The Spirit of Bondage and of Adoption · §33 · John Wesley

Sincere is not enough

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From this plain account of the threefold state of man, the natural, the legal, and the evangelical, it appears that it is not sufficient to divide mankind into sincere and insincere. A man may be sincere in any of these states, not only when he has the Spirit of adoption, but while he has the spirit of bondage to fear. Yes, while he has neither this fear, nor love. For undoubtedly there may be sincere heathens, as well as sincere Jews or Christians. This circumstance, then, does by no means prove that a man is in a state of acceptance with God.

1771 text

IV. 1. From this plain account of the three-fold state of man, the natural, the legal, and the evangelical, it appears, that it is not sufficient, to divide mankind, into sincere, and insincere. A man may be sincere in any of these states; not only when he has the Spirit of adoption, but while he has the spirit of bondage unto fear. Yea, while he has neither this fear, nor love. For undoubtedly there may be sincere Heathens, as well as sincere Jews or Christians. This circumstance then, does by no means prove, that a man is in a state of acceptance with God.

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About this text

On Romans 8:15: three states of the soul, the natural man asleep, the man under the law in fear, and the child of God set free.

EditionPrinted in Wesley's 1771 Works, which do not say when he preached it

Wesley's own sermon in updated English wording. The 1771 panel is the text of the Works Wesley himself had printed in 1771. It is public domain.

Reference

Sermon 9 in the 1771 Works. Romans 8:15.

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