures in the light of that mercy which is over all God's works. There you will discover the various dispensations of the everlasting Gospel; your contracted views of Divine love will open into the most extensive prospects; and your exulting soul will range through the boundless fields of that grace which is both richly free in all, and abundantly free for all.”

When should a convert be baptized?

“How easily is this question decided, if we will take the word of God for our rule! Either men have received the Holy Ghost or not. If they have not, Repent, saith God, and be baptized, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. If they have, if they are already baptized with the Holy Ghost, then who can forbid water?“ ~ John Wesley

Baptism and the new birth

John Weslet’s journal, January 25, 1739 - I baptized John Smith (late an Anabaptist) and four other adults at Islington. Of the adults I have known baptized lately, one only was at that time born again, in the full sense of the word; that is, found a thorough, inward change, by the love of God filling her heart. Most of them were only born again in a lower sense; that is, received the remission of their sins. And some (as it has since too plainly appeared) neither in one sense nor the other.

A Timeline of Martin Luther's Life

1483
November 10: A son is born to Hans and Margerethe Luther (also called Luder) in Lutherstadt Eisleben; he is baptized "Martin" on November 11 in the Church of St Peter and St Paul.

1484
The family moves to the village of Mansfeld-Lutherstadt.

1498
Martin Luther starts school in Eisenach.

1501
Luther goes to study law at the University of Erfurt.

1505
Caught in a terrible storm in Stotternheim (near Erfurt), Luther vows to become a monk if St. Anne saves him. Surviving the storm, he gives up his career as a lawyer and joins the Augustinian order at the monastery in Erfurt.

1507
Luther celebrates his first mass on May 2.

1508
Luther arrives in Lutherstadt Wittenberg to lecture and study at the university.

1510
Luther walks to Rome, a distance of around 1,000 miles.

1517
Luther preaches against the selling of indulgences. On October 31, he nails the 95 Theses to the door of Lutherstadt Wittenberg's Castle Church. Translated from Latin into German, this printed declaration spreads like wildfire. Martin also changes his name from Luder to Luther, which may have been a Greek play on words: Martinus Eleutherios, or "Martin the Free One".

1518
Luther is charged with heresy in Rome. He defends himself in Augsburg with arguments based on the Bible rather than church doctrine. He has to flee, returning to Lutherstadt Wittenberg under the protection of Frederick the Wise (the Elector Frederick III).

[1519 - Inserted into original timeline by JB Epp]
Luther experiences the new birth:  Click here to read Martin Luther's testimony

1520
Luther burns the Papal Bull in Lutherstadt Wittenberg.

1521
Luther is excommunicated and summoned to appear before the Diet of Worms (the Council of Worms, a city in western Germany). His words "I neither can nor will recant" challenged authority in a way that would change the course of history. On his journey back to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, he is 'kidnapped' and taken to Wartburg Castle near Eisenach. In reality, he is once again under the protection of Frederick the Wise. Safe in the fortress, Luther grows a beard and goes by the name of "Squire George" ("Junker Jörg"). In just 10 weeks, he translates the New Testament from Greek into German.

1522
Luther returns to Lutherstadt Wittenberg and sets off a series of theological and social reforms, such as education for all. He encourages musicians and poets to write music and hymns for church services.

1523
Luther encourages monks and nuns to leave their abbeys. One nun who followed this call was none other than Katharina von Bora, who fled to Lutherstadt Wittenberg where she would come to meet Luther.

1525
Luther marries Katharina von Bora. On December 25, Luther holds the German Mass, the very first Protestant service.

1529
Luther publishes The Large Catechism, an easy-to-understand explanation of Christian theology.

1530
The Augsburg Confession is written by Luther's close associate and friend, Philipp Melanchthon. He presents it to the Diet of Augsburg, but his arguments are rejected. However, this document was – and still is – the cornerstone of Lutheran faith.

1533
The "Klug's Songbook" ("Klug'sche Gesangbuch") is published, including songs like "A Mighty Fortress is our God", Luther's best-known and best-loved hymn.

1537
Schmalkalden hosts a grand meeting of the Schmalkaldic League of rulers and theologians; Luther presents his Articles of Faith, a summary of Lutheran doctrine.

1546
Luther dies in Lutherstadt Eisleben. His coffin is carried to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, where he is buried at the Castle Church. As recorded on his tombstone, he lived for "63 years, 2 months, and 10 days."

https://www.visit-luther.com/reformation-heroes/martin-luther/a-timeline-of-luthers-life/