In Him Ministries:

God’s Grace That Saves
(Prevenient Grace)

Prevenient grace, also called preceding grace or enabling grace, is a Christian theological concept that refers to the grace of God in a person’s life which precedes and prepares them for conversion. The concept was first developed by Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354–430), was affirmed by the Second Council of Orange (A.D. 529) and has become part of Catholic theology. It is also present in Reformed theology, through the form of an effectual calling leading some individuals irresistibly to salvation. It is also in Arminian theology, according to which it is dispensed universally in order to enable people to respond to the offer of salvation, though it does not ensure personal acceptance.

“Part of God’s nature is the desire to reveal himself to us. God is not merely interested in giving us rules to live by. He wants us to know him and enter into a covenant relationship with him through Jesus Christ. This self-revealing nature of God comes out in many ways, including in creation, in our consciences, in Scripture, and ultimately in Jesus Christ.

It is important to understand that salvation never begins with anything we do, but always as a response to something God has done. To think that salvation begins with our repenting of our sins and asking Jesus into our hearts is not the way the Scriptures understand the whole process of salvation. Rather, salvation always begins with God’s prior action. He acts, and we respond or resist. It always happens in that pattern.” [1]

Does scripture teach the concept of prevenient grace? There is no one passage that lays out a systematic definition of it, however, the concept becomes apparent throughout the overall tenor of scripture. Here are some passages that refer to the different aspects of prevenient grace:

Prevenient Grace Draws:

John 1:9, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world.”

John 6:40, 44, 45, “For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who looks on the Son and believes in him should have eternal life, and I will raise him up on the last day”. . . No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day. It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.”

John 12:32, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Romans 2:4, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

1 Timothy 2:4-6, “who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people.”

Prevenient Grace is Universal:

Isaiah 55:1, “Come, everyone who thirsts, come to the waters; and he who has no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

Titus 2:11, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”

John 1:4, “In him was life, and the life was the light of men.”

John 3:16, “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.”

John 1:9, “The true light that gives light to every man was coming into the world.”

John 1:29, “The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

John 16:7-8, “But I tell you the truth: It is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the Counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. When he comes, he will convict the world of guilt in regard to sin and righteousness and judgment:”

Romans 1:18-19, “The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of men who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.”

John 7:37, “On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.”

1 Timothy 2:1-6,  “First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.”

Romans 1:16-17, “For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, “The righteous shall live by faith.”

John 3:15-18, “that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.”

Ezekiel 18:23, 32, “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord GOD, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live? . . . For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord GOD; so turn, and live.”

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Revelation 3:20, “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”

John 12:32, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to Myself.”

Acts 2:21, “And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Romans 10:11, “For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”

1 John 2:2, “He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.”

Prevenient Grace is Given Generously:

Romans 8:32, “He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?”

Romans 2:4, “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?”

Acts 17:26-27, “From one man he made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places where they should live. God did this so that men would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.”

Acts 10:34-35, “So Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

Acts 15:7-8, “And after there had been much debate, Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe. And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us,”

Prevenient Grace Convicts the Non-Believer:

John 5:24-25, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.”

John 16:8, “And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment:

Acts 16:14, “One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.”

Acts 16:29-30, “The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’”

Matthew 16:16-17, “Simon Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.”

1 Corinthians 2:10-14, “these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God. For who knows a person’s thoughts except the spirit of that person, which is in him? So also no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God. And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual. The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

1 Corinthians 12:3, “Therefore I want you to understand that no one speaking in the Spirit of God ever says “Jesus is accursed!” and no one can say “Jesus is Lord” except in the Holy Spirit.”

Jeremiah 31:3, “the LORD appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

John 16:7-11, “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment: concerning sin, because they do not believe in me; concerning righteousness, because I go to the Father, and you will see me no longer; concerning judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged.”

Romans 2:4, “Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?”

Romans 10:14-17,  “How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Titus 2:11,  “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,”

Prevenient Grace Works in Combination with the Hearing of the Word:

John 5:24, “Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.”

Acts 2:37, “When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, “Brothers, what shall we do?”

Romans 10:13-17, “For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.”

Prevenient Grace Calls us to Repent and Believe:

John 6:28-29, “Then they said to him, “What must we do, to be doing the works of God?” Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Mark 1:15, “and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Acts 3:19, “Repent therefore, and turn again, that your sins may be blotted out,”

Acts 13:39, “and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.”

Acts 17:30, “The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent,”

2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”

Acts 8:22, “Repent, therefore, of this wickedness of yours, and pray to the Lord that, if possible, the intent of your heart may be forgiven you.”

Matthew 3:2,  “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” 

Romans 1:5, “through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,”

Ephesians 1:13, “In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit,”

1 John 3:23, “And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.”

1 John 5:9-13, “If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater, for this is the testimony of God that he has borne concerning his Son. Whoever believes in the Son of God has the testimony in himself. Whoever does not believe God has made him a liar, because he has not believed in the testimony that God has borne concerning his Son. And this is the testimony, that God gave us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. Whoever has the Son has life; whoever does not have the Son of God does not have life. I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

Prevenient Grace Can be Rejected:

Matthew 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.”

John 1:9-13, “The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.”

John 5:34, 39, 40, “Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved…You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life.”

Acts 7:51, “You stiff-necked people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are just like your fathers: You always resist the Holy Spirit!”

Hebrews 4:2, “For we also have had the gospel preached to us, just as they did; but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith.”

Hebrews 10:29, “How much more severely do you think a man deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God under foot, who has treated as an unholy thing the blood of the covenant that sanctified him, and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

1 Corinthians 2:14, “The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.”

Romans 8:7-8, “For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God’s law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.”

1 Corinthians 9:22,  “To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.”

Isaiah 1:19-20, “If you are willing and obedient, you shall eat the good of the land; but if you refuse and rebel, you shall be eaten by the sword; for the mouth of the LORD has spoken.”

Ezekiel 33:11, “Say to them, As I live, declares the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but that the wicked turn from his way and live; turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die, O house of Israel?”

Luke 7:30, “but the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the purpose of God for themselves, not having been baptized by him.)

John 7:17, “If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority.”

1 Corinthians 7:37, “But whoever is firmly established in his heart, being under no necessity but having his desire under control, and has determined this in his heart, to keep her as his betrothed, he will do well.”

1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

Matthew 13:1-23, “That same day Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. And great crowds gathered about him, so that he got into a boat and sat down. And the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: “A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell along the path, and the birds came and devoured them. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and immediately they sprang up, since they had no depth of soil, but when the sun rose they were scorched. And since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and produced grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.”
     10 Then the disciples came and said to him, “Why do you speak to them in parables?” And he answered them, “To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given. For to the one who has, more will be given, and he will have an abundance, but from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away. This is why I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. Indeed, in their case the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled that says:
     “You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive.” For this people’s heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed, lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.’
     16 But blessed are your eyes, for they see, and your ears, for they hear. For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it.
     18 “Hear then the parable of the sower: When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what has been sown in his heart. This is what was sown along the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy, yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the deceitfulness of riches choke the word, and it proves unfruitful. As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.”

Prevenient Grace results in Saving Grace when it is accepted by Faith:

Ephesians 5:14, “For it is light that makes everything visible. This is why it is said: “Wake up, O sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

Ephesians 2:8-9, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast.”

We Are Eternally Secure

In the following verses salvation is not described as a possibility, but as a certainty, as a present possession. We should have complete assurance in our salvation when we truly put faith in Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord!

Justification is a present possession (Romans 5:9).
Peace with God is a present possession (Romans 5:1).
Reconciliation is a present possession (Romans 5:10).
Atonement is a present possession (Romans 5:11).
Eternal life is a present possession (1 John 5:11-13).
Being a child of God is a present possession (Ephesians 1:6).
Being accepted in Christ is a present possession (Ephesians 1:6).
Forgiveness of sin is a present possession (Ephesians 1:7).
Eternal life is guaranteed and a present possession (Ephesians 1:13-14).
Being made alive in Christ is a present possession (Ephesians 2:1).
Being made fit for heaven is a present possession (Colossians 1:12).
Being delivered from the power of darkness is a present possession (Colossians 1:13).
Having been translated into Jesus’ kingdom is a present possession (Colossians 1:13).
Mercy is a present possession (1 Peter 2:10).
Healing of sin is a present possession (1 Peter 2:24).
 

Prevenient grace (or enabling grace) is divine grace that precedes human decision. In other words, God will start showing love to that individual at a certain point in his lifetime.

Prevenient grace is embraced primarily by Arminian Christians who are influenced by the theology of Jacob Arminius or John Wesley. Wesleyan Arminians believe that grace enables, but does not ensure, personal acceptance of the gift of salvation. Wesley typically referred to it in 18th-century language as prevenient grace. In current English, the phrase preceding grace would have a similar meaning.

Objections to the Doctrine:

Calvinists often object to prevenient grace, claiming it allows for Pelagianism or Semipelagianism. Arminius recognized the possibility of this objection. Theologian Robert E. Picirilli writes, quoting Arminius, that: “What Arminius meant by “prevenient grace” was that grace that precedes actual regeneration and which, except when finally resisted, inevitably leads to regeneration. He was quick to observe that this “assistance of the Holy Spirit” is of such sufficiency “as to keep at the greatest possible distance from Pelagianism.”

(See: Picirilli, Robert E. (2002). Grace, Faith, Free Will: Contrasting Views of Salvation : Calvinism and Arminianism. Nashville: Randall House Publications. p. 153. ISBN 978-0-89265-648-6. Retrieved 8 August 2013)

References:
1. What Is Prevenient (Preceding) Grace? (30 Questions) - Seedbed

10 Things You Should Know About Wesley’s Prevenient Grace

“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him” (John 6:44). Without God’s prevenient grace, no one could come to Christ and be saved. Here are ten things you need to know about this key doctrine.

1. Prevenient Grace is the Same Thing as Preceding Grace.

If you read the writings of John Wesley, you will eventually stumble upon a reference to “preventing grace.” Preventing grace is more commonly called prevenient grace. Despite some popular misconceptions, there is no difference between the two terms (the former is merely antiquated). Prevene (or prevent in the old English) means to go before.

2. All Christians Believe in Some Kind of Prevenient Grace.

While Wesley is known for his doctrine of prevenient grace, he only contributed to the church’s understanding of a truth that has been discussed in explicit terms since the fifth century (see especially the conclusion of the 25 Canons of the Council of Orange in 529 AD). Some form of prevenient grace is affirmed by all Christians, including Calvinists.

3. Prevenient Grace Speaks of God’s Initiative In Salvation.

Prevenient grace in the consensually recognized sense is the grace of God that goes before salvation. It speaks of God’s initiative in bringing men to a saving knowledge of himself. If a man seeks God, it is only because God has first sought him (John 6:44). Without this pursuing grace, there is no salvation.

4. Without Prevenient Grace, We Are Unable to Respond Positively to the Gospel and Be Saved.

Prevenient grace answers the difficult question, “How do sinful men ever receive Christ?” In their fallen condition, men do not have the power to freely choose between right or wrong. While Arminians commonly insist that men have free will, this is only true in a qualified sense. Wesleyan Arminians affirm man’s total depravity (see Wesley, Sermon 44 – On Original Sin), including the bondage of man’s will to sin.

In Declaration of Sentiments, Arminius gladly affirmed the position of the Reformers: “in his lapsed and sinful state, man is not capable, of and by himself, either to think, to will, or to do that which is really good.” In other words, the fall was so serious that man no longer has the power in himself to freely choose what is pleasing to God. Left to his own devices, man would never seek God or embrace the gospel since he cannot do so (John 6:44). He would only plunge deeper into sin and misery.

The fall was so serious that man does not have the power in himself to freely choose what is pleasing to God.

5. Wesleyan Prevenient Grace is Distinct In Several Ways.

Wesley’s doctrine of prevenient grace is distinct at several key points. David Fry, in his paper “God’s Gracious Provision: A Theological and Exegetical Defense of the Wesleyan Doctrine of Prevenient Grace,” compares Wesleyan prevenient grace (WPG) to the Calvinist doctrine of grace:

Prevenient grace, as Wesleyans use the term, is theological shorthand for a complex of theological concepts. At the core of WPG is the unity of three aspects of grace: that is, grace is given to all people (universal), grace enables a person to bear fruit from that grace (enabling), and once grace has been given it may be resisted (resistible). The three points are held together by Wesleyans. Many Calvinists also affirm each of these points, but they do so without holding all three in unity to describe one grace. For instance, the Calvinist concept of “common grace” is universal and even resistible, but has no salvific quality and, therefore, is not enabling. Grace for the elect is enabling but neither universal nor resistible. Therefore, the unity of these three points is essential to WPG. Based on the unity of these three concepts, prevenient grace in the Wesleyan sense usually refers to God’s universal provision whereby people are enabled to exercise the faith necessary for salvation.

6. Wesleyan Prevenient Grace is a Universal Benefit of the Atonement.

The great Methodist theologian William Burt Pope explains that the final ground of prevenient grace is to be found “in the virtue of the universal atonement securing a measure of the Spirit’s influence to every child of Adam” (emphasis mine). Because Jesus died for all men, he now sends his Spirit to act in some measure upon the hearts of all men.

7. Wesleyan Prevenient Grace is the Enabling Power of the Spirit Operating in the Lives of All Men, Leading Them Towards Salvation.

Prevenient grace is “salvific in direction.” God intends for his grace to be received and ultimately lead men to faith in Christ. While God does extend some generic benefits to all men (Matthew 5:45), his primary concern is for all men to be saved, “not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance” (2 Peter 3:9).

Without God’s prevenient grace, no one could come to Christ and be saved.

8. Wesleyan Prevenient Grace is Ultimately Resistible.

Arminius saw this at the heart of his conflict with the high Calvinists in his day. He explains:

“I ascribe to grace the commencement, the continuance and the consummation of all good, and to such an extent do I carry its influence, that a man, though already regenerate, can neither conceive, will, nor do any good at all, nor resist any evil temptation, without this preventing and exciting, this following and co-operating grace. From this statement it will clearly appear, that I by no means do injustice to grace, by attributing, as it is reported of me, too much to man’s free-will. For the whole controversy reduces itself to the solution of this question, “is the grace of God a certain irresistible force?”

He concludes: “I believe, according to the scriptures, that many persons resist the Holy Spirit and reject the grace that is offered.” Acts 7:51 is a key text: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit.”

Men must cooperate with God’s prevenient grace for it to bring them to salvation: “When man by grace responds to God’s call, God gives him more grace. Salvation is all by grace, but man cooperates with that grace. Man can choose to respond to grace or to reject it.”

9. Prevenient Grace is Assumed Everywhere in Scripture.

While prevenient grace is ultimately a theological inference, it is implied in numerous texts and essential to make sense of the biblical data on salvation. “It may not be a biblical term,” explains Roger Olson, “but it is a biblical concept that is assumed everywhere in Scripture.”

Titus 2:11-12 is one of several texts that imply the doctrine of prevenient grace and teach it as universal in scope and salvific in nature: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”

10. Prevenient Grace Has Countless Practical Implications.

The theological, practical, and pastoral implications of prevenient grace are innumerable. If you are a Christian, it is because of prevenient grace. Pope notes that prevenient grace “accompanies the first exercises of man’s mind and heart and will.” If you think, will, or do anything that is good, be certain that God has secretly worked upon your heart. If someone responds to an altar call at your church, know that it is only because the power of the Spirit first acted upon him. Pray for grace, “for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:5). 

(10 Things You Should Know About Prevenient Grace by Johnathan Arnold Posted on February 12, 2020 https://godsmissionarychurch.org/2020/02/12/10-things-you-should-know-about-prevenient-grace)

Further Study:
Prevenient Grace: Why It Matters by Roger E. Olson
The FACTS of Salvation: A Summary of Arminian Theology/the Biblical Doctrines of Grace
The Biblical Case for Prevenient Grace
The Reformed View of Regeneration vs. the Wesleyan Theology of Prevenient Grace by Ben Witherington
How Prevenient Grace Helps Me Sleep by Arminian Today
The Wesleyan Concept of Grace: The United Methodist Church
Prevenient Grace Explained
Society of Evangelical Arminians: Statement of faith
Society of Evangelical Arminians: Links and Books
The Five Points of Calvinism Refuted
Hold Fast: Hebrews 6:4-6 and the Possibility of Apostasy by Robert E. Picirilli

See Also;
Arminian Theology | Free Will | Corporate Election | Unlimited Atonement



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