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    Sep 27, 2015

    Sunday's Message: John Wesley and Three Aspects of Grace

    Passage: Romans 5:8

    Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

    Series: Saving Grace

    Category: Discipleship, Grace

    Keywords: discipleship, grace, reconciliation, restore, john wesley, methodist, theology, wesley

    John Wesley's theology of grace was revolutionary and still has some unique characteristics. The 3 aspects of grace he taught are: Prevenient grace (God's grace that is operative before we are in any way aware of it); Justifying grace (God's grace that restores us to God -- as we become aware of God's love for us); and Sanctifying grace (the grace that brings us closer to God's way throughout our lives).

    Last week, our lay leaders led us in a wonderful service focused on the 3 simple rules of being a Methodist:

    • Do no harm.
    • Do good.
    • Stay in love with God.

    We have another trio that is central to United Methodist theology, and that is a trilogy of grace.  As I pointed out 2 weeks ago, John Wesley did not speak of grace as “once and done.”  Rather, we might look at grace as flowing over and in us in stages – or as a lifelong process – with 3 distinct stages.

    The first stage of grace is called Prevenient – the grace that “comes before.”  From an early age, often in Sunday School, many Christians memorize John 3:16:  God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son that whosoever believes in him will have eternal life.  The Romans text that ____ read for us a moment ago says, God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

    Before we were even a twinkle in our mothers’ eyes – before our mothers were a twinkle in their mothers’ eyes – before.  God loved us.  Christ died for us.  That, beloved, is prevenient grace.

    In a pamphlet written for Sunday School teachers and other church leaders, the writer put it this way:

    Wesley understood grace as God’s active presence in our lives—God going before us to prepare us for a life of love of God and neighbor.  This presence is not dependent on human actions or human response. It is a gift that is always available, but that can be refused.

    God’s grace stirs up within us a desire to know God and empowers us to respond to God’s invitation to be in relationship with God. God’s grace enables us to discern differences between good and evil and makes it possible for us to choose good.  In this dimension of God’s grace we see the initiative that God takes in relating to humanity. We do not have to beg and plead for God’s love and grace. God actively seeks us!

    Justifying Grace is the second aspect of grace found in scripture and in Wesley’s theology, and this aspect of grace is about reconciliation, pardon and restoration.  As that pamphlet says:

    Through the work of God in Christ our sins are forgiven, and our relationship with God is restored.

    Let me read a little more from the document:

    According to Wesley, the image of God—which has been distorted by sin—is renewed within us through Christ’s death. In justifying grace, the Christian acknowledges his or her human situation, makes a conscious decision to turn toward God, and takes appropriate  responsibility in shaping a life of discipleship. “Righteousness” is a typical Bible term for one who so repents. As a friend so aptly stated, God’s grace is freely given for our repentance and salvation, but to grow, we have to cooperate!

    Again, this dimension of God’s grace is a gift.  God’s grace alone brings us into relationship with God. There are no hoops through which we have to jump in order to please God and to be loved by God. God has acted in Jesus Christ.  We need only to respond in faith.

    And the third dimension of grace is called Sanctifying Grace – it’s the cooperation part.  As I have considered how to share about grace today, I got to wondering if some of us confuse grace with getting what we want.  Grace is about working in us and through us to bring us closer to God – it is not about getting closer to God so that we get more blessing or have fewer things to worry about in life.  The writer of the pamphlet said that salvation “is the ongoing experience of God’s gracious presence transforming us into whom God intends us to be.”  Whom GOD intends us to be.  It’s why I try not to miss an opportunity to remind myself and all of us to become more like Christ.

    Sanctification is lifelong.  It is the process of becoming more like Christ, aligning our thoughts, our hearts, our words, and our deeds with God’s will – not the process of aligning God’s will to our own.

     

    Where are you on this journey?  Have you felt that amazing grace, knowing that Jesus truly came and sacrificed his life to free you from sin?  How are you practicing rule #3 – staying in love with God?  That’s the one about growing in grace – in sanctifying grace. 

    I am going to the altar rail to lead us in prayer.  Please pass your prayer concerns to the ushers so they can bring them forward.  As we prepare to pray, please join me in singing hymn #377, It Is Well With My Soul, and if you would like to come and pray at the rail with me, just come.  

    Excerpts noted are from  Teachers as Spiritual Leaders and Theologians.  This pamphlet was prepared by the Faith Formation and Discipleship Groups at the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church and may be reprinted for use in the local church © 2010 GBOD.  Pamphlet is now found at http://nccumc.org/christianformation/files/TEACHERS_AS_SPIRITUAL_LEADERS_AND_THEOLOGIANS.pdf