Means of grace
Historic orthodoxy
The ordinary ways God has appointed to give and strengthen faith in His people, chiefly the Word, the sacraments, and prayer.
Also called: ordinary means of grace, ordinary means
What it means
God is free to work as He pleases, but He has promised to work through certain appointed means. The Westminster Shorter Catechism names them: "the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicateth to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, sacraments, and prayer." The first church devoted itself to the apostles' teaching, the fellowship, the breaking of bread, and prayer.
The Word is chief: faith comes by hearing, and the gospel is the power of God for salvation. The sacraments are signs and seals added to the Word. Prayer is how God's people ask for and receive what He has promised. None of these work by themselves; the Spirit makes them effective in those who receive them by faith.
A church committed to the ordinary means of grace puts preaching, the Lord's Supper, baptism, and prayer at the centre of its life, trusting God to grow His people through them rather than looking for new techniques.
In Scripture
The first believers devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching, fellowship, breaking of bread, and prayer.
Faith comes by hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.
The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.
Believers crave the pure milk of the word, so that they may grow up in salvation.
The Supper is a participation in the body and blood of Christ.
Where it comes up
Confessions: WSC Q88; WLC Q154; WCF 14.1
Related terms
SacramentTerm
A holy sign and seal instituted by Christ, in which visible elements represent and confirm to believers the promises of the gospel; Protestants recognize two, baptism and the Lord's Supper.
OrdinanceTerm
A rite Christ commanded His church to observe; Baptists commonly use the word for baptism and the Lord's Supper, stressing obedience to Christ's appointment.
Spiritual presenceA view held among orthodox Christians
The view that in the Lord's Supper believers truly feed on Christ, not bodily, but spiritually by faith through the work of the Holy Spirit.