Prevenient Grace

For one of my classes, I wrote a paper entitled, "The Calvinism Conflict."

In a nut shell, Calvinism says that God predetermined before the beginning of the world, who would be saved (the elect) and who would not be saved. 

I wrote this paper to refute Calvinism. I used the 5 point of Calvinism which are:

T- total deprivation

U-unmerited favor

L-limited atonement

I-irresistible grace

P-perseverance of the saints.

This is referred to as TULIP Calvinism. I don't disagree with every aspect of Calvinism, but there are many elements, of the doctrine, that I think are in contradiction to Scripture.

When my professor commented on my paper (which I got an A on 😀) he explained to me about Prevenient Grace. It is the doctrine of John Wesley:

It's true that on our own we are unable to reach out to God for salvation. Prevenient Grace (the grace that "comes before") maintains that God is always and constantly reaching out to all persons, offering grace that enables us to hear the Gospel and respond. 

Not that we naturally or innately have "free will," but God offers "free grace" that enables us to freely make a willful decision. 

It is "freed will" rather than "free will."

Love this!!

R.C Sproul

The great R.C. Sproul died today. He was a  phenomenal Theologian and Apologist.

He has left behind an amazing legacy!

Wonder

My friend Shelly and I went to see the movie, Wonder today. It's about a boy with Treacher Collins Syndrome, which causes severe facial deformity. He goes to a regular school, for the first, when he is in 6th grade.

I don't think it's as good as the book. But it's still a great movie to teach children, as well as adults, to treat those, who are different than you, with dignity and respect.

Believe

What we want is not to surrender, but to believe. Christians don't live by primarily being tough with themselves, but by believing God had already done something tremendous. Believing in the change God has made in us will lead us to do great things.
We will do them because we believe it's now our nature to do so. We'll do them by faith in God about ourselves, agreeing with him. No one will have to harangue us into doing something godly!  In every way, acting godly and doing godly things are the most "normal" things for those who are God's children.

God's Astounding Opinion of You.

Pure joy

It is pure joy watching Sam and Sadie play!

Every good and perfect gift comes from above. James 1:17

Jesus is our treasure

"The paltriness of our lives is largely due to our fascination with the trinkets and trophies of the unreal world that is passing away. When we are not profoundly affected by the treasure in our grasp, apathy and mediocrity are inevitable. If passion is not to degenerate into nostalgia or sentimentality, it must renew itself at its source. The treasure is Jesus Christ. He is the Kingdom within."

God's Astounding Opinion of You

Carry one another's burdens

You can't help with a burden, unless you get close to burdened people.

Timothy Keller