Wesley Corpus

10. “But how can this be reconciled with the words of our Lord, “He that believeth shall be saved?’” Do you think these words mean, “he that believes” at this moment “shall” certainly and inevitably “be saved?” If this interpretation be good, then, by all the rules of speech, the other part of the sentence must mean, “He” that does “not believe” at this moment, “shall” certainly and inevitably “be damned.” Therefore that interpretation cannot be good. The plain meaning then of the whole sentence is, “He that believeth,” if he continue in faith, “shall be saved; he that believeth not,” if he continue in unbelief, “shall be damned.” 11. “But does not Christ say elsewhere, ‘He that believeth hath everlasting life?” (John iii. 36) and, “He that believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life?’” (v. 24.) I answer, (1.) The love of God is everlasting life. It is, in substance, the life of heaven. Now every one that believes, loves God, and therefore “hath everlasting life.” (2) Every one that believes “is” therefore “passed from death,” spiritual death, “unto life;” and, (3.) “Shall not come into condemnation,” if he endureth in the faith unto the end; according to our Lord’s own words, “He that endureth to the end shall be saved;” and, “Verily I say unto you, If a man keep my saying, he shall never see death.” (John viii. 51.) 12. Thirdly. Those who are grafted into the good olive tree, the spiritual, invisible Church, may nevertheless so fall from God as to perish everlastingly. For thus saith the Apostle: “Some of the branches are broken off, and thou art grafted in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive-tree. Be not high-minded, but fear: If God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he spare not thee. Behold the goodness and severity of God! On them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou shalt be cut off.” (Romans xi. 17, 20-22.) We may observe here, (1.) The persons spoken to were actually grafted into the olive-tree. (2.) This olive-tree is not barely the outward visible Church, but the invisible, consisting of holy believers.