![]() ![]() Neither does the Christian sin willfully since the believer’s will is now set on living for Christ. Wesley explains that those born of God do not sin habitually since to do so means that sin still reigns, which is a mark of an unbeliever. He then divides sin’s power into four sub-categories: habit, willful, desire, and infirmity (II.6). In the sermon Salvation by Faith, Wesley divides sin into two main categories: guilt and power. When we move to the Aldersgate era in 1738, sin becomes more carefully defined. As he stated in his sermon The Circumcision of the Heart, if the goal is to be “perfect, as our Father in heaven is perfect,” then the seeker must be “cleansed from sin, ‘from all filthiness both of flesh and spirit.’” This was a corollary to his single intention to attain Christian perfection, a synonym he used for holiness. With the decision to enter holy orders in 1725, along with the spiritual awakening that accompanied it, Wesley’s interest in the subject of sin intensified. ![]() In this way we can show how his doctrine of sin contributed to his understanding of Christian holiness. The plan is to first detail chronological developments in his doctrine of sin and then diagram its basic parameters. As we will see, the entire edifice of his doctrine of Christian perfection hinges on how he structurally organized his doctrine of sin. To explore the relationship between our doctrines of sin and holiness, I propose we take a closer look at the founder of our tradition, John Wesley, and his doctrines of sin and holiness. For the Wesleyan tradition, the issue becomes even more crucial because we teach the possibility of entire sanctification - a full salvation from sin in this life. In the study of Christian holiness, no matter which tradition is being examined, the definition of sin becomes central. For instance, King David wrote: “My errors loom over my head like a heavy burden, they are too much for me to bear.” ( Psalm 38:4) Yet the Bible offers this hope: “Let the wicked man leave his way and the evil man his thoughts let him return to Jehovah, who will have mercy on him, to our God, for he will forgive in a large way.”- Isaiah 55:7.Cowman Lectures, 2021. Those guilty of serious sin can feel overwhelmed by the weight of their mistakes. ![]() ( 1 John 3:4-8) Those who “practice sin willfully,” even after learning how to do what is right, receive God’s adverse judgment.- Hebrews 10:26, 27. The Bible also makes a distinction between a single sin and a practice of sin over an extended period. ( Numbers 15:30, 31) Willful sins come from a “wicked heart.”- Jeremiah 16:12.įrequency. ( Acts 17:30 1 Timothy 1:13) While not excusing such sins, the Bible distinguishes them from sins that involve willfully breaking God’s laws. Some sins are committed in ignorance of what God requires. ( Proverbs 12:18 Ephesians 4:31, 32) Nevertheless, the Bible encourages us not to minimize any sins, since they can lead to more serious violations of God’s laws.- Matthew 5:27, 28. ![]() ( 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Revelation 21:8) The Bible contrasts these with thoughtless, unintentional sins, for example, words or actions that hurt others. The Bible warns us to avoid such serious sins as sexual immorality, idolatry, stealing, drunkenness, extortion, murder, and spiritism. For example, the Bible says that the men of ancient Sodom were “wicked, gross sinners” whose sin was “very heavy.” ( Genesis 13:13 18:20) Consider three factors that determine the gravity, or weight, of sin. ( Romans 5:12) As King David of Israel said, “I was born guilty of error.”- Psalm 51:5. ( Genesis 3:5, 6, 17-19) When they had children, they passed on sin and imperfection as inherited defects. ( Genesis 1:27) However, they lost their perfection by disobeying God. That is because they were created perfect, in God’s image. The first humans, Adam and Eve, were sinless in the beginning. The Bible says that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” ( Romans 3:23 1 Kings 8:46 Ecclesiastes 7:20 1 John 1:8) Why is that so? Is it possible to avoid sinning completely? ( Revelation 4:11) We are accountable to him for our actions.- Romans 14:12. For example, a group of soldiers in ancient Israel were so adept at slinging stones that they “would not miss.” That expression, if translated literally, could read “would not sin.” ( Judges 20:16) Thus, to sin is to miss the mark of God’s perfect standards.Īs the Creator, God has the right to set standards for mankind. In the Bible’s original languages, the words for sin mean “to miss a mark,” or a target. ( 1 John 3:4 5:17) The Bible also describes sins of omission-that is, failing to do what is right.- James 4:17. It includes breaking God’s laws by doing what is wrong, or unrighteous, in God’s sight. Sin is any action, feeling, or thought that goes against God’s standards. ![]()
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