God's Gateways to Glory a Study of the Order of Salvation in Wesleyan-Arminian Theology Presented By

The Stepping Stones of Salvation

God’s Gateways to Glory

A Study of the Order of Salvation In Wesleyan-Arminian Theology

Presented by

The Stepping Stones of Salvation

As you come to him, the living Stone -- rejected by men but chosen by God and precious to him -- you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (1 Peter 2:4, 5).

Introduction

The Wesleyan Theological Perspective

OBJECTIVE: To appreciate the theological task and, particularly, the distinctives of the Wesleyan theological perspective especially as it relates to a Holy God seeking a holy people.

SCRIPTURE FOCUS: The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways (Deuteronomy 28:9).

INTRODUCTION: The Bible was not written as an organized ______or theological treatise. It is not arranged in ______order, either. At first glance, it would be easy to assume that Genesis was the first book written, but many scholars believe it was Job, which is found in the middle of the Old Testament. Matthew is the first book of the New Testament, but 1 Thessalonians, written about A.D. 47, may have been the first New

Testament book.

The Bible is a collection of books written over a span of 1500 years or more. Could these books possibly have a common thread and theme? Of course, we, as Christians, believe they do, and the discipline of theology explores and traces many common threads and themes. It is the

theologian’s task to organize the biblical materials into logical order for comprehensive

______.

The Wesleyan theological perspective understands God as a ______God who is seeking a ______people. He has not just chosen some to be saved, but he desires that not any should perish. For those who choose to follow His Son, Jesus Christ, He plans to make them “a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God,” (1 Peter

2:9) through His plan of salvation.

Reformed Theology

Character of God

______

Wesleyan Theology

Character of God

______

In Wesleyan Theology

A Holy God

______

A Holy People

In Reformed Theology

A Sovereign God

______

A Holy People

John Calvin vs. John Wesley

Historic Presbyterianism vs. Historic Methodism

• Total ______• ______Grace

• Unconditional ______• ______Election • Limited ______• ______Atonement

• Irresistible ______• ______Grace

• Perseverance of the ______• Perseverance of the ______• Eternal ______• ______Security

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION:

‘ Why is theology necessary? ‘ As an attribute of God, how is holiness different from sovereignty? ‘ How do I understand the character of God? ‘ What does the Wesleyan perspective mean to me?

CONCLUSION:

Theology is necessary to gain a comprehensive understanding of God and His plan of salvation. The Wesleyan perspective of theology understands God’s holiness, and that expressed through His love, as ______and ______in His relationship to humankind.

He has made provision through Jesus Christ for all to be saved. By faithful following after Jesus, we may grow more like Him, and become the holy people that God is seeking.