Thefirstfruitsofthespirit.johnwesleyseries

“The First Fruits of the Spirit”

John Wesley Sermon Series

(taken from John Wesley on Christian Beliefs, The Standard Sermons in Modern English, Vol. 1, Abingdon Press:2002)

Romans 8:1-17

July 13, 2003

I. Introduction – How many of us have ever felt condemned? What’s the first word that comes into your mind when I say condemnation?

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Story – Martin Luther. In his search for salvation, found himself at a monastery. In the Catholic faith, salvation comes through the church, through its priests and the sacraments. For Luther, this system wasn’t working.

As a monk, Luther denied himself all the creature comforts. He gave up food. Often slept outdoors with only his cloak to cover him even in the midst of winter, and even beat himself causing open wounds in order to identify with this Christ and the salvation he sought.

But then it came to him. As a Bible professor in a small Catholic seminary, he came across this passage in Romans and of others which spoke of grace and benefits of that grace…and it changed his life.

So much so that he began to teach, preach, and live out this “new form” of grace-filled, Spirit-filled living. He even began to write about it. And on the evening of May 24, 1738, a young troubled-filled Anglican priest, by the name of John Wesley, heard the words of Martin Luther on this very text, and his heart became strangely warmed.

So warmed it was that 265 years later, we sit here with Methodist in our name, representing our belief that grace is the greatest gift ever given, because Martin Luther made the discovery and decided to share it.

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Romans 8 is a powerful chapter in the Bible, not only were Martin Luther and John Wesley affected by its words, even St. Augustine was convincted by its 13 & fourteenth verses.

But Romans 8 is also one of those passages of Scripture that has been frequently and dangerously misunderstood. On one extreme, some Christians read this passage and then neglect repentance and personal discipline.

On the other hand, some Christians get so overwhelmed with a sense of guilt about their sin, that they lose sight of the joy, peace and victory that the Gospel message brings leading them to depression and despair. In reality, this passage talks about a Christian principle that says we hold both tendencies in tandem with one another.

For those who have come to a living relationship with Jesus Christ, who have accepted the free gift of God’s grace, we realize that sin cannot be ignored or overlooked in our lives. Our willful transgressions and involuntary human weaknesses often try to outdo us.

But, we do not have to be overwhelmed. We do not have to be depressed. We don’t have to be in despair. We are not condemned! Even though our sins may overwhelm, depress, and create despair, we have a hope, we have a peace, we have a joy, and that is found in the mercy of the One who invited us to His table of redemption in the first place, Jesus Christ.

For those who may not have that relationship, I invite you to listen closely, this message is one of the greatest benefits of walking the journey with Christ.

For those who have that relationship, I invite you to listen closely as well. We all need to be reminded of the sanctifying nature, the continual loving and grace-filled nature, of Christ that allows “our spirit to witness to the Spirit.”

But some may ash how do we know that we are walking, that we abide in the

Spirit? Wesley gave us some characteristics of the first-fruit Spirit-filled Christian.

II. Characteristics of the First-Fruit Spirit-filled Christian…

As we talked about two weeks ago,

They are not the almost Christian…they are all together in that they love God, love one another, and love living out the faith as a disciple of Jesus Christ.

As we talked about last week,

They are not the one trying to work for their salvation…

…they have come to salvation by faith,

…they have found redemption in the cross,

…they are the engrafted branch into the vine,

…they have a relationship with Jesus Christ that they never realized the wonder of before their conversion.

According to Paul, Those who walk in the first-fruits of the Spirit no longer look to their human nature for answers, walking according to their flesh. Instead, they live by the Spirit, and the Spiritual fruit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control, which are not only evident in their lives, but are lived-out in their personal faith.

Wesley said of these, “In the whole course of their words and actions, they hold in their hearts and demonstrate in their lives the genuine fruit of the Spirit of God…they give full proof to everyone that they are truly motivated by the same Spirit, ‘who raised Christ from the dead.’”