The Strangely Warmed Heart
On the evening of May 24, 1738, John Wesley reluctantly attended a meeting on Aldersgate Street in London. This gathering, under the auspices of the Church of England and largely composed of Moravians, would become the site of a profound transformation in Wesley's life. As someone read from Martin Luther's preface to the Epistle to the Romans, Wesley experienced what he later described as his heart being 'strangely warmed.' In his own words, '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.'
Wrestling with Spiritual Insecurity
Before this pivotal moment, Wesley, a clergyman and theologian, had been grappling with deep spiritual insecurity. Despite his rigorous religious practices and intellectual grasp of theology, he lacked a personal assurance of salvation. His missionary efforts in Georgia had left him disillusioned and questioning his own faith. Yet, at Aldersgate, Wesley encountered a divine assurance that radically altered his faith journey. He felt an emotional connection to Christ that he had never experienced before, moving from striving for righteousness to trusting in Christ's righteousness.
Preaching with New Conviction
Empowered by this newfound personal relationship with Christ, Wesley began to preach with conviction and zeal. His ministry saw countless lives transformed, and he became a driving force behind the Methodist movement, emphasizing personal conversion and assurance of faith. Wesley's experience at Aldersgate not only ignited his own faith but also contributed to the broader evangelical revival of the 18th century, impacting social reform and spreading Methodism across the globe.
God's Grace Changes Everything
Wesley attributed this change to the grace of God and the work of the Holy Spirit, marking it as a divine intervention that shaped the course of his life and ministry. Through this experience, Jesus provided a clear assurance of salvation and empowered Wesley to lead a significant religious movement, for which Wesley gave God all the glory.
