The Stepping Stones of Salvation

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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). Session #4 Grace That Leads to Salvation OBJECTIVE: To understand prevenient grace as that grace which lifts humankind above the radical effects of sin and allows persons to respond positively to God if they will. Also, to understand convincing grace as that grace which brings conviction and leads to repentance and confession of sin. SCRIPTURE FOCUS: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11). INTRODUCTION: ______________________ grace was John Wesley’s answer to John Calvin’s total depravity. Prevenient grace is the grace that God has granted to every person that _________________ them to respond to God. It really means that every person has been given the ability to say ___________ to God’s offer of salvation. It also has implications for those who, due to limited mental capacity, cannot respond to the offer of salvation. Convincing or convicting grace comes to the sinner and seeks to bring convincing truth, thoughts, and feelings upon a person, that will move them toward realization of their sinful state, and their need of a Savior. 1 2 Provisions and Implications of Prevenient Grace • Becomes saving grace for those who do not have the ____________________ for making moral decisions • Infants • Mentally handicapped • _____________ can respond to God’s offer of salvation • Humankind is fallen but ___________________________ • “No man sins because he has not grace, but because he does not use the grace which he hath” – John Wesley 3 QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION AND DISCUSSION: ‘ What are the radical effects of sin? ‘ Share your experience of being drawn to God before your salvation experience. ‘ What does prevenient grace mean for those who have never heard the gospel? ‘ Explain the relationship of freedom and responsibility. ‘ How does the Holy Spirit convict of sin? ‘ What does it mean to repent? ‘ Why is the confession of sins necessary? ‘ What are some fruits of repentance? CONCLUSION: Prevenient grace enables every person to respond to God’s offer of salvation. It is a gift from God that allows humankind to exercise _____________ _______________ in response to God. It also becomes the means of salvation to those who cannot respond of their own volition due to mental incapacity. Convincing grace urges the sinner toward Christ. It is that which convinces or _________________ persons of the reality of sin, righteousness, and judgment. It leads persons toward salvation. 4 .

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The Five Points of Calvinism
• TULIP The Five Points of Calvinism instructor’s guide Bethlehem College & Seminary 720 13th Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55415 612.455.3420 [email protected] | bcsmn.edu Copyright © 2007, 2012, 2017 by Bethlehem College & Seminary All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, modified, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner. Scripture taken from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. Copyright © 2007 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. • TULIP The Five Points of Calvinism instructor’s guide Table of Contents Instructor’s Introduction Course Syllabus 1 Introduction from John Piper 3 Lesson 1 Introduction to the Doctrines of Grace 5 Lesson 2 Total Depravity 27 Lesson 3 Irresistible Grace 57 Lesson 4 Limited Atonement 85 Lesson 5 Unconditional Election 115 Lesson 6 Perseverance of the Saints 141 Appendices Appendix A Historical Information 173 Appendix B Testimonies from Church History 175 Appendix C Ten Effects of Believing in the Five Points of Calvinism 183 Instructor’s Introduction It is our hope and prayer that God would be pleased to use this curriculum for his glory. Thus, the intention of this curriculum is to spread a passion for the supremacy of God in all things for the joy of all peoples through Jesus Christ. This curriculum is guided by the vision and values of Bethlehem College & Seminary which are more fully explained at bcsmn.edu. At the Bethlehem College & Semianry website, you will find the God-centered philosophy that undergirds and motivates everything we do.
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