The Grace Of GodThe Grace Of God

The Free Agency Of ManThe Free Agency Of Man

2 Timothy 1:8-102 Timothy 1:8-10

Two Basic ErrorsTwo Basic Errors

God’s grace covers all.God’s grace covers all. God’s grace is an enabling power.God’s grace is an enabling power.

““The condition of man after the fall of The condition of man after the fall of Adam is such, Adam is such, that he cannot turn that he cannot turn and and prepare himself by his own natural prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith, and calling strength and works to faith, and calling upon God; wherefore we have no power to upon God; wherefore we have no power to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to do good works, pleasant and acceptable to God, without the grace of God by Christ God, without the grace of God by Christ preventing us, that we may have a good preventing us, that we may have a good will, and working with us, when we have will, and working with us, when we have that good will.” (Methodist Church that good will.” (Methodist Church Discipline 1918, Articles Of Faith, pages 4-Discipline 1918, Articles Of Faith, pages 4-5)5)

Of Free Of Free Will …Will …

Of Free-Of Free-Agency …Agency …

““We believe that man’s creation in godlikeness We believe that man’s creation in godlikeness included ability to choose between right and included ability to choose between right and wrong, and that thus he was made morally wrong, and that thus he was made morally responsible; that through the fall of Adam he responsible; that through the fall of Adam he became became depraveddepraved so that he so that he can not now turn can not now turn and prepare himself by his own natural strength and prepare himself by his own natural strength and works to faith and calling upon God; and works to faith and calling upon God; but but the the grace of God grace of God through Jesus Christ is freely through Jesus Christ is freely bestowed upon all men, bestowed upon all men, enablingenabling all who will to all who will to turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus turn from sin to righteousness, believe on Jesus Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and Christ for pardon and cleansing from sin, and follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His follow good works pleasing and acceptable in His sight.” (Manual of the Church Of The Nazarene, sight.” (Manual of the Church Of The Nazarene, 1928, page 23, article 22)1928, page 23, article 22)

Of Of Regeneration Regeneration ……

““We believe the Scriptures teach that We believe the Scriptures teach that regeneration, or the new birth, is regeneration, or the new birth, is that that change wrought in the soul by the Holy change wrought in the soul by the Holy SpiritSpirit, by which a new nature and spiritual , by which a new nature and spiritual life, not before possessed, are imparted, and life, not before possessed, are imparted, and the person becomes a new creation in Christ the person becomes a new creation in Christ Jesus;… The change is instantaneous , Jesus;… The change is instantaneous , effected solely by the power of God, in a effected solely by the power of God, in a manner incomprehensible to reason; the manner incomprehensible to reason; the evidence of it is found in a changed evidence of it is found in a changed disposition of mind, the fruits of disposition of mind, the fruits of righteousness, and a newness of life. righteousness, and a newness of life. And And without it salvation is impossiblewithout it salvation is impossible.” (Hiscox .” (Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual, pages 138-139)Standard Baptist Manual, pages 138-139)

Of Faith Of Faith ……

““We believe the Scriptures teach We believe the Scriptures teach that faith, as an evangelical grace that faith, as an evangelical grace wrought by the Spiritwrought by the Spirit, is the , is the medium through which Christ is medium through which Christ is received by the soul as its sacrifice received by the soul as its sacrifice and Savior.” (Hiscox Standard and Savior.” (Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual, page 139)Baptist Manual, page 139)

Total DepravityTotal Depravity Teaching of Augustine. 354-430 Teaching of Augustine. 354-430 Teaching of John Calvin. 1536Teaching of John Calvin. 1536 Denies that man is responsible for his own Denies that man is responsible for his own

sins.sins. The fall of man … “We believe the Scriptures The fall of man … “We believe the Scriptures

teach that man was created in holiness under teach that man was created in holiness under the law of his Maker; but by voluntary the law of his Maker; but by voluntary transgression fell from that holy and happy transgression fell from that holy and happy state; in consequence of which all mankind state; in consequence of which all mankind are now sinners, not by constraint but choiceare now sinners, not by constraint but choice; ; being by nature utterly void of that being by nature utterly void of that holiness required by the law of God, holiness required by the law of God, positively inclined to evilpositively inclined to evil; ; and therefore and therefore under just condemnation to eternal ruin, under just condemnation to eternal ruin, without defense or excuse.” (Hiscox Standard without defense or excuse.” (Hiscox Standard Baptist Manual. page 138)Baptist Manual. page 138)

Calvinism ExaminedCalvinism Examined

T –T – Ezekiel 18:20Ezekiel 18:20

U –U –Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34-35; Acts Romans 2:11; Acts 10:34-35; Acts 2:212:21

L –L – Hebrews 2:9; Titus 2:11; Romans Hebrews 2:9; Titus 2:11; Romans 5:6; cf. Mark 16:165:6; cf. Mark 16:16

I –I – Ephesians 4:30Ephesians 4:30

P –P – 2 Peter 2:20; Hebrews 3:12-132 Peter 2:20; Hebrews 3:12-13

False Arguments False Arguments ExaminedExamined

Acts 13:48 Those ordained to eternal life Acts 13:48 Those ordained to eternal life believed.believed.(cf. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)(cf. 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9)

Romans 9:15,18 “Have mercy on whom I will.”Romans 9:15,18 “Have mercy on whom I will.”(cf. Matthew 5:7; James 2:13; 2 Corinthians (cf. Matthew 5:7; James 2:13; 2 Corinthians 2:16)2:16)

Romans 9:21-22 Vessels unto honor or Romans 9:21-22 Vessels unto honor or dishonor.dishonor.(cf. Jeremiah 18:4; 2 Timothy 2:20-22)(cf. Jeremiah 18:4; 2 Timothy 2:20-22)

2 Thessalonians 2:13 “From beginning chosen 2 Thessalonians 2:13 “From beginning chosen to salvation.” (cf. verses 14-15)to salvation.” (cf. verses 14-15)

Jude 4 Certain men ordained to condemnation Jude 4 Certain men ordained to condemnation (cf. Genesis 4; 2 Samuel 11; Joshua 6; Acts 5)(cf. Genesis 4; 2 Samuel 11; Joshua 6; Acts 5)

Evidence Of Free-WillEvidence Of Free-Will God desires salvation of all. Matthew God desires salvation of all. Matthew

18:14; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:918:14; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9 He grieves over the conduct of sinners. He grieves over the conduct of sinners.

Genesis 6:6; Hebrews 3:10; Isaiah 63:10; Genesis 6:6; Hebrews 3:10; Isaiah 63:10; 48:18; Luke 13:3-448:18; Luke 13:3-4

Man addressed as one who can choose. Man addressed as one who can choose. Deuteronomy 30:15; Joshua 24:15; Deuteronomy 30:15; Joshua 24:15; Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:24; John Matthew 11:28-30; Matthew 16:24; John 5:40; Acts 10:34-35; Revelation 22:175:40; Acts 10:34-35; Revelation 22:17

Man’s conduct determines his standing. Man’s conduct determines his standing. John 8:34; Romans 6:16-17; Hebrews 5:8-John 8:34; Romans 6:16-17; Hebrews 5:8-9; Matthew 7:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-99; Matthew 7:21; 2 Thessalonians 1:8-9

ConclusionConclusion

The The meansmeans of our redemption is of our redemption is Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

The The operationoperation is forgiveness, not the is forgiveness, not the enabling power, or the imputation of enabling power, or the imputation of righteousness, but the failure to righteousness, but the failure to impute sin.impute sin.

The The conditioncondition is faith, not faith only, is faith, not faith only, but an obedient faith.but an obedient faith.