Some individuals in the early days found the concept of sin to be outdated while others just ignored it. John Wesley did not view it that way, at least as is seen from his sermons. He makes it clear he recognizes that human nature is corrupted that there is no likelihood of any goodness in people or in their patterns of thinking without the intervention of God's grace (Wright, 2014). Wesley primarily identifies sin as a voluntary transgression of God's law which means that man is sinful which is explained and simplified in the doctrine of sin for people to understand the human existence and the need they have for God.
Wesley’s Definition of Sin
Sin is a choice and an avoidable one at that. Wesley asserts that it is a voluntary transgression of God's laws and is identified as a verb and defined as "the willful transgression of God's known law" by the Wesleyan model (Wright, 2014). It is a willful act separating it from the sins of mistakes or ignorance. Besides, man has a sinful nature which makes the believer and unbeliever the same as they are both still mixed up in wrongdoing (Holy Bible (KJV) 2016). According to Wesley, only the intervention of God's grace can save people from their corrupt nature as man is without a doubt entirely sinful.
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Moreover, he argues that humanity can be entirely sinful whereby he is marred by sin but not to the full extent (Wright, 2014). With this view, Wesley leaves the door open for Christians to be saved from sin in every area of their life if they have the will. Hence, Wesley’s view of sin is the willful and voluntary transgression of God’s commands.
By voluntary transgression, Wesley indicates the ability to break God’s laws willingly. “Voluntary” is the act of doing something from one’s own will without being pressured by anybody. A “transgression” is an act that goes against the commands or law and is not easily forgiven. A voluntary transgression, therefore, means that man has a sinful nature and experiences sinful temptations and desires that make them fall into sin.
The Doctrine of Sin in the Understanding of Humanity and the Need for God
Treating humanity without the concept of sin would be incomplete. Some philosophers deny the existence of sin which makes their work part of false philosophy since the Bible declares the reality of sin in humanity. Therefore, sin is not an illusion, nor is it a myth, but is preferably a fact. The doctrine of sin explains human transgressions are making people to fully fathom the implications of the stories in the Bible such as the fall of Adam and Eve and the righteous life of Jesus (Sheveland, 2011). Through the doctrine, people understand how they act in sin and how God has responded in grace. The doctrine does not save humanity, but the historical thing God has done on the people’s behalf is what does. Besides, the principle explains those things to help people admit their need and reach out to God for them to move forward in a better way (Tafilowski, 2017). Additionally, the doctrine shows God’s character as intolerant to sin (Holy Bible (KJV) 2016), and that humanity needs to be rescued from total depravity justifying the stories of the things God has done to save humanity. Hence, the doctrine of sin serves a higher purpose than merely providing a religious confession and provides an explanation of the human existence and the need for God.
Conclusion
Sin is part of humanity, and Wesley’s definition of it shows the sinful nature of man which can only be saved by God’s grace. The willful act of breaking God’s known laws is what Wesley refers to as voluntary transgression, and the doctrine of sin is essential for humanity to understand its existence and its need for God as it provides an explanation of sin and helps humanity admit their need for God. Therefore, the doctrine of sin is vital for the human understanding of its transgressions and the need they have for God.
References
Wright, J. (2014). ‘USE’ AND ‘ENJOY’ IN JOHN WESLEY: JOHN WESLEY'S PARTICIPATION WITHIN THE AUGUSTINIAN TRADITION. Wesley And Methodist Studies , 6 , 3. doi: 10.5325/weslmethstud.6.2014.0003
Sheveland, J. (2011). IN ADAM'S FALL: A MEDITATION ON THE CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE OF ORIGINAL SIN - BY IAN A. MCFARLAND. Religious Studies Review , 37 (4), 272-273. doi: 10.1111/j.1748-0922.2011.01555_28.x
Tafilowski, R. (2017). BOOK REVIEW: T&T CLARK COMPANION TO THE DOCTRINE OF SIN: KEITH L. JOHNSON AND DAVID LAUBER (EDS), T&T CLARK COMPANION TO THE DOCTRINE OF SIN. The Expository Times , 128 (7), 361-362. doi: 10.1177/0014524616689019e
Holy Bible (KJV). (2016) (pp. 100-250). London, United Kingdom: Christian Art Publishers.
