Text: “We love him, because he first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
Introduction
There is a grace that follows. There is a grace that strengthens. There is a grace that justifies. But before any of these shows its face—before the heart stirs, before the eyes open, before the sinner whispers a single prayer—there is a grace that goes ahead. This is prevenient grace.
The word prevenient may sound strange to modern ears, but it carries ancient truth. It comes from the Latin praevenire—to come before. It is the grace that reaches before we respond, that knocks before we notice, that calls before we cry out. It is the unseen hand behind every spiritual awakening. It is the divine initiative of salvation.
We do not find God. He finds us. We do not begin the journey. He begins it in us. And were it not for prevenient grace, no man would be saved.
This morning, we pause to consider the glory of a God who moves first, who loves first, who gives grace before we ask. This is prevenient grace.
I. The Nature of Prevenient Grace: God Moves First
The Bible opens not with man seeking God, but with God creating man. And when man falls, it is not Adam who seeks the Lord—but the Lord who seeks Adam: “Adam, where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9). This is prevenient grace.
Before we loved, He loved. Before we believed, He reached. Before we chose Him, He chose us (John 15:16).
Paul writes in Philippians 2:13, “For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.” Even the will to seek God is His gift. This is not earned. It is not triggered by good behavior. It is not prompted by religious hunger. It is initiated by divine mercy.
The lost sheep does not find the shepherd. The lost coin does not roll home. The lost son does not rise until the memory of the father stirs in his soul. In every parable, the first step is God’s.
II. Scriptural Examples of Prevenient Grace
Let us walk through Scripture and observe this grace in action.
1. Moses
Long before Moses met God in the burning bush, grace was already at work. God spared his life as a baby. God gave him education in Pharaoh’s palace. God allowed forty years of wilderness shaping. And when the bush burned, Moses was not seeking God—God sought him.
2. Saul of Tarsus
Was Paul praying to know Jesus? No. He was persecuting the Church. Yet Acts 9 tells us that as he journeyed with fury in his heart, “a light from heaven” shone round about him. Christ arrested him, called him by name, blinded him, and appointed him. Grace moved first.
3. Lydia
In Acts 16:14, we read: “The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.” Lydia listened, but grace made her able to understand and respond. She did not open her heart. God did.
In every salvation story, prevenient grace is present. It may come gently or like thunder—but it always comes before.
III. Prevenient Grace Awakens the Soul
Ephesians 2:1 declares, “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins.” Dead men do not move. Dead men do not decide. Dead men do not cry for life. It is the Spirit who first breathes, and then we stir.
Prevenient grace is the breath that stirs the ashes. It awakens the conscience. It whispers through creation. It pricks the heart during a sermon. It troubles the sleeper with holy dreams. It moves in ways unseen, bending wills, softening hearts, preparing the ground.
No one simply “gets saved” one day. The journey begins long before the prayer. Before the tear falls, prevenient grace is at work behind the scenes.
It is the parent’s prayer, the preacher’s word, the friend’s kindness, the tragedy that humbles, the mercy that surprises. These are echoes of God’s hand reaching first.
IV. Prevenient Grace Does Not Guarantee Salvation—But Makes It Possible
Now let us be clear. Prevenient grace is not the same as saving grace. It does not regenerate. It does not justify. It prepares. It enables. It makes room for the response of faith.
Revelation 3:20 gives the image: “Behold, I stand at the door and knock.” The door is not kicked open. It is knocked upon. Prevenient grace knocks. Justifying grace enters. Sanctifying grace dwells.
There are those who resist this grace. Acts 7:51 says, “Ye do always resist the Holy Ghost.” Prevenient grace can be refused, grieved, postponed. But if it is welcomed, it will lead to salvation’s doorstep.
V. Prevenient Grace Magnifies the Glory of God
Why does this matter?
Because it removes all boasting. If I came to God by my own intellect, I could boast. If I found Him by my will, I could take credit. But prevenient grace silences pride. It declares: “You were loved before you knew what love was.”
Romans 9:16 says, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.”
The glory is His alone.
Salvation is not 50% God and 50% man. It is God from first to last. Prevenient grace reminds us: before you ever said yes to God, He was already saying yes to you.
VI. How to Respond to Prevenient Grace
If you feel drawn to God today—thank Him. That very draw is grace. The unease in your heart, the curiosity to know Him, the conviction of sin—all are signs that prevenient grace is knocking.
So what must you do?
1. Acknowledge it
Say, “Lord, I see Your hand behind me. I did not come to You on my own. You have been calling me.”
2. Do not resist
Hebrews 3:15 warns: “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” The longer you resist, the colder your heart becomes. Respond while grace is fresh.
3. Receive Christ fully
Prevenient grace brings you to the door. Open it wide. Invite the Savior in. Place your faith in Christ crucified. Trust Him. Call upon Him.
Romans 10:13 says, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
Conclusion
Prevenient grace is the quiet miracle before the miracle.
It is the voice in the hallway before the door opens.
It is God turning your heart toward Him before your lips ever move.
We love Him because He first loved us.
So, let all who are saved say, “Lord, I did not find You. You found me.”
And let all who feel the pull today know—He is calling you still.
Not to condemn. Not to shame. But to redeem, to forgive, to begin again.
Bow the knee. Open the heart. And let the grace that went ahead, bring you home.
Amen.