Checks to Antinomianism

John Fletcher's treatise emerged from his deep concern over what he saw as dangerous antinomian tendencies within eighteenth-century English evangelicalism. Writing as John Wesley's closest theological ally, Fletcher addressed those who claimed that since salvation comes by faith alone, moral law becomes irrelevant to Christian living. The work began as a response to specific controversies within Methodist circles, where some teachers argued that believers were entirely free from any obligation to the moral law.

Fletcher constructs a careful theological argument that distinguishes between justification and sanctification while maintaining the ongoing relevance of God's moral law for believers. He argues that while Christians are indeed justified by faith apart from works, the moral law continues to serve as a guide for holy living and spiritual growth. Fletcher demonstrates that true evangelical faith naturally produces good works and moral obedience, not as conditions for salvation but as inevitable fruits of genuine conversion. He systematically refutes the notion that grace eliminates moral responsibility, showing instead how divine grace enables and motivates ethical living. Throughout, he maintains that antinomianism fundamentally misunderstands both the nature of saving faith and the purpose of God's law in the believer's life.

This work became influential within Wesleyan theology as one of the most thorough treatments of the relationship between faith and works in Protestant thought. Fletcher's careful balance between evangelical emphasis on grace and serious commitment to holy living shaped Methodist understanding for generations. Who should read this: Students of Wesleyan theology and those interested in classical Protestant discussions of sanctification will find Fletcher's arguments essential, though readers seeking devotional material rather than systematic theological argumentation should look elsewhere.