Means of Grace

There is a term in some circles of Christendom. It is "the means of grace". The term first surfaced in the Reformation and refers to those things through which God provides for our salvation and sanctification. Some refer to them as "spiritual disciplines". Lists vary slightly, but basically the means of grace includes the Gospel, the Bible, baptism, Christian fellowship, the Lord's Supper, and prayer. The usual use of the term is prefaced with "neglecting", as in "neglecting the means of grace", and is a warning. If you neglect the Gospel, the Bible, baptism, fellowship, prayer, and the Lord's Supper you are endangering your salvation and your sanctification. But the idea is that God is a God of means--you know, "means to an end"--and these are the things God has ordained to be used in your everyday walk to become more sanctified--to "work out your salvation" (Phil 2:12). These are the methods by which we can constantly be bathed in the grace of God.

We have acquired some odd perspectives on these means of grace. Some have decided that they are either inadequate or no longer applicable. I mean, really, do we need the Lord's Supper anymore? Sure, sure, Jesus said, "Do this in remembrance of Me", and Paul added, "as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until He comes", but we don't need to ... what, remember Him? Or have we already forgotten what it was about Him it was supposed to remind us of? Lots of individuals neglect these means. From even knowing the Gospel let alone using it to reading the Bible, individual believers are finding it less than optimum to do these things. And for some "Christian fellowship" is all well and good ... well, maybe not. "I'm closer to God when I'm alone with Him in a forest," they'll assure you, working hard to defend their sin of forsaking fellowship (Heb 10:25). "It's a personal thing." No, it's not. And, of course, there is a move in a variety of places to replace or add to them. "Sure, read your Bible and all that, but what we really need is a good praise band to really get closer to God." "Fellowship is good (maybe), but a hip and cool youth ministry is much more important." The Warrenites (a term I just made up to avoid casting aspersions on the man while allowing you to recognize of what I speak) were quite sure that "40 days of purpose" were necessary for your sanctification. There are always new ones, like the "Theophostic Prayer Ministry" that succeeds where the means of grace fails or "Deliverance Ministries" that claim to remove demons from Christians to free them to grow. And there is the ever-popular "Well, okay, but if you aren't baptized in the Spirit with the sign of speaking in tongues, you're not really going anywhere in Christ" along with all that accompanies that perspective. Just some samplings.

The list of the means of grace is a biblical list. We hold to this list because we find these means in God's Word. But something I think is important to remember is that they are means. They are important means and they are biblical means, but they are means to an end. And it is very easy to focus on the finger that points to the moon rather than on the moon. Believers all need to make use of the means God has ordained for our salvation and sanctification. It is the method God has set in place to accomplish them. But the aim is our salvation and sanctification. Perhaps, as we pray and immerse ourselves in His Word, as we learn and use the Gospel, as we fellowship and are baptized and share the Lord's Supper--as we do all of these things--perhaps we can keep in mind the end goal and not get caught up in the means as the end. We should be, after all, "looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith" (Heb 12:2). That should provide clarity and direction as we use the means God has provided.