When we think of great religious leaders like, Martin Luther (1483-1576), John Calvin (1509-1564), and John Wesley (1703-1791), there was one common thing which made a huge difference in the religious world. That is, first each person had his own personal deep religious experience or “conversion.”
On May 24, 1738, John Wesley had his own conversion (“Aldersgate”) experience, and he writes in his journal stating that “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.”
He also writes: “By a Christian, I mean one who so believes in Christ, as that sin hath no more dominion over him. And in the obvious sense of the word, I was not a Christian till May the 24th. For till then sin dominion over me, although I fought with it continually; but surely, then, from that time to this it hath not, – such is the free grace of God in Christ.”
As we all now know that a change that took place in John Wesley’s heart, since then changed many people’s lives through his ministry in the world, including mine! How about you? Please share your thoughts and experience. Appreciated!