Inward assurance. ( Philippians 3 v 4 - 11 )

John Stott writing on John Wesley says he was an example of many religious people who are in bondage to their religion.He became a member of what was know as the Holy Club,he was the son of a clergyman ,like his father he became a clergyman.He was orthodox in belief,religious in practice,upright in conduct and full of good works . He and his friends visited the inmates of a local prison, and work-house at Oxford. They took pity on the slum children, providing them with food, clothing and education.They observed Saturday as the Sabbath as well as Sunday.They went to church and to Holy Communion. They gave to the poor,searched the scriptures,fasted and prayed. But they were bound in the fetters of their own religion, fot they were trusting in themselves that they were righteous,instead of putting their trust in Jesus Christ and Him crucified. Later on he did in his own words, came to 'trust in Christ',in Christ only for salvation' and was given an inward                     assurance that his sins had been taken away.He later wrote of  his pre- conversion experience' I had even then the faith of a servant, though not that of a son'                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             John Stott                                                                                                                                Christianity is a religion of sons, not slaves.