prevenient grace

American  

noun

1. divine grace operating on the human will prior to its turning to God.

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Etymology

Origin of prevenient grace

First recorded in 1660–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

prevenient grace

He is almost entirely dependent upon God's "prevenient grace," which gives him the desire to do God's will, and "subsequent grace," which enables him to do it.

From Time Magazine Archive

Consequently, there can be no efficacious prayer without prevenient grace, and purely natural prayer is inefficacious for salvation.

From Grace, Actual and Habitual A Dogmatic Treatise by Preuss, Arthur

After prevenient grace, however, begins to make itself felt, then the will begins to take part.

From American Lutheranism Volume 2: The United Lutheran Church (General Synod, General Council, United Synod in the South) by Bente, F. (Friedrich)

The metaphorical expression “come to me,” according to the context, means “believe in me;” whereas the Father's “drawing” plainly refers to the operation of prevenient grace.

From Grace, Actual and Habitual A Dogmatic Treatise by Preuss, Arthur

An aggressive woman with opinions about prevenient grace, or the advantages of female emigration, or the functions of the deaconess, would be far preferable to this.

From Modern Women and What is Said of Them A Reprint of A Series of Articles in the Saturday Review (1868) by Calhoun, Lucia Gilbert