Does Scripture Teach Prevenient Grace in the Wesleyan Sense?
- by Dr. Thomas R. Schreiner
What is Calvinism? The Dark Side of Holiness - Does God actually ordain sin to occur? Or does He just allow it? Calvinist and Arminian Presuppositions - Does God's Sovereign control of everything do away with free will? Why did Jesus speak in parables? - And what does it have to do with God's Sovereignty in salvation? What about Arminian "Prevenient Grace"? - Doesn't the Bible teach that God awakens all people out of spiritual death, so that they can be saved? The Omnipotence Paradox - part 1 - Could an omnipotent being create a stone so heavy that even he could not lift it? The Omnipotence Paradox - part 2 - How does the fallacy of the Omnipotence Paradox apply to the fallacy of Arminianism?
Is God really in control? . . .
Yes! God is totally in control of everything!
Consider all that God controls:
- God controls the entire universe: Ps 103:19; Rom 8:28; Eph 1:11
- God controls all of nature: Ps 135:6-7; Mt 5:45; 6:25-30
- God controls angels & Satan: Ps 103:20-21; Job 1:12
- God controls nations: Ps 47:7-9; Dan 2:20-21; 4:34-35
- God controls human beings: 1 Sam 2:6-7; Gal 1:15-16
- God controls animals: Ps 104:21-30; 1 Ki 17:4-6
- God controls "accidents": Pr 16:33; Jon 1:7; Mt 10:29
- God controls free acts of men: Ex 3:21; 12:25-36; Ez 7:27
- God controls sinful acts of men and Satan: 2 Sam 24:1; 1 Chr 21:1; Gen 45:5; 50:20
Statements in the WCF on the Sovereignty of God
The Sovereignty of God page on Monergism.com
The Providence of God page on Monergism.com
Recommended Resources for Studying
God's Sovereignty
– Dr. R.C. Sproul
Predestination is a debated topic. Yet the Bible is clear about the doctrine of election and its importance to our perspectives on God and man, and the nature of their contributions to salvation. Because of the widespread neglect of this doctrine, many people cite Chosen By God not only as their introduction to Dr. Sproul's teaching, but also as the resource that profoundly shifted their attention to and understanding of the predestining grace of God. R.C. shows how election is entirely compatible with human freedom, dignity, and responsibilty. One of Ligonier's most significant and popular books, Chosen by God shows why all serious Christians cannot afford to ignore this important biblical doctrine, but instead should embrace God's initiative in Salvation. – 213 pages
– Douglas Wilson
"Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens. You will say to me then, "Why still find fault? For who resisted his will? - But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God?" Romans 9:18-20 . . . Hard words indeed. But they remain, for all our explanations, God's words. In this book, the reader will find unapologetic treatment of many such passages in Scripture. Perhaps the discovery will be made that our difficulty is not with the text, but rather with our hearts. Through lively conversations, this book seeks to understand the liberty of God. - 123 pages Read excerpts from this book here.
Putting Amazing Back into Grace
– Michael Horton
What does it mean to be "saved by grace"? Many believers are confused and intimidated by the doctrine of salvation, and as a result are missing out on the freedom of God's grace. Michael Horton reminds us of the Reformation's radical view of God and his saving grace, the liberating yet humbling truth that we contribute nothing to our salvation. Putting Amazing Back into Grace clearly lays out the Scriptural basis for this important doctrine and the implications of this message for a vibrant evangelical faith. Horton's accessible treatment of who does what in salvation will inspire a fresh amazement at God's grace. - 319 pages
Amazing Grace: The History & Theology of CALVINISM (DVD)
– Reel to Real Ministries
“What is Calvinism? Does this teaching make man a robot and God the author of sin? What about free will? If the church accepts Calvinism won’t evangelism be stifled, perhaps extinguished? How can we balance God’s sovereignty and man’s responsibility? What are the differences between historic Calvinism and hyper-Calvinism? Why did men like Augustine, Luther, Calvin, Spurgeon, Whitefield, Edward’s and a host of evangelists deny the Arminian definition of free will and label it heresy? Why did the Roman Catholic Church condemn the Reformed teaching of predestination and election and embrace free will theology? And why do so many Protestants, perhaps unwittingly, agree with Rome on this issue? – 2 DVDs
Click here for more excellent resources on God's Sovereignty.