God's Amazing Grace
Rapper Lecrae Shares His Testimony of Jesus Christ
Rapper Lecrae Shares His Testimony God's Prevenient Grace
Iranian Muslim Converted to Christianity
Iranian Muslim Converted to Christianity

 



 Christianity 101
 
 Articles of Faith
Some of the material
in this lesson was adapted
from

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Full House's Candace Cameron Bure: Doing It God's Way - CBN.com
Full House's Candace Cameron Bure: Doing It God's Way - CBN.com

 

 

 

How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell? - Lee Strobel
How Can A Loving God Send People To Hell? - Lee Strobel

 

 

 

 

 

Nazarene Website

The Grace that "Goes Before"

 

Long before we were ever aware of God's activity in our lives He was working to lead us to Himself.  God created conditions for our conversion to occur.  We call this prevenient grace. Theologian Al Truesdale wrote these words:

"The Spirit of God awakens our most elementary religious sensitivities, quickening our conscience to the reality of God. Were God to leave us alone in our sins we would not even think about Him."

 

Two good examples of God's prevenient grace can be found in the following testimonies.

 

Testimony of Grace

 

Rapper Finds God

 

  • Think about your life before you became a Christian.  Did you feel God's presence in your life?  If so, how?
  • Can you think of someone right now who is not a Christian, but you can still see God working in his or her life?  how can God use you to help open that person's eyes to the working of God in his or her life?
  • Read Titus 2:11-14.  Spend time thanking God for His grace.  During the week, write down all the ways you experience God's grace.  Then share what you have written with someone else.  (Questions From: Articles of Faith, NPH 2008)

Article VII

 

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. 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.

 What does the Bible say?

We Can Choose

whether we want to follow God

 

While it is true that God's grace enables us to make a decision for Him, it is also true that He gives us each the opportunity to choose for ourselves.  God empowers us, but he doesn't manipulate us.  

 

Genesis 1:26-27; 2:16-17; Deuteronomy 28:1-2; 30:19; Joshua 24:15; Psalm 8:3-5; Isaiah 1:8-10; Romans 1:19-20; 2:5-16; 14:7-12; Galatians 6:7-8  

Christians can choose to reject God

Article VII

Part B

 

"We believe that all persons, though in the possession of the experience of regeneration and entire sanctification, may fall from grace and apostatize and, unless they repent of their sins, be hopelessly and eternally lost."
 

For Discussion Watch This Video

 

Romans 6:15-16; 6:23; 11:22; 1 Corinthians 10:1-12; Philippians 2:12-13; Colossians 1:21-23; Hebrews 2:1-3; 3:12-15; 10:26-31; 2 Peter 1:10-11; 2:20-22