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Confidence
Belief overview
Justification by faith with filial assurance
The person is reconciled with God through faith and can receive interior assurance of grace.
4
Supportive
0
Contrary
0
Neutral
What it is: Methodism teaches that the person is justified by faith in Christ and can receive interior witness of the Spirit as to their filial condition before God.
How the tradition understands it: Justification involves forgiveness, reconciliation, and new beginning. The experience of assurance may be sudden, striking, or more gradual, but has an important place in Wesleyan spirituality.
Basis and context: The Aldersgate episode occupies a strong symbolic place in Methodist memory as expressing personal trust in Christ.
Debates and variations: Not all Methodists describe the experience of assurance with the same intensity or language, but the theme remains relevant.
Documentary evidence
Supportive
Aldersgate and the Warmed Heart
Wesley's classic autobiographical account of inner assurance of faith.
Reference: John Wesley's journal entry of May 24, 1738.
Content: Wesley describes feeling his heart 'strangely warmed' as he trusted in Christ for salvation.
Use in debate: It is central for assurance of faith and the Methodist experience of justifying grace.
John Wesley, Sermon The New Birth
A sermon on regeneration and inner transformation.
Reference: John Wesley, sermon The New Birth.
Content: The text describes the new birth as a real renewal worked by God in the believing person.
Use in debate: It is important for conversion, justification, and new life.
John Wesley, Sermon The Scripture Way of Salvation
A classic sermon on grace, justification, and sanctification.
Reference: John Wesley, sermon The Scripture Way of Salvation.
Content: Wesley articulates repentance, faith, justification, and sanctification in a dynamic spiritual sequence.
Use in debate: It is one of the most important Wesleyan sources on the logic of salvation.
Romans 8:16
The Spirit bears witness with our spirit.
Reference: Romans 8:16.
Content: The text speaks of the Spirit's witness concerning the adoption of believers.
Use in debate: It is important for the Wesleyan doctrine of filial assurance and assurance of salvation.