means of grace?

[mont974x4]

How is grace being defined here? What is meant by the term "means of grace"?

I am asking honestly. I have been reading a lot of posts here (in my systematic theology class) and on messageboards as well as the assigned reading and I do not see the possibility of this actually happening. I am mainly thinking of the claim that baptism, or some other act, bestows grace on a person. It seems to me this line of thinking is just a tweaking of a key part of works righteousness theology. Grace is not bestowed because we do anything, that would be a denial of the very nature of grace as I understand it.

What am I missing from the thought process behind your theology on this?

 

[Tangible]

The means of grace is simply the doctrine of imputed righteousness put into action.

Man, in his natural state, is completely sinful and hostile to God (Romans 8:7) in the flesh, there is nothing good in him (Romans 7:18). Therefore, God always comes to us from outside ourselves (extra nos).

Those who hold to infused or imparted righteousness (RCC and Pentecostals, among others) believe that since man is not completely degenerate, that in our own power the unregenerate are able to reach out to God and assist him in bringing ourselves to righteousness in Christ (synergism), either through works or conscious decisions or sincere desires.

The doctrine of imputed righteousness dictates that God, acting completely alone, "puts righteousness in" us, or declares us totally righteous, for the sake of the completely sufficient, atoning sacrifice of Christ.

God acts through his holy Word, as he did when he spoke the universe into existence and when he called Lazarus forth from the dead. He creates and gives life through his Word. This same Word is active when God promises to save us or to forgive our sins (and there is no forgiveness of sins outside of salvation.) Because of the promises of God given to us in Holy Scripture, we know that God's Word is equally active in what we refer to as Word and Sacrament - the means of grace.

No one ever came to faith in Christ apart from the Word coming to him from outside himself, through physical means. What trips up a lot of Evangelicals is that they forget that speaking and reading are entirely physical processes of communication.

Speaking and hearing involves human brains, speech organs, sound waves in air, and hearing organs. All 100% physical. God attaches his spiritual Word to physical speech.

Likewise, communication by reading or sign language involves 100% physical means of communication: paper and ink, hands and faces, light, eyes and brains. All physical.

In the same way that God attaches his spiritual Word to physical means of communication, we know from God's promises in scripture that he attaches his spiritual Word to physical water in Baptism, and through his Word he unites the true body and blood of Christ with the consecrated bread and wine in the Lord's Supper.

We see clear promises in scripture that show that God initially saves us (Justification) through the proclamation of the Word (Law and Gospel), and through Baptism.

We see clear promises in scripture that show that God continues to pour out his forgiveness of sins through the proclamation of the Word (Confession and Absolution), and in Lord's Supper (Sanctification).

Matthew 28:19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Galatians 3:27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.

Acts 22:16 And now why do you wait? Rise and be baptized and wash away your sins, calling on his name.’

Romans 6: 3 Do you not know that all of us who have been baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? 4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.

Matthew 26: 26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.”

1 Corinthians 11: 27 Whoever, therefore, eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty concerning the body and blood of the Lord. 28 Let a person examine himself, then, and so eat of the bread and drink of the cup. 29 For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself.

(Among other scriptures)

Here are a few links that may be helpful for you as you investigate the means of grace.

The Means of Grace - Part II - Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
Means of Grace? | The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod

The Small Catechism - Book of Concord - Baptism
The Large Catechism - Book of Concord - Baptism

The Small Catechism - Book of Concord - Sacrament of the Altar
The Large Catechism - Book of Concord - Sacrament of the Altar

Of the Means of Grace | The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod
VI. THE MEANS OF GRACE | Wisconsin Evangelical Lutheran Synod (WELS)
The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod:

 

[MrPolo]

God can give grace any way He chooses. The operation of grace given in a sacrament isn't a human work. We obey His commands and He provides the faith not because we can "make grace appear" but because He so chooses to operate in this way. It would be like saying "Why do you pray? You think God needs your work of prayer to do something?" But He told us to pray, did He not? He told us to go forth and baptize all nations, did He not? Paul says we die and rise with Him in baptism. Peter says baptism "saves you" by cleaning your conscience of sin.

The Church's historical understanding comes from the Incarnation itself which united the material and immaterial, the human doman and the divine. The sacraments commune us to Christ and thus enable us to reach the divine in a way that could not be achieved prior to Christ's work. (See "Incarnational Principle" here)

 

[Tangible]

The Church's historical understanding comes from the Incarnation itself which united the material and immaterial, the human domain and the divine. The sacraments commune us to Christ and thus enable us to reach the divine in a way that could not be achieved prior to Christ's work. (See "Incarnational Principle" here)

An excellent point which I neglected to mention.

The doctrine of the means of grace is how Lutherans can be completely evangelical (no works-righteousness) and sacramental at the same time. We believe, teach and confess that the sacraments are absolutely and totally grace-filled works of God on our behalf, for our justification and sanctification, and for our assurance and comfort.

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

God can give grace any way He chooses. The operation of grace given in a sacrament isn't a human work. We obey His commands and He provides the faith not because we can "make grace appear" but because He so chooses to operate in this way. It would be like saying "Why do you pray? You think God needs your work of prayer to do something?" But He told us to pray, did He not? He told us to go forth and baptize all nations, did He not? Paul says we die and rise with Him in baptism. Peter says baptism "saves you" by cleaning your conscience of sin.

The Church's historical understanding comes from the Incarnation itself which united the material and immaterial, the human doman and the divine. The sacraments commune us to Christ and thus enable us to reach the divine in a way that could not be achieved prior to Christ's work. (See "Incarnational Principle" here)

 

[Leah]

Hi Mont.

Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit to overcome any and all evil tendencies (sin) and live the victory that is in Christ Jesus.

To be in Christ means that you live a new way (a new attitude, a new mindset, a new heart). You do things His way rather than your own. Suffering in Christ has alot to do with this, too. Its when you tell your flesh "no! you're not having your way!"

Without grace, we couldn't be and do everything that God has called us to be and do. In and of ourselves we're nothing and our own strength/willpower doesn't cut it. But grace does.

 

[Tangible]

Here is part of a great essay on the means of grace from Saved by God ALONE! - Don Matzat

Saved by the Gospel

In Rom. 1:16, the Apostle Paul declares that he is not ashamed of the Gospel because it is the power of God unto salvation.

In 1 Cor. 1:21, the Apostle tells us that God has chosen to save the world through the preaching of the Gospel.

Because God saved us does not mean that we are automatically receive the benefits of that great salvation. Such a position would result in Universalism, the view that everyone will go to heaven. While it is God who saved us through the death of Jesus Christ, it is also God who delivers the benefits of that great salvation to us through means or vehicles, namely, the Gospel and the Sacraments.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a very specific message. It is a word of promise. It speaks to us of the results of the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ and offers us the benefits of salvation, namely the forgiveness of sins, righteousness, the gift of the Holy Spirit, and eternal life in heaven. Therefore we can properly say as the Apostle Paul says, we have been saved by the Gospel.

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is like a UPS truck that delivers the goods to our front door. When we doubt our salvation, we cannot go back to the cross since the cross is no longer there. Jesus died 2,000 years ago. When in doubt, we have to go to the Gospel which promises and offers the benefits of our great salvation in Christ Jesus.

In addition to the preaching of the Gospel, the Bible teaches that God delivers the benefits of the great salvation in Christ through two sacred acts or mysteries: the Lord's Supper and Baptism.

On the evening before he died, our Lord Jesus instituted his Supper. He told his disciples that in the eating and drinking of bread and wine which are his body and blood the remission of sins is being offered. Therefore, we can properly say that we are saved by the Lord's Supper because in that Sacrament the benefits of the great salvation in Christ Jesus are being delivered. The Lord's Supper is a visible expression of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The Bible tells us that we are saved by Baptism. In 1 Peter 3:21, the Apostle declares that Baptism saves us.

In Titus 3:4-5, the Apostle Paul states that God saved us by the washing of regeneration.

When in doubt, we have to go to the Gospel which promises and offers the benefits of our great salvation in Christ Jesus.

Technically, the young woman I spoke of earlier could have told her Baptist friends that she was saved on the day she was baptized as an infant, but they probably would not have understood. They might have accused her of basing her salvation upon an empty ritual.

We can only speak of the saving benefits of the Lord's Supper and Baptism within the context of the Gospel that connects us to the "great salvation" gained for us on the Cross by Jesus Christ. To separate the Sacraments from the Gospel gives the impression that the benefits of the Lord's Supper and Baptism are found in the eating and drinking and in the application of water rather than in the Word and promises of the Gospel connected with the eating and drinking and the application of water.

In my last congregation, which was in St. Louis, I had the benefit of the services of two "field education" students from our seminary. Invariably, when presenting the children's message in the Sunday morning worship service, they would tell the children that if they had doubts about their forgiveness and eternal life in heaven they should "remember their Baptism."

I instructed them not to make that statement unless they were going to connect in the minds of the children the Sacrament of Baptism to the "great salvation" gained for them at the Cross of Jesus Christ where God forgave their sins and imputed to them the righteousness of Jesus Christ.

The preaching of the Gospel, the Lord's Supper and Baptism are means of grace. They are the vehicles by which God delivers the benefits of the great salvation gained for mankind at the Cross of Jesus Christ. Therefore, we can properly say that, we are saved by the means of grace.

 

[mont974x4]

Thanks everyone but I think I did not form my question well. I'll have to see if I can rephrase it.

 

[E.C.]

Thanks everyone but I think I did not form my question well. I'll have to see if I can rephrase it.

Could we see the wordage in an example?

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

*OrthodoxyUSA checks in*

Forgive me...

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

How is it that mankind has decided that God has limits to the means of dispersing HIS grace?

Was there something in scripture that led us to beleive that?

Forgive me...

 

[Tangible]

Re-reading the OP, it looks like I skipped your first question and went straight to the second.

As far as "How is grace being defined here?" Grace is being used (at least by me) in the sense of the gracious act of God to save us by faith alone in Christ alone, apart from anything we could ever deserve, decide or do.

"Means" is being used in the sense of a method, a course of action, or an instrument by which an act can be accomplished or an end achieved.

Therefore, the "means of grace" would be the delivery system or instrument God uses to show his grace and mercy for us by saving us solely for the sake of Christ and his work for us on the cross - aka Word and Sacrament.

 

[Tangible]

How is it that mankind has decided that God has limits to the means of dispersing HIS grace?

Was there something in scripture that led us to believe that?

No one is limiting God here. The doctrine of the means of grace is simply observed fact in scripture. We know from scripture that God has promised to act in these way, therefore, we take God at his word and believe his promises by faith.

God is certainly sovereign and omnipotent and can act by any means, or directly as he wishes.

However, since we are limited, fallible humans, prone to error and misunderstanding, it is best for us to walk where we have been given the sure and certain promise of God so that we do not end up looking for God where he may not be present - through moralism, speculation or mysticism for example.

 

[OrthodoxyUSA]

No one is limiting God here. The doctrine of the means of grace is simply observed fact in scripture. We know from scripture that God has promised to act in these way, therefore, we take God at his word and believe his promises by faith.

God is certainly sovereign and omnipotent and can act by any means, or directly as he wishes.

However, since we are limited, fallible humans, prone to error and misunderstanding, it is best for us to walk where we have been given the sure and certain promise of God so that we do not end up looking for God where he may not be present - through moralism, speculation or mysticism for example.

Yeah... I was refering to the OP questioning what happens in baptism.

Forgive me...

 

[mont974x4]

Could we see the wordage in an example?

what are you talking about? I thought I had it in the OP.


As I said, I need to try and find a way reword my question.

I understand the doctrines presented and the definitions of means and grace. I am not looking for more apologetics based on everyones denominational understanding. I want the nuts and bolts in plain language and I want the thoughts of the people here. I care very little for what some old dead dude thought.

For example, if baptism is supposed to be a means of grace, what are the mechanics involved?

 

[mont974x4]

Yeah... I was refering to the OP questioning what happens in baptism.

Forgive me...

Scripture itself uses belief as the pivotal issue, not the act of baptism and not water. We are all well aware of the fact that I reject the false doctrine that baptism saves. What I want to know is how it is you think that it does, if that is what you think.

 

[mont974x4]

I would like this thread closed. It is taking a turn I did not intend and would prefer to keep the peace.

I apologize for any ill feelings this thread has caused.

 

[mark46]

1) Are you referring to old dead dudes like Peter, Matthew, Paul, John, Luke and the writer of Hebrews? Or are you referring to old dead dudes like Augustine, Basil, Francis, and Luther? Somehow, I think it that is more important to pay attention to old dead dudes that our own scriptural interpretation or worse our own understanding of the mechasim of God's actions.

2) God's Riches At Christ's Expense

We are saved by Grace alone. This is a fundamental critical paradigm shared by all orthodox churches. We have different explanations of Grace and often misunderstand the attempt at human explanation by our various churches (those other than ours whichever that is). Grace is God's mystery. But you say you have no issue understanding this great mystery. You have no interest in our denominational understandings of how we see God's Grace being manifested (most directly through the sacraments and ordinances).

3) Mechanism of Grace

You seem to want to make the process mechanical and understand how the grace machine works. Rather than wanting to know the effect of baptism, you want to know how it works. I find this a fruitless exercise. The mechanism is a mystery, and should be. All the workings of God, especially the mechanism of the workings of the sacrametns and ordinances are mystery.

Let me use an example. We have had hundreds of years of fighting over what exactly happens at the Lord's Table (eucharist). Anglicans and Methodists simply call the mechanism a mystery (we've murdered enough folks). Thousands have died because they stated definite views on their understading of the mechanism of the eucharist. For me, the important lesson is that we should gather together in assembly and receive eucharist often. It is also critical that we understand that we "really" receive our Lord Jesus Christ. I would say "body, blood, soul and divinity", but I understand that others use other words. The words are NOT important.





I care very little for what some old dead dude thought.

For example, if baptism is supposed to be a means of grace, what are the mechanics involved?[/quote]

 

[LiturgyInDMinor]

what are you talking about? I thought I had it in the OP.


As I said, I need to try and find a way reword my question.

I understand the doctrines presented and the definitions of means and grace. I am not looking for more apologetics based on everyones denominational understanding. I want the nuts and bolts in plain language and I want the thoughts of the people here. I care very little for what some old dead dude thought.

For example, if baptism is supposed to be a means of grace, what are the mechanics involved?

Sacred Mystery, no mechanics.

 

[Polycarp1]

Scripture itself uses belief as the pivotal issue, not the act of baptism and not water. We are all well aware of the fact that I reject the false doctrine that baptism saves. What I want to know is how it is you think that it does, if that is what you think.

I do not think anyone who has actually done any theology thinks that. (I'm leaving the door open to those who have not thought it through, in exactly the same way as someone who avers that "every word of Scripture is God's word" is not taking into account Paul's distingushing between "a word from the Lord" and "my own opinion, not from the Lord" in discussing marriage in I Corinthians.

Rather, grace is an unearned gift, given by God at the time and by the means He sees fit. Water does not save, the baptismal formula does not save. God's promise that those who repent and are baptized will be saved is what is efficacious, so far as we can nail down in human terms what is God's ineffable will. As we bring n faith the person to be baptized, and His minister baptizes, God, faithful to His promises, imparts grace. Sacraments are not magic, whereby through human act we control God. They are ways in which humans humbly avail themselves of His gifts of grace, in reliance on His commandments and promises.