The Scripture Way of Salvation · §22 · John Wesley

The only condition

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And first, how are we justified by faith? In what sense is this to be understood? I answer: Faith is the condition, and the only condition, of justification. It is the condition: no one is justified but he who believes. Without faith no one is justified. And it is the only condition: this alone is sufficient for justification. Everyone who believes is justified, whatever else he has or has not. In other words: no man is justified till he believes. Every man when he believes is justified.

1771 text

III. 1. And first, how are we justified by faith? In what sense is this to be understood? I answer, faith is the condition, and the only condition of justification. It is the condition: none is justified but he that believes; without faith no man is justified. And it is the only condition; this alone is sufficient for justification. Every one that believes is justified, whatever else he has or has not. In other words: no man is justified, ’till he believes: every man when he believes is justified.

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About this text

On Ephesians 2:8: what salvation is, what faith is, and how we are saved by it, from pardon to holiness of heart.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 43 in the 1771 Works. Ephesians 2:8.

We have not yet re-checked this work against its source. We put this English text into updated wording with AI help. No scholar has yet certified it as faithful and complete. Open the 1771 text under any part to compare.

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