God's grace is so essential to the Christian walk that we are not wrong in saying that, without it, we lack the ability to turn to God or even to have faith in Jesus. Because human beings have fallen so far away from God's will through our sins and self-centeredness, we are incapable of even wanting to come to God. Thanks to what is known, in classical theology, as "the Fall" all human beings are without hope and are entirely incapable of seeking after God unless God is first acting upon our hearts. Apart from the grace of God, we are utterly lost.

 

Therefore, the first thing that God does is give us a measure of grace which sparks within our hearts a desire to come to Jesus. This grace is called Prevenient Grace because it comes "before" any action of our own. Indeed, in many respects it is a kind of "appetizer" Grace - it makes us hungry for God. This grace also empowers and enables us to reach out to God and his offered gift of salvation. It makes it possible for us to take that initial step of saying "yes" to God.

 

This initial gift of Grace is given to all people, everywhere, and not just to those who will accept it. We believe this based upon the following Biblical statement:

 

For there is one God; there is also one mediator between God and humankind, Christ Jesus, himself human, who gave himself a ransom for all... (1 Timothy 2:5)

 

And, likewise, the statement:

 

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all.... (Titus 2:11)

 

In other words, Christ's death on the cross was for all humanity, not just for those that will accept Christ as their Lord and Savior. Jesus died for the sins of all, so that all might have the opportunity to come to God. This does not mean that all are saved, however. All are given an opportunity to receive Jesus, but not all are saved. Saving grace comes to those who respond to the grace of God with faith.

 

Grace doesn't end with salvation. Grace continues in our lives through every step that we take with Jesus. Just as we cannot come to Jesus without God's grace enabling us, so also we cannot live as a Disciple of Jesus without the grace of God moving in and through us, transforming us more and more into the likeness of Jesus. In other words, the Christian life is begun and continued through the power and presence of the Grace of God in our lives. The Christian life is "grace filled."

 

Since grace is so essential for the Christian life, how does one receive it? By what means does grace come to us? These kinds of questions are part of the field of theology which is known as Sacramentology. Many Christians believe that there are several ordained means of grace by which we can receive the real, saving, and empowering presence of Jesus into our lives. Two of these means are the Sacraments of Baptism and Holy Communion. Through Baptism we are incorporated into the Body of Christ and given the initial grace we need to make our early steps in Faith. Through Communion (also known as the Eucharist), we receive continual infusions of the presence of Jesus which enables us to continue to walk in Christ and grow in Christian love and faith. In other words, Baptism is an outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace which both draws us to Christ and puts us into Christ. Communion is the outward and visible sign of the inward and spiritual grace which empowers us to Christian living and is often known as Sanctifying Grace.

 

The other means of grace, which we don't identify with Sacraments but which, nevertheless, have sacramental qualities, include especially: The reading of Scripture, the hearing of scripture proclaimed, prayer, and the fellowship of the community of faith. Each of these means of grace aids us in receiving the real presence of Jesus Christ, which moves us on toward a pure and holy relationship with God.

 

When you next approach to the table of the Lord to receive this means of grace - the Sacrament of Holy Communion - be mindful of this as a gift of God's love, which we are called to receive through faith.