The essential theme of Sinners is expressed in the sermon’s doctrine: “There is nothing that keeps wicked men, at any one moment, out of hell, but the mere pleasure of God” (626). Edwards’s defense and elaboration of this thesis methodically explores the grounds and implications of the idea, adduces supporting evidence from biblical passages, and urges his listeners to avoid eternal damnation by seizing the opportunity offered them of mercy through God’s saving grace.

The rhetorical message of Sinners is rooted in five key tenets of Calvinist doctrine that function as supporting themes or underlying ideas in the sermon. These are the inherent sinfulness of mankind, which has corrupted the human heart, mind, and will; God’s predestination of the individual for salvation or damnation (meaning only a fraction of human beings are capable of redemption); limited atonement (that is, Christ’s sacrificial act of redemption on the cross extends only to those preordained for salvation); the unmerited and irresistible nature of saving grace; and justification through faith alone (that is, only faith, which is itself a gift of grace, and not good works, makes the individual worthy of salvation). Edwards’s argument in Sinners stresses several of these doctrinal points, which, along with related theological ideas, form supporting themes in the sermon.