The Protestant Pietism movement of the 18th century crossed the Atlantic and influenced the American religious landscape.
Pietism stressed spiritual renewal, searching the scriptures and above all a personal religious experience with Christ.
British minister the Rev W.B. Fitzgerald coined the term the “Four Alls” in his 1903 book, “The Roots Of Methodism.” His Four Alls were, “All need to be saved. All may be saved. All may know they are saved. All may be saved to the utmost.”
First, all need to be saved. Without God, we are helpless.
The first “all” shares the truth of Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.” Sin creates separation and a barrier between a person and God. Who can bridge that barrier? Jesus! 1 John 2: 1-2 says, “But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous, and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Second, all may be saved.
The first church council was held in Jerusalem (Acts 15). The conflict was over the question of whether non-Jewish people (Gentiles) who believed in Jesus had to keep the Law of Moses in order to be saved. Paul and Barnabas reported the wonders God was performing among the Gentile believers.
Simon Peter stood before the council and said, “On the contrary, we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will.” All people may be saved because of God’s gift of Grace through faith in Jesus.
Third, all may know they are saved.
I was on a mission trip and one evening we were having a conversation about the Bible when I was asked, “Where in the Bible does it say we can know we are saved?” For some reason I said that was in the book of Ephesians and started flipping through my pocket Testament. An older man from Florida said, “That’s in little John.” It took a moment for me to realize he was talking about the Epistles of John.
1 John 2:3 says, “And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments.” Again and again little John says, “We know.” We know because of the blessed assurance Jesus gives us.
Fourth, all may be saved to the utmost.
We are not going to stop short of the life God calls us to live. By God’s means of grace we are going to strive to follow the words of Jesus, “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). Being saved to the utmost is living for Jesus each day. Whether you call it holiness or sanctification, walking each day with Jesus we become more and more the person God wants us to be.
The Four Alls reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love. Salvation is for everyone who turns to God. You can have the assurance and the power to live for God each day.
Eric Reece is the faith columnist for The Graham Star. He is pastor of Robbinsville United Methodist Church and can be reached via email, ereece@wnccumc.net.