The Means of Grace in Christian theology are those things (the means) through which God gives grace. Just what this grace entails is interpreted in various ways: generally speaking, some see it as God blessing humankind so as to sustain and empower the Christian life; others see it as forgiveness, life, and salvation.
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Lutheran theology
Lutherans teach that the Means of Grace are the ways that God the Holy Spirit creates faith in the hearts of Christians, forgives their sins, gives them eternal salvation and causes them to grow spiritually. The efficacy of these means does not depend on the faith, strength, status, or good works of those who proclaim the Word of God or administer God's sacraments; rather, the efficacy of these means rests in God alone, who has promised to work through God's gift of these means to God's church.
For Lutherans, the Means of Grace include the Gospel (both written and proclaimed), as well as the Sacrament of Holy Baptism, and the Sacrament of the Eucharist. Some Lutherans also include Confession and Absolution as sacraments and as such a means of grace, although they are not counted as such by others because no physical element is attached to Absolution, as is the case in both Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
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Methodist theology
In Methodism, the means of grace are ways in which God works invisibly in disciples, quickening, strengthening and confirming faith. So, believers use them to open their hearts and lives to God's work in them. According to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, the means of grace can be divided into two broad categories, with individual and communal components:
- Works of Piety, such as:
- Individual Practices--
- Prayer
- Fasting
- Searching the Scriptures
- Healthy Living
- Communal Practices--
- Holy Communion
- Baptism
- Christian Conferencing (or "community")
- Individual Practices--
- Works of Mercy, such as:
- Service focused toward individual needs--
- Doing Good (Good works)
- Visiting the Sick
- Visiting the Imprisoned
- Feeding & Clothing those in need
- Earning, Saving, & Giving all one can
- Service focused toward communal/societal needs--
- the Seeking of Justice; Opposition to Slavery
- Service focused toward individual needs--
Careful attention to the means of grace are, for Methodists, important in the process of sanctification as one is moved on toward Christian Perfection through the work of the Holy Spirit.
See also
Printed Resources
- Felton, Gayle. By Water and the Spirit. 1998. ISBN 0-88177-201-1
- Felton, Gayle. This Holy Mystery. 2005. ISBN 0-88177-457-X
- Neal, Gregory. Grace Upon Grace 2000. ISBN 0-9679074-0-3
- Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics. Volume III. Theodore Engelder, trans. Concordia, 1953. ISBN 0-570-06714-6
- Underwood, Ralph. Pastoral Care and the Means of Grace. Augsburg Fortress, 1992. ISBN 0-8006-2589-7
References
External links
- Sermon #16: "The Means of Grace" by John Wesley
- Sermon #101: "The Duty of Constant Communion" by John Wesley
- Sermon #104: "On Attending the Church Service" by John Wesley
- The Sacraments as Means of Grace By Gregory S. Neal
- Holy Communion as a Means of Grace By Gregory S. Neal
- Prayer as a Means of Grace By Gregory S. Neal
- Giving as a Means of Grace By Gregory S. Neal
- Works of Piety and Works of Mercy (Methodist)
- Practicing the Means of Grace (Methodist)
- FAQ: Means of Grace? (Lutheran)
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