The Means of Grace
The Presence of God
The Presence of God
- We are saved solely by the action of God: He is the one who saved us by performing everything we could not.
- Lutheran theologians speak of "objective justification". Strictly speaking, justification took place outside of ourselves, in the actual historical events of Christ's death and resurrection. On the cross, two millenia ago, our salvation was accomplished as an objective event.
- Though Christ atoned for the sins of the entire world, it is clear that not everyone has faith.
- If faith is not a decision nor an experience nor some inner work, and if salvation is totally the work of God, it would seem that faith too must be the work of God.
How do we attain a saving, life-changing faith?
The answer, in Lutheran spirituality, has to do with the so-called means of grace. We are connected to Christ, and the Holy Spirit works both faith and good works in our lives by means of the Word and the Sacraments.
This is a broadcast from Law & Gospel (Pastor Tom Baker) on the Means of Grace from February 28, 2008
http://www.kfuoam.org/mp3/LG/Law_Gospel_Feb_28.mp3
