Original Sin and Human Depravity
As taught in the Methodist / Wesleyan tradition
Recognizing the depth of human brokenness and the loss of the moral image of God while maintaining the dignity of the image of God.
Within the Methodist tradition, the doctrine of Original Sin and Human Depravity is not merely a dark theological abstraction but the necessary starting point for understanding the "optimism of grace" that defines Wesleyan theology. The central question this subtopic answers is: What is the true condition of the human heart, and why is the radical intervention of God's grace the only possible remedy? To understand the Methodist perspective, one must look past the superficial definitions of "sin" as individual bad actions and see it as a fundamental corruption of human nature itself—a "bent to sinning" that affects every faculty of the soul.
By the end of this lesson
- **Identify** the three facets of the "Image of God" (natural, political, and moral) and explain which was lost in the Fall according to Wesleyan theology.
- **Distinguish** between "Actual Sins" and "Original Sin," articulating why Methodism views the latter as the root of the former.
- **Explain** the concept of "Total Depravity" in a Methodist context, specifically how it relates to the human will’s inability to seek God without divine assistance.
- **Articulate** the relationship between Original Sin and Prevenient Grace, showing how God’s initiative mitigates the functional effects of depravity.
- **Trace** the historical development of Article VII of the Methodist Articles of Religion from its Anglican roots and John Wesley’s modifications.
- **Defend** the necessity of the doctrine of Original Sin as the foundational premise for the Methodist understanding of the New Birth and Entire Sanctification.
- **Apply** the doctrine of human depravity to contemporary views of human nature, critiquing secular optimism with a biblically grounded realism.
- **Compare** the Methodist reading of Romans 5 with other Protestant traditions, highlighting the emphasis on the "healing" aspect of grace.
Scripture
The full lesson, its study guide and questions, and an AI tutor that answers from Scripture with citations are free with an account.