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''Synopsis:'' {{Infobox_Contents | topic_name = Prevenient Grace is a Christian theological concept embraced primarily by Arminian followers of John Wesley who are part of the Methodist movement. It is defined as, "the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all | subtopics = List of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish links to please God, our first glimmer of understanding concerning God's willrelated subtopic information articles, original texts and our 'first slight transient conviction' of having sinned against God. God's grace also awakens in us an earnest longing for deliverance from sin and death and moves us toward repentance and faith." __TOC__index pages | opinion_pieces = {{topicsshort_opinions}}Bulleted list to specific personal opinion articles and sermons that people have uploaded |{{opinions}} ==Main article==
=== The Doctrine in Wesley ===
=== The Doctrine in Scripture ===
:* [[Jeremiah 31:3: ]] "...I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with lovingkindness have I drawn thee.":* [[John 6:44: ]] "No man can come unto me, unless the Father who hath sent me, draw him...":* [[Romans 2:4: ]] "...the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance...":* [[Philippians 2:12]]-13: "...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God that worketh in you according to his good pleasure, both to will and to do." :* [[1 John 4:19: ]] "We love him, because he first loved us." === The Doctrine in Methodist Hymnody ===
Most Methodist hymnals have a section with hymns concerning ''prevenient grace'', most recently ''== The United Doctrine in Methodist Hymnal'' (1989). One of the best known hymns written about the doctrine is [[Charles Wesley|Charles Wesley's]] "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast", which includes the lines, "Ye need not one be left behind, ''for God hath bid all humankind...the invitation is to all''...".Hymnody ==
The 19th century hymn "I Sought == Opposition to the Lord", with a text by an anonymous writer, reads in part, "I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew ''he moved my soul to seek him'', seeking me."Doctrine ==
=== Opposition Some Christians, particularly those who adhere to some form of [[Calvinism]], have been uncomfortable with and critical of the Doctrine ===idea of ''prevenient grace'', which they believe to be a modified form of [[Pelagianism]]. Wesley and his followers have defended the doctrine, however, by adhering strongly to the notion of human sin and [[Total Depravity|total depravity]] (which Wesley defined as a complete corruption of our moral nature), stating that humans are incapable by themselves of responding to God's salvific offer, and are only able to do so by the grace by which God enables us, ''prevenient grace''.
Some Christians, particularly those who adhere to some form of [[Calvinism]], have been uncomfortable with and critical of the idea of ''prevenient grace'', which they believe to be a modified form of [[Pelagianism]]. Wesley and his followers have defended the doctrine, however, by adhering strongly to the notion of human sin and [[Total Depravity|total depravity]] (which Wesley defined as a complete corruption of our moral nature), stating that humans are incapable by themselves to respond to God's salvific offer, and are only able to do so by the grace by which God enables us, ''prevenient grace''.==References==
===Notes==={{reflist}}
various rewordings and layout changes
'''Prevenient Grace''' is a [[Christian]] [[Theology|theological]] concept embraced primarily by [[Arminianism|Arminian]] followers of [[John Wesley]] who are part of the [[Methodism|Methodist movement]]. Wesley typically referred to it in 18th century language as ''preventing grace''. In modern American vernacular, it might better be termed ''preceding grace''.
[[Baptism|Infant baptism]] is seen in Methodism as a celebration of ''prevenient grace'', which is important (though not essential) for the life journey of the faithful disciple.
In John Wesley's sermon "On Working Out Our Own Salvation" (sermon #85), Wesley stated that ''prevenient grace'' elicits, "...the first wish to please God, the first dawn of light concerning his will, and the first slight transient conviction of having sinned against him."
Wesley insisted on ''prevenient grace'' as a solution to two great problems in Christianity: the reality of [[Original Sin|original sin]] and the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] [[Doctrine|doctrine]] of [[Justification|salvation by grace alone]]. Developing the idea based upon the witness of [[Bible|Scripture]], Wesley felt that ''prevenient grace'' enabled the doctrines of original sin and salvation by grace to co-exist while still maintaining God's sovereignty and holy character as well as human freedom.
Scriptures used to support the doctrine include (from Wesley's translation):
Most Methodist hymnals, including the ''The United Methodist Hymnal'' (1989) have a section with hymns concerning ''prevenient grace''. Examples of such hymns are:* [[Charles Wesley|Charles Wesley's]] "Come, Sinners, to the Gospel Feast", which includes the lines, "Ye need not one be left behind, ''for God hath bid all humankind...the invitation is to all''...".* Charles Wesley's "Sinners, Turn: Why Will You Die" continues the theme, "Sinners, turn: why will you die? God, the Spirit, asks you why; ''he, who all your lives hath strove, wooed you to embrace his love''." His hymn * Charles Wesley's "Depth of Mercy" offers a prayer to God, : "''Now incline me to repent'', let me now my sins lament, now my foul revolt deplore, weep, believe, and sin no more."* The 19th century hymn "I Sought the Lord", with a text by an anonymous writer, reads in part, "I sought the Lord, and afterward I knew ''he moved my soul to seek him'', seeking me."
<cite id="fn_1">[[#fn_1_back|Note 1:]] </cite> ''The Book of Discipline of The United Methodist Church - 2004'' (Nashville: United Methodist Publishing House, 2004), Section 1: Our Doctrinal Heritage: Distinctive Wesleyan Emphases.
