Dear sister,
“Means of grace.” If you are like me you think, well, grace is unmerited favor, we deserve God’s wrath but get salvation. The means of that salvation is through Christ’s death on the cross. Done. Simple. Let’s go have coffee. But upon further inquiry, I have learned that the “means of grace” is not the way to salvation but rather the continuing grace we receive as we live in the already/not yet tension of our Christian life, the tension of still fighting our sin while God sees us as sanctified saints.
Put on your thinking caps sisters! Once you put your faith in Christ alone for your salvation, nothing or no one can snatch you out of God’s hand (John 10:27-30). Furthermore, Paul writes to the Ephesians in his first chapter about who they are in Christ. It is a rich and enriching chapter to read as it claims us as adopted in Christ with all the spiritual rights of a first born son, that we are saints, that we are brought near to God, and so many others! Yet Paul also writes of himself as the chief of all sinners (1 Tim 1:15) and one who does what he doesn’t want to do and doesn’t do what he should do (Rom 7:15-20). What? You see, we are sealed Saints, yes! But it won’t be fully realized until heaven. In the meantime, our hearts battle our dying sin nature. We get discouraged, hopeless, and even bitter over our sin. This is where the “means of grace” comes in.
God in His wisdom and kindness has given us ways to be encouraged in the faith to fight sin. He has given us provisions to reassure us on our sanctification voyage. This “means of grace” or provision can be scripture, fellowship with other believers, baptism, the Lord’s Supper, the local church, and sermons, just to name a few. These are what the Lord uses to teach us about Himself and about how to grow spiritually. They seem so simple and common yet if we neglect these provisions we find ourselves tired, having a lack of hope, and empty of encouragement.
I remember taking a job that made me miss Sunday morning church. I thought to myself, “No big deal, I have other times to meet with people or read my Bible.” Can I admit something? I was dry and lonely. I wasn’t face to face with people who could encourage me to fight my sin another day, or who could look at my face and just pray for me, or who could call me out on my sin. I needed that! I also have attended churches who rarely give the Lord’s Supper. I didn’t realize how much I needed it until I started going to a church where they give it every week. I’m faced to keep short account of my sin as well as tasting the elements that remind me of what my sin cost Christ. His forgiveness refreshes my soul now every week!
Oh sisters, don’t neglect these means of grace. They are a gift of the Lord to help us on this sanctification journey. This blog is a means of grace! We encourage each other by reminding us each month of impactful truths. Yes, God saves us in His grace, but He also provides encouragement to us as we travel this world filled with brokenness that tries to bring us down. Now let’s go have coffee and discuss what we have learned.
Your Sister,
Colleen