The Image of God and Orginal Sin

“The first source for Wesley’s doctrine of human sinfulness is the Bible. Wesley relied particularily on the Genesis account of the garden of Eden and the “Fall” of Adam. The second source is experience. Wesley’s experience confirmed what the Bible teaches in Genesis. He looked about and saw ample evidence to support the Biblical belief in the utter sinfulness of persons. Tradition and Reason also confirmed for Wesley this biblical understanding.”

Lovett H Weems, Jr

John Wesley’s Message Today

                   Genesis was “State of Perfection.” Persons give full expression of the image of God (“imago Dei”).

                   Wesley wrote: “In the image of God was Man made; holy as he that created him holy, merciful as the Author of all that is merciful; perfect as his Father in Heaven is perfect. As god is love, so man, dwelling in love, dwelt in God, and God in him. God made him to see an ‘image of His own eternity,’ an incorruptible picture of the God of Glory. He was accordingly pure, as God is pure, from every spot of sin. He knew not evil in any kind or degree, but was I nwardly and owtwardly sinless and undefiled. He ‘loved the Lord his God with all his heart, and with all his mind, and soul, and strength…’

                   Wesley spoke of three aspects of the images o God:

a.       Natural Image: immortality, freewill, understanding, various affections, immunity to pain

b.      Political Image: Humans free to govern themselves.

c.       Moral Image: Humans free to govern themselves over the lower beings. Humans created in holiness and righteousness (love, justice, mercy, truth, purity)

                   God created humans in God’s image, but as a spiritual being,  and created chiefly in God’s MORAL image.

                   The MORAL IMAGE, per Wesley, is what sets humans apart from the animals.

                   The barrier between humans and lower animals: Humans can reason and have understanding

                   Humans are capable of  God, the “inferior creatures are not.”

WHAT DOES “MADE IN GOD’S IMAGE” MEAN TO YOU?

Wesley and “The Fall”

       The “Political Image” was not lost, as humans could still govern themselves.

       The “Moral Image” was damaged. Everything lost in “The Fall” as the image of God was lost.

       For Wesley, this meant “total depravity.”

       The original state of nature, per Wesley, no longer existed.

       In the moment of the “Fall,” Adam lost the moral image of God.

       Sin was basic and pervaded all humankind

       Wesley stated: “Man’s heart is altogether corrupt and abhomidable.”

       Wesley used examples from history to prove point. History “easily accounts for the wickedness and misery of mankind in all ages and nations; whereby experience and reason do strongly confirm the scriptural doctrine of orginal sin.”

HOW DO YOU INTERPRET THE “FALL”?

WHAT HAS BEEN LOST, AND WHY?

WHEN DOES “THE FALL” HAPPEN IN A) ANCIENT HISTORY, B )ONCE IN THE LIFE OF EACH PERSON, AND C) EVERY DAY FOR ALL OF US?

Two Prongs of Sin

1. Original Sin: Affects everyone, inherited and nothing you can do about it. One cannot conquer it alone, they must accept the work of Christ.
2. Actual Sins: Willful transgressions of known law of God. Unethical acts that separate persons from God. Actual sins can change over time.

When Wesley said: “all men are sinners,” he was referring to ORIGINAL SIN.  When he said “going onto perfection, he was referring to the victory over ACTUAL SINS.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ORIGINAL SIN AND ACTUAL SINS? DESCRIBE THE DISTINCTION?

HOW DOES THIS APPLY TO YOUR LIFE?

Sin and Grace

Balancing pessimism about human beings caught in original sin and possiblilies of humans in their response to GRACE.

  Apparent pull in today’s world – overreaching, trying to be what we cannot, dissatisfied with being human, demanding that we BE GOD!

 Wesley believed that God’s grace was sufficient. The strength of sin is overcome by power of God’s love, mercy and forgiveness.

 Charles Wesly best described it in his hymn: O For A Thousand Tongues To Sing.