Prevenient Grace

"Prevenient" grace is grace that "goes before." In Wesleyan thought, the Fall had such terrible effects on man that man became unable to believe and/or respond positively to the gospel. In order to solve this problem, Wesleyans believe that God gives "prevenient grace" to every person, and that this enables everyone to believe and respond positively to the gospel. Prevenient grace does not ensure salvation as does irresistible grace in the Reformed system. Rather, it simply restores to man the freedom of will to choose either for or against the gospel.