PMW 2026-016 by Kenneth L. Gentry, Jr.
THE EXPANSION OF REDEMPTIVE GRACE
God’s grace begins in the Garden where the fall occurs, but flows out from there into the broader world. By Noah’s time, however, it seems that the seed of the serpent will win the struggle, for “the wickedness of man was great on the earth . . . and every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually” (Gen 6:5). But God’s grace is stronger than Satan’s graft, for “Noah found favor [grace] in the eyes of the LORD” (Gen 6:8).
God graciously establishes his covenant with Noah to rebuild the human race. “Behold, I, even I am bringing the flood of water upon the earth, to destroy all flesh in which is the breath of life, from under heaven; everything that is on the earth shall perish. But I will establish My covenant with you; and you shall enter the ark — you and your sons and your wife, and your sons’ wives with you” (Gen 6:17–18; cp. 1 Pet 3:20; 2 Pet 2:5).
Following the seed of the woman through her son Seth (Gen 4:25; 5:6) on through Noah (Gen 5:29; 10:1) and on further through Shem (Gen 11:10), we finally come to Abram (Gen 11:27). Here we discover God’s gracious covenant with Abram/Abraham. The Abrahamic Covenant is a major redemptive divine covenant. In fact, it is foundational to redemption and the messianic hope, as we see from the New Testament repeatedly mentioning it (e.g., Luke 1:55, 73; Acts 3:25; Rom 4:12–16; Gal 3:6–18).
Predestination Made Easy (by Ken Gentry)
A thoroughly biblical, extremely practical, and impressively clear presentation of the doctrine of absolute predestination.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
The core of the Abrahamic Covenant appears in Genesis 12:2–3 (cp. Gen 15:5–7), which records God’s pre-covenantal promise:
“I will make you a great nation, / And I will bless you, / And make your name great; / And so you shall be a blessing; / And I will bless those who bless you, / And the one who curses you I will curse. / And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”
This glorious covenant has enormous implications for the victory of the seed of the woman. It powerfully declares that “all the families of the earth shall be blessed” through Abraham. In fact, through it we as Gentile Christians become heirs of Abraham: “If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise” (Gal 3:29; cp. Rom 4:12–13, 16; Gal 3:7–9, 14).
Thus, the goal of God’s redemptive promise in Genesis 3:15 ultimately will include “all the families of the earth.” So then, the ultimate purpose of this covenant is nothing less than worldwide salvation. This is why Paul can say that the gospel “is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek” (Rom 1:16).
Paul explains that “the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, ‘All the nations shall be blessed in you’” (Gal 3:8). Elsewhere he emphasizes the global glory of the Abrahamic Covenant, when he declares that “the promise” to Abraham is that “he would be heir of the world” (Rom 4:13).
The seed of the woman will powerfully crush the seed of the serpent. And that will be by God’s redemptive grace in Christ. When you challenge sinners with the gospel, you must remember the power of God’s grace to save.
Reformed Eschatology in the Writings of Geerhardus Vos
Ed. by Ken Gentry and Bill Boney
This is a collection of several key eschatological studies by the renowned Reformed theologian Geehardus Vos. We have modernized Vos’ grammar and syntax and updated his layout style according to modern publishing conventions (shorter sentences and paragraphs). We did this without changing any of Vos’ arguments.
For more information on this new Vos work or to order it, see:
https://www.kennethgentry.com/reformed-eschatology-in-the-writings-of-geerhardus-vos/
THE SOVEREIGNTY OF REDEMPTIVE GRACE
Before we conclude this chapter, we must recognize a powerful biblical truth regarding God’s redemptive grace: its eternal and sovereign nature.
The reason we can read of the sure prophecy of the victory of the woman’s seed in Genesis 3:15 is because it is assured by God’s eternal, sovereign, elective purpose. This is also the reason why we can confidently present the gospel to rebellious sinners: God saves sinners; we do not. Though the particular individual we seek to evangelize may never be converted, Christians may confidently believe that God will save all those whom he wills to save. We deliver the message; God secures the results.
Paul powerfully teaches the doctrine of God’s sovereignty in salvation: God “chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will. . . . Also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will” (Eph 1:4–5, 11).
Ephesians 1 contains the key passage for presenting God’s absolute sovereignty in salvation. These verses declare both that God “chose us” and that “he predestined us.” It also locates when he chose and predestined us: “before the foundation of the world.” It declares God’s sovereignty to be an aspect of his “love” and an expression of his “kind intention” (i.e., grace), which are rooted in “his will.” Later in Ephesians Paul speaks of “the eternal purpose which He carried out in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Eph 3:11–12).
The Truth about Salvation By Ken Gentry
A study guide for personal or small group Bible study. Deals with the Christian doctrine of salvation from a Reformed theological perspective. It opens with a study of God as loving Creator, the shows how the first man fell into sin. Shows God’s righteousness requires that sin be dealt with. Presents Jesus as both God and man so that he can be man’s Savior. Includes review questions and questions for further study.Twelve chapters are ideal for one quarter of Sunday School.
See more study materials at: www.KennethGentry.com
Paul provides us more insights into God’s sovereign, eternal grace in one of his pastoral epistles. In 2 Timothy 1:9 he states that God “has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.” This passage is almost as powerful as that in Ephesians 1. Here Paul is clearly speaking of salvation when he says “he has saved us.” He sees salvation as resulting from the “holy calling” of God. And he makes sure that we do not believe that any aspect of salvation results from our own effort, for he states that it is “not according to our works.” Salvation is 100% determined “according to his own purpose and grace,” and that “from all eternity.”
We can see the historical repercussions of God’s eternal election in various places in the New Testament (e.g., Matt 13:13–17; John 3:8; 6:37; Acts 18:10; 2 Thess 2:13–14; Rev 13:8). I will focus on just one. Luke reports that “when the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed” (Acts 13:48). Here Luke is reporting on Paul’s gospel preaching (Acts 13:46–47). He notes that the Gentiles are joyfully receiving the good news of salvation, even though the Jews are rejecting it. He points out that “many” Gentiles “believed.”
Paul even goes further and theologically explains why these Gentiles believe. They believe because they “had been appointed to eternal life.” Indeed, he notes that only “as many as had been appointed to eternal life” actually respond in faith. Why did these respond, and not others? Because that is how many God had “appointed to eternal life.” As Jesus teaches earlier: even though “no one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him” (John 6:44), nevertheless “all that the Father gives Me will come to Me” (John 6:37).
Why I Left Full-Preterism (by Samuel M. Frost)
Former leader in Full Preterist movement, Samuel M. Frost, gives his testimony and theological reasoning as to why he left the heretical movement. Good warning to others tempted to leave orthodox Christianity.
See more study materials at: KennethGentry.com
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