Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Sola Gratia- What is Grace

DAY 14 3/14/17 SOLI GRATIA- BUT WHAT IS GRACE?
No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day. (John 6:44). 

     All Christians (Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Protestant) believe grace is God’s undeserved favor.  It is God’s blessing us when we do not deserve the blessing. 
     The medieval and Roman Catholic view of grace is very different from the Protestant view of grace.  The Roman Catholic view of grace is that grace is infused (not as the Protestant view of imputed or imparted righteousness). For the Medieval Catholic, the prevalent view was that God gives grace that we may live more acceptably.  For Protestants, we are accepted despite our sins- from the beginning to the end.  For Protestants, grace is given when we have faith (faith alone).  For Catholics grace is infused into people through the sacraments (especially baptism and the Mass), through doing good, through Penance, and directly through God.  No one denies that God uses means (tools) to give us grace- like scripture, or fellowship/worship, or prayer. 
      The Roman Catholic view is grace is received through the church- most commonly by the mass (eucharist/communion), but also through prayers, and good works.  Roman Catholics believe Christ has given a treasury of grace to the church through His life and death. 
        The Reformers rightly believed that we come to God not on our own, but by His grace.  He deserves all the credit and glory.  We do not glorify ourselves but the Creator who enables us to respond to Him.

Prayer: Your grace is amazing and saves a wretch like me.     

   

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