Prevenient Grace in American Lutheranism

In this video, I discuss the doctrine of prevenient grace as it was taught in George Henry Gerberding along with other American Lutheran theologians.

[vngelicath]

There is an interesting passage in Chemnitz which does explicitly mention "prevenient grace" and his exploration therein complicates our perspective.

Chemnitz, Loci, Volume 1, page 249

The second point is that change or renewal is not the kind of change which is completed or accomplished at one moment, immediately and in all its aspects. Rather it has its beginning, and its various steps by which in great weakness it is brought to completion. Therefore we must not think that I shall wait with a secure and idle will until—by the operation of the Holy Spirit in definite stages and with no activity on my part—the renewal or change will have taken place. For the fact is that it is impossible to show at some mathematical point where the freed will begins to function. But when *prevenient grace* that is, the first beginnings of faith and conversion are given to a man, immediately the battle between the flesh and the Spirit begins and it is manifest that this struggle does not take place without any action of our will. For the Holy Spirit who dwelt in Moses fought in a different way while he was still alive contending against his flesh, than Michael fought with the devil for the dead body of Moses, Jude 9. Likewise, in the beginning the desire is very weak, the assent is not strong, the obedience is tenuous, and these gifts must increase. And they do increase in us, not in the way that a log is moved forward with violent force, nor in the way that lilies grow which neither labor nor care; but by trying, struggling, seeking, praying, striving; and this is not of ourselves, but it is the gift of God. Cf. Luke 19:13, where the nobleman turned over to his servants the talents and said to them, “Trade with this until I come.” In Matt. 25:26 he does not say, “Hide it away in the ground.” And Paul uses a most illustrative word in 2 Tim. 1:6, where he says, “I exhort that you stir up the gift of God which is in you.”
The things which have been said about prevenient, preparatory, and operating grace have this meaning, that the initial stages in conversion are not ours, but God—through the Word and divine inspiration—goes before us, moves and impels our Will. After this movement of the will has been accomplished by divine power, then the human will is not purely passive, but, moved and aided by the Holy Spirit, it ceases to resist and assents and is co-operative (synergos) with God, etc. There is a similar statement in Augustine’s De Dogm. Eccles., ch. 32 [MPL 58.893], “God works in us so that we will and do what He wills; nor does He permit that the gifts which He has given us lie idle in us, but rather they must be used, and not neglected. Thus we are both co-operators with the grace of God, and if we see anything in ourselves and of our own power which is becoming weak because of our letting down, we will dutifully take refuge in Him who heals all our weaknesses and has commanded us to pray, ‘Lead us not into temptation.’ ”

[Michael-eetl]

Hardcore Lutheran here. Thanks for your work!
Now I have to look for "The Way of Salvation in The Lutheran Church." It sounds intriguing.

[lakedays]

“For by pervenient grace you have been saved prior to faith. And this is not your own doing; faith is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”

[barelyprotestant]

I am curious about Lutheran postures towards Molinism.

[con]

Would love to see a video with you and Mike Winger on the Lutherism and Baptist traditions. Enjoy both of your channels

[timothyreynolds]

Prevenient grace was not introduced by Arminius. It was discussed earlier in the 6th session of the Council of Trent.

[timdavis]

Hi Dr Cooper. I appreciate your podcast. Can I ask you I make your points more clearly. You do a great job of engaging the content, but it comes across at times as though you’re audience is up to speed on all your terms, names, etc.

[felixgilberto]

What is the Lutheran branch that mostly resembles Arminianism?

[sethvalencic]

This is completely random, but would you consider conversing with Jay Dyer?