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Setting Forth The Doctrines of Grace
(Toward a Practical Theology of the Grace of God)
(“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.” Rom. 5:20)
By Dr Terry W. Preslar
- Preface -
The Doctrines set forth here are often mis-understood, mis-applied, and mis-used. The system of Grace
is the only system of redemption taught in the Scripture. The earliest statement of Scripture that stated the
action of God to save by Grace is found in Gen. 6:8 (“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.”)
This will indicate that God saved Noah by Grace and can be extended behind him as God demonstrates His
Grace in the lives of the first created beings. Forward from Noah we are given a mighty parade of
redemption by Grace. It was then and is now, gravely unfortunate that the natural view of works, decisional,
or will based salvation has seen the light of day. Grace is all that should have ever been preached.
This book will be found to be militant in favor of Grace Salvation. Scripture will be the only authority
and the KJV (AV1611) is deemed the only version to resort unto. Those who adhere to other views are not
allowed to have place and the reader should dismiss any thoughts of other systems. This is not a debate –
I will be making a declaration of the established Biblical Truth.
1.1 The Definition of Grace - The Grace of God is the meat of the message for the New Testament
Preacher. If he preaches any other message, he perverts the office to which the Father has called
Preachers. I desire to magnify that message in the ears of the hearers as I preach any sermon. We can
talk of the grand themes of the modern pulpit if you like; but there is none that is as grand as Grace. I
am willing to allow all other subjects to falter in order to raise Grace to the top of the list of my focused
visions. There can be no better phrase to describe God’s care for the race than “Grand Grace.” Grace
that goes to the root of the need of fallen man and provides the need there. (Ex. 36:26). Grace that is
only by Faith. (Eph. 2:8-9). Grace that requires nothing from the sinner. (Rom. 5:6).
The Grace of God is the prime element of Bible Salvation. There is no other salvation taught in the
Bible. Men, women, boys and girls are all saved by Grace through Faith and not of works. If works were
effective to save, men could boast of redemption. Redemption is only for the Glory and Honor of God
and if He can not have the Glory, I say, He is not involved in that experience. The temporal religions
of our day are depots of profane, perishable, temporal “salvation” (Th counterfeit is so close). He surely
offers a salvation that is Eternal. (Heb. 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own
blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”).
OH! What joy it is to know the sweet truth of Heb. 13:5 “...for He hath said, I will never leave thee,
nor forsake thee.” Our SAVIOR is the KEEPER of the Sheep Fold. He will keep those saved by the
Grace of God. “As Eve fell while her Adam was not by her side, our `LAST ADAM’ will never leave
HIS BRIDE’S side.” Matthew Henry has said, “Had she kept close to the side out of which she was
lately taken she had not been so exposed.” So the saint will be kept by the perpetual presents of the
LORD -our “LAST ADAM,” out of whose side flowed the blood that bought our redemption. There can
be no sweeter truth than the Doctrines of the Grace of God. These Doctrines will free the believer to
serve the MASTER in the life that Grace has provided.
Grace is the limitless love of God expressed in measureless and inexhaustible kindness; it is the
kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man “...not by works of righteousness which we have
done...” (Titus 3:4-5). In Grace is found the “Goodness of God.” Without Grace we are hopeless.
No preaching can offer mankind any solace in the miry clay of darkness. Within Grace we find
God’s lovingkindness. (“The LORD hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee
1.2.2 God’s Decree of Grace – God’s “decree” is a theological term for the comprehensive plan for
the world and its history which God sovereignly established in eternity. Paul refers to “...the
purpose of him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will...” (Eph. 1:11). The
Westminster Shorter Catechism provides this classic definition: “The decrees of God are his
eternal purpose, according to the counsel of his will, whereby, for his own glory, he hath
foreordained whatsoever comes to pass.”
There are analogies between God’s decrees and the decrees of human rulers, but important
differences exist. Theologians distinguish God’s will of decree from the will of precept; a closer
parallel exists between God’s will of precept and human decrees. The will of precept refers to
1.2.3 The Providence of God – By this God governs all things by the means of second causes. (Psa.
18:35**; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3) Providence literally means foresight, but is
generally used to denote God’s preserving and governing all things by means of second causes
(Psa. 18:35; 63:8; Acts 17:28; Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3). God’s providence extends to the natural
world (Ps 104:14**; 135:5-7; Acts 14:17), the brute creation (Psa. 104:21-29; Matt. 6:26;
10:29), and the affairs of men (1 Chron. 16:31; Psa. 47:7; Prov. 21:1; Job 12:23; Dan. 2:21;
4:25), and of individuals (1 Sam. 2:6; Psa. 18:30; Luke 1:53; James 4:13-15). It extends also to
the free actions of men (Ex. 12:36; 1 Sam. 24:9-15; Psa. 33:14-15; Prov. 16:1; 19:21; 20:24;
21:1), and things sinful (2 Sam. 16:10; 24:1; Rom. 11:32; Acts 4:27-28), as well as to their good
actions (Phil. 2:13; 4:13; 2 Cor. 12:9-10; Eph. 2:10; Gal. 5:22-25).
1.2.4 Foreordination and Predestination - God’s ordaining or predestining what will happen in
history and in relation to human salvation. This word is properly used only with reference to
1.2.5 Scriptures Asserting The Certainty Of Specific Things – The function of Scripture to put
forward specific matters can be observed by three divine methods:
1) God’s Promises - Setting forth His declarations of blessings, mercy and judgement. The use
of GOD’S “promises” in the Saint’s Prayer is as old as the practice of prayer. GOD has made
promises to the race of man for: A) the instruction of the worshiper, B) the comfort of the
wanderer, and C) the calling of the workman. To rely upon the “promises” of a
SOVEREIGN GOD is to enter into a wise practice with the hope of HIS best reward. This
type of prayer is not as is done by many in this modern-day’s “super-spiritual” movements.
That is; it is not “commanding” GOD to obey our request. This type of prayer is simply
relying upon what HE has already promised in HIS word to meet your present needs. (“He
that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also
freely give us all things?” Rom. 8:32).
2) God’s Prophesy - The resolution of God concerning matters unforeseen as yet. The varsity
of our sovereign God is the guarantee of these assertions. We depend on these matters to
become true in the progress of time. The likelihood of prophesy coming to pass is in the
direct proportion to God’s might. How could any of it fail...? “Heaven and earth shall pass
away: but my words shall not pass away.” (Luke 21:33)
3) God’s Provocation - Conviction, the moving of the sinner towards redeeming Grace (Heb.
3:8, 15) “Provoke,” literally, “to call forth,” hence, to excite or stir up, whether in a good or
bad sense, appears frequently in the Old Testament: in the sense of “to make angry” (Deut.
4:25; 9:18; 1Kings 14:9,15, etc.). In the New Testament we have the sense of “to make
jealous” (Rom. 10:19; 11:11,14); “to make angry” (Eph 6:4; compare Col 3:21); “to
1.2.6 Salvation By Grace Alone Without Works – Almost all professing Christians profess to
believe that salvation is by grace. The Bible states the fact of salvation by grace alone so often
and so clearly that it is difficult to find any who claim to be Christians who openly deny it. The
trouble is that the vast majority of men and women, and the vast majority of preachers, talk
about grace in such a way that they frustrate the grace of God. The grace they talk about is not
grace at all, but works and freewillism. It is therefore needful that constant, clear instruction be
given about the grace of God. Grace belongs to and comes from God, the sovereign Monarch
of all things, whose lofty throne is a “throne of grace”. Grace, as it is defined, described, and
illustrated in the bible, has four distinct characteristics. Grace is not a passion or desire, in the
heart of God to save sinners. Be sure you understand these things about grace:
Grace is an attribute of God and the work of God by which he accomplishes the salvation
of his people. As such, it has certain characteristics. Any view of grace that violates any of these
characteristics is heretical. Grace is eternal (2 Tim. 1:9), immutable (Rom. 11:29), sovereign
1.3 The Message the Gospel – (“For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for
necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!” 1 Cor. 9:16) The
message of the Gospel is defined in many terms. The Gospel has been so diluted and spread thin that
it is made to cover almost every “message” of the modern pulpit. Yet, the substance of the Gospel
is in danger of being forgotten. Let us not overlook the facts when delimiting the message of our
pulpits.
1- The Most Exciting Message - Healing the sick & raising the dead and it is also a message of the
Sovereignty of God.
2- The Most Urgent Message - The 2nd coming (1 Thes. 4:16) and it is also a message of the
Sovereignty of God.
3- The Most Practical Message - The tithe (Mal. 3:8) and it is also a message of the Sovereignty
of God.
4- The Most Worshipful Message - The Glory of GOD (1 Peter 1:8) and it is also a message of the
Sovereignty of God.
5- The Most Encouraging Message - The hope of Heaven (Rom. 8:18-27) and it is also a message
of the Sovereignty of God.
6- The Most Needed Message - Salvation through the blood of CHRIST (Col. 1:14) and it is also
a message of the Sovereignty of God.
If the subjects of the pulpit are all involved in His Sovereignty, why do we dalli about as if we
are protecting some “sacred cow?” We who believe that there is but one Gospel and that Gospel
is the great work for which we are called are also called upon to stand in the gap and make up the
hedge.
1.3.1 The Gospel of God’s Grace – The Gospel is God’s means to reach the fallen race. The word
Gospel means “Good News”, and four types of the gospel are found in the New Testament. The
Gospel is the good news that we have forgiveness of sins though Jesus. Specifically, the gospel
is defined by Paul in 1 Cor. 15:1-4: “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which
I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; by which also ye are
saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day
according to the scriptures:” Originally, the word “Gospel” referred to a reward paid the one
who brought good news. Later, it came to mean the good news itself. In the New Testament, it
is the message of salvation through Christ. Gospels is the term used for the four histories of the
life of Christ in the New Testament: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. The name is from Middle
1.3.2 The Books That Were Opened – The Book of Life, the Lamb’s Book of Life and the Book of
God’s Remembrance - there are three books opened. The Book of Life is the book of the living
and is a record, too, of their profession; from this book names may be blotted out but, another
book will be opened. (“...and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life...” Rev. 3:5); by
which is meant the choice of persons to everlasting life and salvation; and this being signified
by a book, and by writing names in it, shows the exact knowledge God has of his elect, the value
he has for them, his remembrance of them, his love to them, and care for them; and that this
election is of particular persons by name, and is sure and certain; for those whose names are
written in it shall never be blotted out, they will always remain in the number of God’s elect, and
can never become reprobates, or shall ever perish; because of the unchangeableness of the nature
and love of God, the firmness of his purposes, the omnipotence of his arm, the death and
intercession of Christ for them, their union to him, and being in him, the impossibility of their
seduction by false teachers, and the security of their persons, grace, and glory in Christ, and in
whose keeping this book of life is; which respects not this temporal life, that belongs to the book
of providence, but a spiritual and eternal life, from whence it has its name.
Some names, those of Christian believers, will never be blotted out, but will remain there
right through “from the creation of the world” (Rev. 13:8); but others, those of the lost, are
blotted out, and the gaping, empty spaces, where their names might have been, are shown to
them at the judgment of the great white throne (Rev. 20:11-15), where the “books were opened.”
These are the books containing the records of their works by which it will be shown that all are
guilty before God; they will be sentenced according to the enormity of their offenses. It is
written that “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of
fire.”
1.3.3 The Believer’s Freedom From The Law – In Christ every believer is totally free from the law.
“We are not under the law, but under grace” (Rom. 6:15). We are not justified (Rom. 3:19-24),
sanctified (Gal. 3:1-3), motivated (2 Cor. 5:14), ruled (Tit. 2:11- 12), or glorified (Jude 24-25)
by the law, but by grace.
“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 10:4). Do
you ask what that means? It means that Christ is the fulfillment of the law, the satisfaction of the
law, and the termination of the law to all who believe on him unto life everlasting. It means that
there is no righteousness to be had, of any kind, to any degree, by our own works of obedience
to the law. The only way anyone can have righteousness before God is by faith in Christ. He is
“The Lord Our Righteousness “ (Jer. 23:6) and we are the righteousness of God in him (Jer.
33:16; 2 Cor. 5:21).
“Ye are become dead to the law by the body of Christ” (Rom. 7:4). Do you ask what that
means? It means that if you are a believer, if Christ died for you, insofar as the law of God is
concerned you are dead. It can make no demands upon you. It can require nothing from you. It
can do nothing to you. If you and I are in Christ by faith, we have no covenant with the law, no
curse from the law, and no commitment to the law.
This does not mean that we are against the law. God forbid! We are not antinomians. We
delight in the law of God (Rom. 7:22). The real antinomian is the legalist who pretends to keep
the law. He lowers the standard of the law to the measure of his own obedience. Otherwise he
could find no comfort in his obedience. So the legalist turns the law of God into lasciviousness.
That is a complimentary word for his pretended obedience to the law!
Why are we so dogmatic in declaring the believer’s freedom from the law, as it is set forth
in the scriptures? Let me give you three reasons for our dogmatism: First, the legalist would rob
Christ of the glory of his grace, making some part of salvation dependent upon the works of the
law. Second, the legalist would rob the believer of the joy of faith, the joy of assurance, and the
joy of service to Christ, making assurance to be based upon obedience and service to Christ
mercenary acts. Third, the legalist would rob the world of the hope of salvation, for if salvation
requires any good work from sinners then there is no hope.
The fact that the human race has lived more years under the system of “LAW” than under
“GRACE” is an interesting truth. I do not desire to be misunderstood; but there is a bad mis-
conception about the conflict of “LAW” and “GRACE.” There is no conflict in “LAW” and true
“GRACE.” Grace that saves is paid for within the Law, in order to meet GOD’S demand. There
can be no Grace unless the Law is satisfied.
HOLY GOD sent HIS HOLY SON not to prove that man could live out the elements of the
law but to meet THE FATHER’S demands. The SON of GOD was sent “...that the world
through HIM might be saved.” (John 3:17).
Of course, any examination of the subject of Law and Grace must quickly come to the
difficulty of the Law’s elements. It might be said that there are ten of these elements, however,
any close look at the matter will show the multiplicity of elements. The law is not an evil force
to bind us -it is our “SCHOOLMASTER to bring us unto CHRIST.” Could this be in the mind
of the apostle as he says “When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I
thought as a child: but when I became a man I put away childish things.”(1 Cor.13:11) Paul did
not imply that the law is childish -but the way in which the believer responds to the law is in
2 The Vocabulary of Grace – Words are important. If we do not use “words” the message will fall silent
and the substance will be forever stilled. Many false teachers have mis-used these words and this short
commit will not set the record straight; but it will make a mark in the sand that must be noted by the
gainsayer who offers false interpretation of these and many more Gospel truths.
2.1 Total Depravity – That man is touched by sin in all parts of his being: body, soul, mind, and
emotions. Because of the fall in Adam, man is unable of himself to savingly believe the Gospel. The
sinner is spiritually dead, blind, and deaf to the things of God; his heart is deceitful and desperately
corrupt. His will is not free but is in bondage to his sinful nature. He is as spiritually dead and
estranged from God as are the fallen angels. Therefore he will not, indeed cannot, choose good over
evil in the spiritual realm. Consequently it takes regeneration by which the Spirit brings a sinner to
Christ - it takes regeneration by which the Spirit brings a sinner from spiritual death to spiritual life
and it takes regeneration that gives him a new nature. Faith is not something man contributes to
salvation but is itself a part of God’s gift of Salvation - it is God’s gift to the sinner, not the sinner’s
gift to God. (John 6:44; Rom. 5:6; 8:7-8; Eph. 2:1, 5; Col. 2:13; Titus 3:3-5). The inquire for the
sinner to “give his heart to God” is erroneous and can never be done - the sinner has no possession
of his heart and would not give it to God if he could. (See Gen. 2:17; 6:5; Job 14:4; Psa. 51:5; 58:3;
Prov. 30:12; Isa. 1:2-8; 40:6-8; 64:6; Jer. 13:23; 17:9; Matt. 11:25; John 3:3; 3:19; 8:19; 14:16;
Rom. 3:10-12; 5:12; 1 Cor. 1:18; 2:14; 2 Cor. 1:9; Eph. 2:1-3; 2:12).
2.2 Unconditional Election – That God’s favor to Man is completely by God’s free choice and has
nothing to do with Man. It is completely undeserved by Man and is not based on anything God sees
in man (Eph. 1:1-11). God’s choice of certain individuals unto salvation, before the foundation of
the world, rested solely on His own Sovereign Will. His choice of particular sinners was not based
on any foreseen response or obedience on their part, such as faith, repentance, etc. On the contrary,
God gives faith and repentance to each individual whom He selected. These acts are the result, not
the cause, of God’s choice. Election therefore was not determined by or conditioned upon an
virtuous quality or act foreseen in man. Those whom God sovereignly elected He brings through the
power of the Spirit to a willing acceptance of Christ. Thus God’s choice of Christ, is the ultimate
cause of salvation. (Rom. 9:11 ; 11:5, 7 ; 11:28 ; 8:38-39; 1 Thes. 1:4; 2 Thes. 2:13; 14:2; 2 Peter
1:10; Eph. 1:3-14; 2 Tim. 1:9-10). “Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach
unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even
of thy holy temple.” (Psalms 65:4). (See also Psa. 105:6; Matt. 24:24, 31; Mark 13:20; John 6:37,
65; 13:18; 15:16; 17:9; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:29-30, 33; 9:11-13, 23; 11:5; 11:7; Eph. 1:3-6, 11; 1
2.3 Limited Atonement – That Christ did not bear the sins of every individual who ever lived, but
instead only bore the sins of those who were elected into salvation (John 10:11,15). Christ’s
redeeming work was intended to save the elect only and actually secured salvation for them. his
death was a substitutionary endurance of the penalty of sin in the place of certain specified sinners.
In addition to putting away the sins of His people, Christ’s redemption secured everything necessary
for their salvation, including faith which unites them to Him. The gift of faith is infallibly applied
by the Spirit to all for whom Christ died, thereby guaranteeing their salvation. (Matt. 1:21; John
6:37-40 , 10:14-16, 26-28 , 15:13-14; Acts 20:28; Heb. 10:14; Rom. 8:31-34; 1 Cor. 8:11; Eph. 5:25-
27; 1 John 4:10-11). “But ye believe not, because ye are not of my sheep, as I said unto you.” (John
10:26) (See also Isa. 53:8-11; 63:9; Dan. 9:24; Matt. 20:28; 26:28; John 10:11, 15; 11:51-52; Rom.
5:11; 5:15, 19; 8:33-34; 2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:13; Eph. 1:7; Col. 1:14; Titus 2:14; Heb. 1:1-3; 2:16;
9:12, 28; 10:10-14; 1 Peter 1:18-20; 2:21; 3:18; 1 John 3:16; Rev. 1:5-6; 5:9-10).
2.4 Irresistible Grace – That God’s call to someone for salvation cannot be resisted. In addition to the
outward general call to salvation which is made to everyone who hears the Gospel, the Holy Spirit
extends to the elect a special inward call that inevitably brings them to salvation. The external call
(which is made to all without distinction) can be, and often is, rejected, whereas the internal call
(which is made only to the elect) cannot be rejected; it always results in conversion. By means of
this special call the Spirit irresistibly draws sinners to Christ. He is not limited in His work of
applying salvation by man’s will, nor is He dependent upon man’s cooperation for success. The
Spirit graciously causes the elect sinner to cooperate, to believe, to repent, to come freely and
willingly to Christ (God, therefore, manipulates the volition of the called). God’s grace, therefore,
is invincible; it never fails to result in the salvation of those to whom it is extended. (Ezek. 11:19;
John 5:21; 17:2; Acts 13:48; 1 Cor. 4:7).”No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent
me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the prophets: “And they shall
be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh
unto me.” (John 6:44-45; See Isa. 54:13) (See also Psa. 65:4; 110:3; John 6:37-40, 63; Rom. 8:30;
Gal. 1:15-16; Eph. 1:18-20; 2:1-5, 8-9; Phil. 1:29; Col. 2:12).
2.5 Perseverance of the Saints – that it is not possible to lose one’s salvation (John 10:27-28). All who
were chosen by God, redeemed by Christ, and given faith by the Spirit are eternally saved. They are
kept in faith by the power of Almighty God and thus persevere to the end. (John 6:37-39; 17:11; 15;
Phil. 1:6; 1 Thes. 5:23-24; 2 Tim. 4:18; 1 Peter 1:23). In theology, the word means continuance in
the state of grace unto the state of glory; sometimes called “final perseverance.” Where the saint is
concerned, the doctrine is stated thus: Once justified and regenerated, the believer can neither totally
nor finally fall away from grace, but will certainly persevere therein and attain everlasting life.
This doctrine is clearly taught in these passages, John 10:28-29; Rom. 11:29; Phil. 1:6; 1 Peter
1:5. It, moreover, can be seen that the teaching of perseverance follows from a consideration of:
(1) the immutability of the divine decrees (Jer. 31:3; Matt. 24:22-24; Acts 13:48; Rom. 8:30). The
Father’s decree is faithful without being fatalistic - His mind is toward the redemption and
security of the fallen race. Perseverance is the “mind of God.”
(2) the provisions of the covenant of grace (Jer. 32:40; John. 10:29; 17:2-6). This Covenant is
between the Father and the Son; therefore, no failure will follow, no faults are found and no
function is forgotten.
(3) the atonement and intercession of Christ (Isa. 53:6, 11; Matt. 20:28; 1 Peter 2:24; John 11:42;
17:11, 15, 20; Rom. 8:34). The active involvement of the Son is an assurance that the saved are
kept. (“As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many
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