Responsible Grace : John Wesley's Practical Theology

by Maddox, Randy L.

• ISBN13: 9780687003341
• ISBN10: 0687003342
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1994-10-01
• Publisher: Kingswood Books

Summary

Of special focus in this reflective overview of Wesley's theological convictions is highlighting the practical-theological dynamics of Wesley's work and suggesting possible implications for contemporary attempts to recover theology as a practical discipline. Another distinctive focus of this work is a systematic consideration of the integration of theological emphases traditionally divergent in Eastern and Western Christianity. The author also closely examines the consistency of Wesley's thought throughout his career.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	13	(2)
Introduction	15	(11)
Human Knowledge of the God of Responsible Grace	26	(22)
The Fount of Knowledge-God's Gracious Self-Revelation	26	(10)
Excursus: Wesley's Epistemology	27	(1)
The Gracious Character of All Revelation	28	(1)
Initial Universal Revelation	29	(1)
Definitive Christian Revelation	30	(2)
Excursus: The Possibility of Extra-Christian Salvation	32	(2)
Excursus: The Possibility and Purpose of a Natural Theology	34	(2)
Sources/Criteria of Christian Doctrine	36	(12)
The ``Wesleyan Quadrilateral''	36	(1)
Scripture	36	(4)
Reason	40	(2)
``Tradition''	42	(2)
Experience	44	(2)
Wesley's ``Method''?	46	(2)
The God of Responsible Grace	48	(17)
The Problem of God-Knowledge	48	(2)
Sources of Human Knowledge of God	48	(1)
Nature of Human ``God-Language''	49	(1)
Reflexive Nature of Knowledge of God	50	(1)
The Nature of God	50	(8)
God's Natural Attributes	51	(2)
God's Moral Attributes	53	(1)
Crucial Concern: God's Sovereignty	54	(1)
Excursus: Wesley on Predestination	55	(3)
The Work of God/Father	58	(7)
God/Father as Creator and Sustainer	58	(2)
God/Father as Provider	60	(1)
God/Father as Governor or Judge	61	(1)
God/Father as Physician	62	(1)
Summary: God as Father	63	(2)
Humanity's Need and God's Initial Restoring Grace	65	(29)
General Character of Wesley's Anthropology	65	(2)
Humanity as God's Gracious Creation	67	(6)
The Image of God in Humanity	68	(1)
Wesley's Relational Anthropology	68	(1)
Wesley's Holistic Psychology	69	(1)
Wesley's Holistic Anthropology?	70	(2)
Humanity as Male and Female	72	(1)
Humanity as Fallen: Debilitated and Depraved, but Guilty?	73	(10)
The Two Dimensions of Sin	73	(1)
Original Sin or Inbeing Sin?	74	(1)
The Source of Inbeing Sin	75	(6)
The Nature of Inbeing Sin	81	(1)
The Extent of Inbeing Sin-Total Depravity	82	(1)
Pause for Perspective	82	(1)
Humanity as Nascently Restored	83	(11)
The Prevenience of Restoring Grace	83	(1)
The Character of Restoring Grace	84	(3)
Prevenient Grace as the Beginning of Restoration	87	(4)
Excursus: Wesley's ``Synergism''?	91	(1)
The Resulting Actual Human Situation	92	(2)
Christ-The Initiative of Responsible Grace	94	(25)
General Character of Wesley's Christology	94	(2)
Christ-An Atonement for Sin	96	(13)
Atonement as Liberation?	97	(1)
Excursus: Wesley on the Nature and Uses of the Law	98	(3)
Atonement as Pardon	101	(5)
Atonement as Display of God's Love	106	(3)
The Point of the Atonement	109	(1)
The Three Offices of Christ	109	(5)
Christ as Priest	110	(1)
Christ as Prophet	111	(1)
Christ as King/Physician	112	(1)
``Preaching Christ In All His Offices''	113	(1)
The Nature of Christ	114	(5)
Stress on Christ's Divinity	115	(1)
Discomfort with Accenting Christ's Humanity	115	(1)
Practical Monophysitism?	116	(1)
Wesley's Concern?	117	(2)
Holy Spirit-The Presence of Responsible Grace	119	(22)
The Holy Spirit as God's Restored Presence	119	(2)
The Holy Spirit as Inspiring Physician	121	(2)
The Dimensions of the Spirit's Inspiration	123	(13)
The Universal Restoring Presence of the Spirit	123	(1)
The Witness of the Spirit	124	(1)
Excursus: Wesley on the Assurance of Faith	124	(3)
Excursus: Wesley on the Nature of Faith	127	(1)
Excursus: Wesley on the Perceptibility of Grace	128	(1)
Summary and Evaluation	129	(2)
The Fruit of the Spirit	131	(2)
The Guidance of the Spirit	133	(1)
The Gifts of the Spirit	133	(1)
Excursus: Wesley the Charismatic?	134	(2)
Spirit, Son, and Father: Wesley on the Trinity	136	(5)
The Spirit and the Son: The Filioque?	137	(1)
Unity or Distinction of the Divine Persons	137	(2)
Doctrine of the Trinity as a Grammar of Responsible Grace	139	(2)
Grace and Response-The Nature of Human Salvation	141	(16)
The Three Dimensions of Salvation	143	(1)
The Therapeutic Focus of Salvation	144	(1)
The Holistic Scope of Salvation	145	(2)
Excursus: Wesley on Physical Health and Healing	146	(1)
The Co-Operant Character of Salvation	147	(4)
Excursus: Wesley on Justification by Faith Alone	148	(3)
The Possibility of Apostasy	151	(1)
The Gradual Process of Salvation	151	(4)
The Place of Instantaneous Transitions in Christian Life	153	(2)
The Individual Variability of Salvation	155	(2)
The Way of Salvation-Grace Upon Grace	157	(35)
Regeneration	159	(1)
Awakening	160	(1)
Repentance	161	(5)
Repentance prior to Justification/New Birth	162	(1)
Excursus: Wesley on Sin in Believers	163	(2)
Repentance within the Christian Life	165	(1)
Justification	166	(6)
Pardoned by the Merits of Christ	166	(2)
Pardoned in order to Participate (Adoption)	168	(1)
Justification and Sanctification	169	(1)
First Justification and the New Birth	170	(1)
Final Justification and Sanctification Proper	171	(1)
The Dynamic Tension	172	(1)
Faith	172	(4)
Faith and Justification	173	(1)
Faith and Repentance	173	(1)
Faith Working By Love	174	(2)
Sanctification	176	(14)
New Birth	176	(1)
``Growth in Grace''	177	(2)
Christian Perfection	179	(1)
Chronological Perspectives	180	(7)
Central Themes	187	(2)
Summary	189	(1)
Glorification	190	(2)
The Means of Grace and Response	192	(38)
The Role of the Means of Grace in Christian Life	192	(9)
The Mediation of Grace	193	(1)
Ordinary and Extraordinary Means of Grace	193	(2)
Effective Means and Requisite Response	195	(2)
Guarantees of Pardon or Means of Healing?	197	(3)
Nurturing Grace and Patterning Exercises	200	(1)
Means of Sanctifying Grace	201	(8)
The Lord's Supper	202	(3)
Corporate Worship	205	(1)
Formal Prayers	206	(1)
Scripture Lectionary	207	(1)
Church Year	207	(1)
Hymns	208	(1)
Sermon	208	(1)
Communal Support	209	(2)
Love Feasts	210	(1)
Watch-Night Services	210	(1)
Covenant Renewal	210	(1)
Accountability	211	(2)
The General Rules	211	(1)
Spiritual Directors	212	(1)
Accountability Groups	212	(1)
Private Exercises	213	(2)
Study of Scripture	214	(1)
Devotional/Catechetical Readings	214	(1)
Private Prayers	214	(1)
Works of Mercy	215	(1)
Love of God and Love of Others	215	(1)
Formative Effect of Works of Mercy	215	(1)
The Place of Self-Denial	215	(1)
Means of Justifying Grace	216	(12)
Historical Perspectives on Wesley's Pastoral Challenge	216	(2)
Wesley's Pastoral Response	218	(1)
Call to Renewed Responsiveness	218	(1)
Methodist Society as Catechumenate	219	(1)
Excursus: The Lord's Supper as a Converting Ordinance	219	(2)
Practical-Theological Implications for Baptism	221	(1)
Adult Baptism as a Means of Responsible Grace	222	(1)
The Benefits of Infant Baptism	223	(2)
Practical-Theological Implications for Confirmation	225	(1)
The Importance of Childhood Catechesis	225	(2)
The Rite of Confirmation	227	(1)
Communion of Children	227	(1)
Means of Prevenient Grace?	228	(2)
The Triumph of Responsible Grace	230	(24)
The Historical Context of Wesley's Eschatology	231	(4)
Responsible Grace's Triumph in Process	235	(19)
Wesley's Millennialism?	236	(3)
The Kingdom of Grace and the Kingdom of Glory	239	(2)
The Reign of Grace in and through the Church	241	(1)
Wesley's Eschatological Ethics	242	(1)
Personal Ethics	243	(1)
Social Ethics	243	(3)
Ecological Ethics	246	(1)
Responsible Grace's Triumphant Goal	247	(1)
Death, Immortality, Resurrection	248	(1)
Intermediate States	249	(2)
Judgment	251	(1)
The New Creation	252	(2)
Concluding Reflections	254	(3)
Notes	257	(118)
Selected Bibliography	375	(34)
Index of Selected Names	409	(6)
Index of Selected Subjects	415