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Means of Grace - What does this mean

Just Somebody

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As someone who has never been involved in Christian communities where "means of grace" has been used, I'm trying to understand what people mean by this "expression". It seems to be usually (maybe always) tied to the purpose of the sacraments, but I'm clear what it actually means.

Perhaps it's because different communities use it differently?

So, please, explain like I'm 5, what you mean when use the expression "it's a means of grace"?

And please, let's not let this become a debate - there's a enough of that around. We all know different Christians view the sacraments differently. No need to debate their meaning or anything else in this tread. Feel free to ask clarifying questions, but let's leave disagreeing for somewhere else.
 

PloverWing

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I'll start with the wording from my church's catechism:

Q.​
What are the sacraments?
A.​
The sacraments are outward and visible signs of inward
and spiritual grace, given by Christ as sure and certain
means by which we receive that grace.

Q.​
What is grace?
A.​
Grace is God's favor towards us, unearned and
undeserved; by grace God forgives our sins, enlightens
our minds, stirs our hearts, and strengthens our wills.

Source: The Book of Common Prayer, p. 857-858, which can be found online at The Online Book of Common Prayer

In my own words: God is, of course, present everywhere, and is not limited to any one place or ritual. But there are rites -- most notably, baptism and Holy Communion -- in which we receive God's love and presence and activity in a particular way. These are physical means by which God's grace especially comes to us -- hence, "means of grace".

I could say more, but I'll stop there for now. Is this making any sense?
 
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Just Somebody

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In my own words: God is, of course, present everywhere, and is not limited to any one place or ritual. But there are rites -- most notably, baptism and Holy Communion -- in which we receive God's love and presence and activity in a particular way. These are physical means by which God's grace especially comes to us -- hence, "means of grace".

Thanks for the reply, it's this paragraph where I get lost. What do you mean by:
1) "In which we receive God's love and presence and activity in a particular way." What do you mean by a "particular way" how is it different from how we receive it any other time?

2) "These are physical means by which God's grace especially comes to us." - What do you mean by "especially". Again - how is it different from any other time?
 
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RileyG

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Unmerited favor of God, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Grace is God's gift of God's self. The sacraments are used to confer that grace.
 
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Just Somebody

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Unmerited favor of God, forgiveness of sins, and eternal life. Grace is God's gift of God's self. The sacraments are used to confer that grace.
So are you saying we can only experience that grace through the sacraments?
 
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RileyG

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So are you saying we can only experience that grace through the sacraments?
No. Sacraments are just one way. Prayer is another. However, I don’t want to make grace sound mechanical. It’s a free gift from God.
 
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PloverWing

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Thanks for the reply, it's this paragraph where I get lost. What do you mean by:
1) "In which we receive God's love and presence and activity in a particular way." What do you mean by a "particular way" how is it different from how we receive it any other time?

2) "These are physical means by which God's grace especially comes to us." - What do you mean by "especially". Again - how is it different from any other time?

Maybe something like this: We are spiritual beings, but we are also physical beings, and the sacraments are physical ways that we connect with the Divine.

The closest analogy I can think of at the moment is in marriage. I know that my husband loves me. But when he hugs me, or holds my hand, that physical touch conveys love more intimately and tangibly than just the general concept of my husband loving me. Holy Communion is something like that. God loves us in general, we know that, but on the night before he died, Jesus gave us Bread and Wine and the promise of his Presence in those elements. The sacraments give us a physical manifestation of the spiritual.

Sorry, I'm trying to put words to an experience that sometimes defies words. Am I making sense yet? :)
 
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