John Wesley’s Four Spiritual Laws

Many evangelical Christians are aware of The Four Spiritual Laws as a shorthand version of the gospel used in evangelism. While millions of Christians have come to faith through this simple presentation, which has its roots in the Reformed tradition, those in the Methodist tribe might wonder if there is a Wesleyan version of The Four Spiritual Laws that expresses not only the salvation we have in Christ but also a version of the "wonderful plan" for our lives that involves sanctification, restoration in the image of God, and power over sin.

Host Bob Kaylor believes he may have found it in John Wesley's letter to Ebenezer Blackwell on December 20, 1751. Near the end of the letter, Wesley outlines in four statements the gospel that the early Methodist preached and believed:

1. God loves you: therefore love and obey him.

2. Christ died for you: therefore die to sin.

3. Christ has risen: therefore rise in the image of God.

4. Christ lives evermore: therefore live to God till you live with Him in glory.

"This is the scriptural way, the Methodist way, the true way," said Wesley. "God grant that we may never turn therefrom, to the right hand or to the left." What would it mean for 21st century Methodists to adopt this as our "Four Spiritual Laws" for evangelizing the world?

Send your questions and comments to Bob Kaylor at pastorbk@tlumc.org and follow Bob on Twitter @revbkaylor.