Dr. John Mark Hicks
Harding University Graduate School of Religion
I. Introduction.
A. Reuel Lemmons' 1962 Firm Foundation
Editorial.
B. Kenney Carl Moser (1893-1976).
C. Purpose of Paper.
II. Moser's Theology of Grace.
A. Early Writing in the Firm Foundation (1920-32).
B. The Way of Salvation (1932).
1. Varied Reaction to the Book.
a. Foy E. Wallace,
Jr.
b. G. C.
Brewer.
2. Exposition of the
Book.
C. "Are We Preaching the Gospel of Christ?"
(1937).
1. Moser and the Gospel
Advocate.
2. Exposition of the
Pamphlet.
D. "Christ Versus a Plan" (1952).
1. Legalism on the Right and Left.
2. Exposition of the Pamphlet.
E. The Gist of Romans (1957).
1. Setting and Purpose of the Book.
2. G. C. Brewer's Fear.
III. Historical Interpretation.
A. The Context.
1. Roy
Key's Article in 1946 Advocate.
2. Commendation by G. C. Brewer.
B. Nashville
Bible School and the Theology of Grace.
1. David Lipscomb.
2.
James A. Harding.
3. J. N.
Armstrong.
4. Robert H.
Boll.
5. R. C. Bell.
6. G. C. Brewer.
C. Opposition to Moser.
1.
Current Opposition.
2. G. H.
P. Showalter.
3. Foy E. Wallace,
Jr.
4. The West-East Shift.
IV. Theological Analysis.
A. Emphasis on the Man.
1.
Legalistic Preaching.
2. Legalistic
Justification.
3. Legalistic
Sanctification.
B. Emphasis on the Plan.
1. Calvinistic "Grace Only."
2. Calvinistic "Faith Only."
3. Antinomianism.
C. Two Theological Grammars.
1.
Similarities: Common Ground.
2.
Essential Difference.
a. "Righteousness of God."
b. The Righteousness We Do.
c. The Righteousness We Maintain.
d. Problem of Assurance.
3. The Man or the Plan?
V. Conclusion.
A.
Moser and the East-West Difference.
B. Moser and
the East-West Shift.
* A paper presented for the 18th Annual W. B. West Lectures for the Advancement of Christian Scholarship on October 5, 1993. [back]