Church Grace
Definition
God’s universal action through Providence to bring man to repentance and into the Church — like a light enlightening those who walk in darkness, guiding and assisting those who seek it and do not resist it, giving knowledge of divine truth and teaching good works (Epistle of the Eastern Patriarchs, ch. 3).
Episodes
Related Concepts
- Prevenient Preceding Enlightening Foreseeing Grace
Biblical References
- 1 Cor. 3:9 — *We are coworkers belonging to God. You are God’s field, God’s building. *
- Acts 7:51 — “You stubborn people, with uncircumcised hearts and ears! You are always resisting the Holy Spirit, like your ancestors did!
- Hebrews 3:7-8 — Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, “Oh, that today you would listen as he speaks! Do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness.
- John 15:5 — *“I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in me—and I in him—bears much fruit because apart from me you can accomplish nothing. *
- Rom. 10:9-10 — because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes and thus has righteousness and with the mouth one
- Eph. 2:8 — *For by grace you are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God; *