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What Is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Reformed Theology Class 3: Sola Gratia 1 "Grace is simple, yet complex. The grace that quickens, the grace that convinces of sin, the grace that consoles, the grace that instructs, the grace that sustains, the grace that sanctifies, the grace that perfects — it is all a very simple matter, but how varied are its operations! How marvelous is the 'all grace' which God makes to abound unto us. 2 Think of the triple ray which we find in grace — the grace of the Father in election, the grace of the Son in redemption, the grace of the Holy Spirit in regeneration. Consider, admire, and adore the manifold grace of God. Grace cannot be depraved, it is ever pure and good; it cannot be overcome, it will effect its purposes; it never corrupts, it is the seed of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.” C.H. Spurgeon The First Day of Creation Vol 21, 501-502 3 1 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 What is Grace? “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” J. Gresham Machen 4 What is Grace? “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” J. Gresham Machen “Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” B.B. Warfield 5 What is Grace? “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” J. Gresham Machen “Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” B.B. Warfield “Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.” John Stott 6 2 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 What is Grace? “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.” J. Gresham Machen “Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill-deserving.” B.B. Warfield “Grace is love that cares and stoops and rescues.” John Stott “[Grace] is God reaching downward to people who are in rebellion against Him.” Jerry Bridges 7 Luther on Grace Grace is freely given to the most undeserving and unworthy, and is not obtained by any strenuous efforts, endeavours or works. 8 Luther on Grace Since we are one mass of perdition, no-one is justified except through the grace of Christ without merits. 9 3 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Luther on Grace The devil is forever attracting people to good works to make sure that they do not reach the point of thinking that they need the grace and mercy of Christ. 10 Luther on Grace This grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing. It does not lie asleep in the soul. Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works all in man, and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced. It is hidden, but its works are evident. 11 Luther on Grace Christ our Lord, to whom we must flee, and of whom we must ask all, is an inexhaustible well of all grace. Even if the whole world were to draw from this fountain enough grace and truth to transform all people into angels, still it would not lose as much as a drop. This fountain constantly overflows with sheer grace. Whoever wishes to enjoy Christ’s grace – and no-one is excluded – let him come and receive it from Him. I am seeking and thirsting for nothing else than a gracious God. 12 4 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 The fatuous idea that a person can be holy by himself denies God the pleasure of saving sinners. God must therefore first take the sledge-hammer of the Law in His fists and smash the beast of self- righteousness and its brood of self-confidence, self wisdom, and self-help. When the conscience has been thoroughly frightened by the Law it welcomes the Gospel of grace with its message of a Savior Who came-not to break the bruised reed nor to quench the smoking flax-but to preach glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, and to grant forgiveness of sins to all the captives. 13 Night and day I pondered until I saw the connection between the justice of God and the statement that 'the just shall live by his faith.' Then I grasped that the justice of God is that righteousness by which through grace and sheer mercy God justifies us through faith. Thereupon I felt myself to be reborn and to have gone through open doors into paradise. 14 We should die relying on grace alone 15 5 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 The Most Popular ‘Grace’ Verse “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…” Ephesians 2:8 ESV 16 χάρις: to show kindness to someone, with the implication of graciousness on the part of the one showing such kindness—‘to show kindness, to manifest graciousness toward, kindness, graciousness, grace.’ Johannes P. Louw and Eugene Albert Nida, Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament: Based on Semantic Domains (New York: United Bible Societies, 1996), 748. 17 Theological Definition of Grace: Unmerited Favor Definition: “Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that person deserves.” 18 6 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Deuteronomy 7:7-8 ESV 19 John 1:14 Titus 2:11 Romans 3:23-24 20 Types of Grace 21 7 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Types of Grace #1 Prevenient (Preparatory) Grace 22 “...the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all of our conscious impulses. This grace prompts our first wish to please God, our first glimmer of understanding concerning God's will, 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.” United Methodist Book of Discipline 23 “We believe that the human race’s creation in Godlikeness included ability to choose between right and wrong, and that thus human beings were made morally responsible; that through the fall of Adam they became depraved so that they cannot now turn and prepare themselves by their own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God. Church of the Nazarene, 16th Article of Faith 24 8 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 But we also believe that the grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all people, enabling all who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight.” Church of the Nazarene, 16th Article of Faith 25 “The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such that he cannot turn and prepare himself, by his own natural strength and works, to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing [preceding] us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have that good will” John Wesley, John Wesley Scriptural Christianity, p. 243 26 “Concerning grace and free will, this is what I teach according to the Scriptures and orthodox consent: Free will is unable to begin or to perfect any true and spiritual good, without grace.... This grace [prœvenit] goes before, accompanies, and follows; it excites, assists, operates that we will, and cooperates lest we will in vain.” Jacobus Arminius, Works 4:472 27 9 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Council of Trent “The Synod furthermore declares, that in adults, the beginning of the said Justification is to be derived from the prevenient grace of God, through Jesus Christ, that is to say, from His vocation, whereby, without any merits existing on their parts, they are called… 28 …that so they, who by sins were alienated from God, may be disposed through His quickening and assisting grace, to convert themselves to their own justification, by freely assenting to and co-operating with that said grace.” Council of Trent 29 Types of Grace #2 Common Grace Defintion: Grace that is common to all humankind because it benefits are experienced by, or intended for, the whole human race without the leading to salvation. It is grace because it is undeserved and sovereignty bestowed by God. 30 10 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Types of Grace #3 Convicting Grace 31 John 16:5-8 32 Types of Grace #4 Saving Grace 33 11 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 2 Corinthians 8:9 Ephesians 2:8-9 34 Types of Grace #5 Sanctifying Grace 35 1 Peter 5:10 2 Peter 3:18 36 12 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Types of Grace #6 Sustaining Grace 37 John 10:27-30 Romans 8:35-39 Romans 11:5-6 38 Types of Grace #7 Irresistible Grace 39 13 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 John 6:37-40 Romans 8:29-30 40 Romans 3:10-18 41 God’s Grace in Salvation Ephesians 1 #1 The Role of the Father: Election: (1:3-6) #2 The Role of the Son: Redemption: (1:7-8) #3 The Role of the Holy Spirit: Irresistible Calling / Grace: (1:11-14) 42 14 What is Reformed Theology Classes 1 & 2 Wintley Phipps / Amazing Grace 43 15.
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