John Wesley and the Doctrine of Assurance -- By: Mark A. Noll

Journal: Bibliotheca Sacra
Volume: BSAC 132:526 (Apr 1975)
Article: John Wesley and the Doctrine of Assurance
Author: Mark A. Noll


John Wesley and the Doctrine of Assurance

Mark A. Noll

[Mark A. Noll, Assistant Professor-elect of History, Trinity College, Deerfield, Illinois.]

Whether or not an individual has really received the grace of Christ by the mercy of God and now stands as a child of God has been a question of vital interest for virtually all Christians in every age and of every theological preference. John Wesley’s treatment of this issue reflected a sincere effort to be faithful to the revelation of God in the Bible; and as was characteristic of his whole ministry, he also observed the experiences of Christians in their daily walk with God in an effort to understand this doctrine.

It would be a healthy exercise for Christians to review Wesley’s teaching, for his thoughts on assurance in relationship to the activity of the Holy Spirit, the changed life arising from faith, and the place of assurance in regeneration relate to current problems. On the one hand, some contemporary mass evangelists and mass evangelism techniques seem to offer a deluding and theologically suspect assurance based only on a convert’s feelings and his will; on the other hand, some resurgent Reformed groups speak as if assurance rests solely on an examination of the fruits of sanctification in a Christian’s life. While it is true that the doctrine of assurance is a reliable index of the genius of a particular theology, Wesley’s teaching on the subject has a certain “ecumenical” potential. For except in certain ramifications of the doctrine his teaching should be acceptable and instructive for Christians inclined toward either Reformed or Arminian theology.

In order to see Wesley’s concept of assurance in proper perspective, the place of assurance in classic Protestant theology will

be examined briefly. The place of this doctrine in Wesley’s life and his formal treatment of the subject will then be observed. Then an attempt will be made to fit Wesley’s teaching on assurance into wider theological contexts.

History of the Doctrine of Assurance

For Martin Luther the Roman Catholic teaching on assurance was a damnable error. The Council of Trent codified the Catholic position which had been gaining acceptance over the previous centuries. That council said, “No one can know with the certainty of faith, which excludes the possibility of error, that he continues in the grace of God.” And again, “If any man hold trust, confidence, or assurance of pardon to be essential to faith, let him be accursed.”1 Roman Catholics believed that confidence of salvation led inevitably to a rejection of any activ...

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