Theological Term of the Week
Tuesday, February 18, 2014 at 8:22PM ordinary means of grace
The elements of corporate worship which God uses to build his church, namely, the reading and preaching of the Word, prayer, baptism and the Lord’s supper; “the things God, in the Bible, says are central to the spiritual health and growth of His people”;1 also called the outward means of grace.
- From scripture:
And Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receivethe gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you and for your children and for all who are far off, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to himself.” And with many other words he bore witness and continued to exhort them, saying, “Save yourselves from this crooked generation.” So those who received his word were baptized, and there were added that day about three thousand souls.
And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. (Acts 2:38-42, ESV)
And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts,praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. (Acts 2:46-47, ESV)
- From Keach’s Catechism:
Q. 95. What are the outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption?
A. The outward and ordinary means whereby Christ communicates to us the benefits of redemption are His ordinances, especially the Word, Baptism, the Lord’s Supper and Prayer; all which are made effectual to the elect for salvation.
Q. 96. How is the Word made effectual to salvation?
A. The Spirit of God makes the reading, but especially the preaching of the Word an effectual means of convincing and converting sinners, and of building them up in holiness and comfort, through faith unto salvation.
Q. 98. How do Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means of salvation?
A. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper become effectual means of salvation, not from any virtue in them or in him that administers them, but only by the blessing of Christ and the working of His Spirit in them that by faith receive them.
Learn more:
- Ligon Duncan: The Ordinary Means of Growth
- Michael G. Brown: Ordinary Means
- Luke Stamps: Especially Preaching: The Ordinary Means of Grace and Christian Spirituality
- The Baptist Catechism: The Ordinary Means of Grace
- Kevin DeYoung: Four Ordinary Means of Grace (video)
Related terms:
1From The Ordinary Means of Growth by Ligon Duncan.
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