I asked long ago,'What must I do to be saved?' The Scripture answered, 'Keep the commandments, believe, hope, love.' I was early warned against laying, as the Papists do, too much stress on outward works, or on a faith without works, which as it does not include, so it will never lead to true hope or charity.
Interpretation
The quote emphasizes the importance of faith accompanied by good works along with the core virtues of belief, hope, and love for true salvation.
In this quote, John Wesley explores the essential components of true salvation, highlighting the need for both faith and actions that reflect the commandments. He critiques the overemphasis on external acts of piety, warning that faith divorced from good works lacks the depth to cultivate genuine hope and charity; thus, a holistic approach involving belief and virtuous living is essential for spiritual salvation.
In practice
In a sermon about spiritual growth, this quote can be used to illustrate the necessity of active faith.
I continue to dream and pray about a revival of holiness in our day that moves forth in mission and creates authentic community in which each person can be unleashed through the empowerment of the Spirit to fulfill God's creational intentions.
I plainly felt that, had God given me such a retirement with the companion I desired, I should have forgotten the work for which I was born and have set up my rest in this world.
Prayer is where the action is.
I saw that giving even all my life to God (supposing it possible to do this and go no further) would profit me nothing unless I gave my heart, yea, all my heart, to Him.
In using all means, seek God alone. In and through every outward thing, look only to the power of His Spirit, and the merits of His Son. Beware you do not get stuck in the work itself; if you do, it is all lost labor. Nothing short of God can satisfy your soul. Therefore, fix on Him in all, through all, and above all...Remember also to use all means as means-as ordained, not for their own sake.
Give me one hundred preachers who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not whether they be clergymen or laymen, they alone will shake the gates of Hell and set up the kingdom of Heaven upon Earth.
The fact that the most powerful and significant connections in our lives are (at the time) invisible to us seems to me a compelling argument for religious reverence rather than skeptical empiricism as a response to life's meaning.
Capitalism without failure is like religion without sin. Bankruptcies and losses concentrate the mind on prudent behavior.
Written language must be considered as a particular psychic reality. The book is permanent; it is an object in your field of vision. It speaks to you with a monotonous authority which even its author would not have. You are fairly obliged to read what is written.
Very well then; emancipation from usury and money, that is, from practical, real Judaism, would constitute the emancipation of our time.
It is not necessary to advertise food to hungry people, fuel to cold people, or houses to the homeless.
The more we try to live in the world of words, the more we feel isolated and alone, the more all the joy and liveliness of things is exchanged for mere certainty and security. On the other hand, the more we are forced to admit that we actually live in the real world, the more we feel ignorant, uncertain, and insecure about everything.
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