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True Greatness  /  John Wesley  /  Discussion Questions
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Question 5
Wesley ridicules the claim “Oh, I can do nothing,” saying that if you have faith you can “love Him and keep His commandments” and find them “the joy of your heart”; where do you see modern Christians (including sincere ones) using inability language to excuse disobedience, and what would it look like to test Wesley’s claim in a specific area of obedience?
Another way to ask: Where do Christians today say “I can’t help it” to excuse disobeying God? Pick one specific command, and what would it look like to test Wesley’s claim that real faith can obey with joy?

Direct Answer The transcript implies “I can do nothing” becomes an excuse when it is used to accept ongoing disobedience as normal, rather than relying on Christ’s strengthening grace. To test Wesley’s claim, a believer would choose a specific command and pursue obedience in dependence on Christ, expecting real help rather than surrender.

Support from Transcript:

  • Wesley calls “Oh, I can do nothing” a “silly, meaningless phrase,” warning: “If so, then you know nothing of Christ… you have no faith.”
  • He argues faith enables action: “if you have faith… you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you.”
  • He specifies the obedience: “You can love Him and keep His commandments.”
  • He says obedience is not misery for believers: “His commandments are not grievous… They are the joy of your heart!”
  • He gives practical markers: “Show… love for Christ by keeping His commandments,” “blamelessly walking,” “imitating Christ in everything… walking as He walked.”
Discussion Follow-ups Pick one area—speech, sexual purity, honesty, generosity—and ask: what would change this week if you acted like Christ truly strengthens you to obey?

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