What Are the Means of Grace?

The means of grace are the instruments God uses to communicate the benefits of Christ's redemption to His people. While grace itself comes only from God, He has appointed certain ordinary channels through which He works. The chief means of grace is the Word of God. Romans 10:17 says, 'Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.' 1 Peter 2:2 urges, 'As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.' Through Scripture read, preached, sung, and meditated upon, God converts sinners and sanctifies saints. Prayer is the second great means of grace. James 4:8 promises, 'Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.' Hebrews 4:16 invites us to 'come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.' God does not give His best gifts to prayerless people. The ordinances — baptism and the Lord's Supper — are visible means of grace. Baptism is a sign of union with Christ in His death and resurrection (Romans 6:3-4). The Lord's Supper is a remembrance and a communion: 'The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ?' (1 Corinthians 10:16). These ordinances do not save apart from faith, but they nourish faith in those who participate believingly. The fellowship of the local church is also a means of grace. Hebrews 10:24-25 commands believers to consider one another to provoke unto love and good works, 'not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together.' Through preaching, singing, teaching, discipline, accountability, and mutual encouragement, the body builds itself up in love (Ephesians 4:16). To neglect the means of grace is to cut oneself off from the rivers through which God's blessing flows.