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.

Lutheran theology

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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 Word of God (both written and proclaimed), as well as the Sacraments of Baptism, and the Lord's Supper. 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.

Methodist theology

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In Methodism, the means of grace are ways in which God works invisibly in disciples, quickening, strengthening and confirming faith. According to John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, the means of grace can be divided into two categories:

Works of Piety

Prayer

Searching the Scriptures

Holy Communion

Fasting

Christian Conferencing (or "community")

Healthy Living

Works of Mercy

Doing Good

Visiting the Sick

Visiting the Imprisoned

Feeding & Clothing those in need

Earning, Saving, & Giving all one can

the Seeking of Justice; Opposition to Slavery

Careful attention to the means of grace are, for Methodists, important in the process of sanctification and the seeking of Christian Perfection.

See also

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• Prevenient Grace

Printed Resources

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• Felton, Gayle. By Water and the Spirit. 1998. ISBN 0881772011
• Felton, Gayle. This Holy Mystery. 2005. ISBN 088177457X
• Neal, Gregory. Grace Upon Grace 2000. ISBN 0967907403
• Pieper, Francis. Christian Dogmatics. Volume III. Theodore Engelder, trans. Concordia, 1953. ISBN 0570067146
• Underwood, Ralph. Pastoral Care and the Means of Grace. Augsburg Fortress, 1992. ISBN 0800625897

External links

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• 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)

Theology | Methodism | Lutheranism | Sacraments | Christian theology