Lecture Notes: Wesley's Concept of Grace

Introduction

• Wesley shared the Western view on total depravity but had a unique perspective on grace.
• Emphasized grace as a source of hope and divine help in human helplessness.

Preventing Grace (Prevenient Grace)

• Definition: Grace that precedes salvation, known originally as "preventing grace" and later as "prevenient grace."
• Biblical Reference: 2 Timothy 1:9-10 is key, describing grace given before the beginning of time, revealed through Christ.

Terminology Evolution

• "Preventing" became "prevenient" for clarity, indicating prior action (precede/antecedent).

Broad vs. Narrow Definition

• Broad Definition: All forms of grace as God's prior activity.
• Narrow Definition: Works of grace before justifying and sanctifying grace.

Articles of Religion - Article 8

• Discusses man's inability to turn to faith without God's preventing grace.

Role of the Holy Spirit

• Preventing grace is facilitated by the Holy Spirit.
• Rejection of the Holy Spirit results in the loss of grace.

Benefits of Preventing Grace

1. Basic Knowledge of God: Counters original sin's effect of atheism, providing innate awareness of a deity.
2. Moral Law Reinscription: Restores a sense of righteousness and holiness.
3. Conscience: An inward guide or judge, deemed a supernatural gift.
4. Measure of Free Will: Restores agency lost due to original sin, enabling moral choices.
5. Restraint of Wickedness: Acts as a moral restraint, preventing total depravity's destructiveness.
6. Clearing Guilt of Adam’s Sin: Cancels the penalty of original sin through Christ's sacrifice.

Preventing Grace and Free Will

• Provides a measure of free will essential for moral choices and decisions for or against God.

Theological Implications

• Differentiates from Calvinism regarding free will and predestination.
• Wesley views free will as a divinely restored ability, not human-generated.
• Preventing grace serves as a divine safeguard against sin's effects.

Conclusion

• Preventing grace is essential in Wesleyan theology, counteracting sin and providing a framework for human agency and morality.
• Ends with a call to reflection on future topics like baptism and redemption.