 | Grace | |
(1.) Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2).
(2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9).
(3.) God's forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5).
(4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12).
(5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8).
(6.) Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18).
(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).
Grace, means of
An expression not used in Scripture, but employed
(1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.
(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.
