God’s grace is much more than just forgiveness of sin; it is a gift from God that is essential to living the Christian life and restoring creation. Understanding the depth and breadth of God’s grace can transform our perspective on faith and lead us to a more meaningful and fulfilling relationship with God.
To truly grasp the purpose of God’s grace, one must understand humanity’s fallen past and the profound impact of sin on all creation. John Wesley organized his theological anthropology around three main themes: humanity as God’s gracious creation, humanity as fallen, and humanity as restored.
At creation, humans were made in the image of God. They were created to commune with God and enjoy His creation. Wesley believed humans have a two-dimensional anthropology, embodied souls or spirits. This balance between physical and spiritual nature defines the complexity of human existence.
Due to humanity’s ability to go against God’s will, sin entered the world, leading to humanity’s broken relationship with God. This separation resulted in spiritual death, the loss of the moral image of God, and the corruption of the human capacity to love. As a result, humans are born spiritually dead, inheriting a sinful nature.
In response to sin, the need for Prevenient and Restoring Grace emerged. Prevenient Grace involves God’s initial move toward restoring the relationship with humanity, allowing humans to experience God, healing the human capacity to love, and inviting individuals into a closer relationship. Restoring Grace offers forgiveness and empowers individuals to grow into Christlikeness through the Holy Spirit.
Wesley’s understanding of Prevenient and Restoring Grace forms the foundation of the Wesleyan understanding of salvation, emphasizing God’s grace within the salvation process. Grace enables humanity to be restored to God, experiencing His forgiving love and strength to overcome sin’s brokenness.
God’s ultimate purpose for humanity is restoration through Jesus’ victory over sin and death. Through God’s grace, humanity can be fully restored to God, filled with His image, and free from the destructive influence of sin. The purpose of grace is to restore all of creation to a right relationship with the triune God.