What is grace?

[Bubba_Switzler]

In a previous thread I asked “what is prayer”. One of the interesting responses was that it was a request for God’s grace. It’s an interesting answer because it is different from the two possibilities I originally suggested (request for something or contemplation of God’s will) or other answers (e.g. adoration or thanks).

But as I think about it, I realize I don’t really understand what grace is.

Here are some resources:

newadvent.org/cathen/06689a.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_grace

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actual_grace

By some of these definitions, grace could mean simply God’s supernatural help, particularly with respect to salvation. So grace would not include getting a Ferrari or winning the lottery, which we might pray for. It is a narrower range of gifts.

 

[quasimodo]

God’s gift of supernatural life and love

 

[Image_of_God]

Grace, besides its theological definition, also means elegance and beauty in form or manner, favor and goodwill, a manifestation of benevolence, and moral strength. It should be noted that all these latter definitions fit within the theological definition. Grace is beautiful, not only in itself, or in the fact that it beautifies the soul, but also because it is given always at exactly the right time in the most perfect manner. It is obviously favor and goodwill as St. Paul refers to it, as well as a manifestation of such. Actual grace provides moral strength in the time of need.

What I am trying to say is that the word “grace” was not chosen randomly to refer to God’s saving help.

 

[chrisb]

Grace is energia for the divine life.

 

[Carlan]

In a previous thread I asked “what is prayer”. One of the interesting responses was that it was a request for God’s grace. It’s an interesting answer because it is different from the two possibilities I originally suggested (request for something or contemplation of God’s will) or other answers (e.g. adoration or thanks).

But as I think about it, I realize I don’t really understand what grace is.

Here are some resources:

newadvent.org/cathen/06689a.htm

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Divine_grace

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Actual_grace

By some of these definitions, grace could mean simply God’s supernatural help, particularly with respect to salvation. So grace would not include getting a Ferrari or winning the lottery, which we might pray for. It is a narrower range of gifts.

Hello Bubba,
Grace is the reality of God’s love for man, and the results in man of this love.

Grace par excellence is salvation and justification.

Grace signifies the supernatural gifts and helps given to each of us by the Holy Spirit.

God makes man"just" and free from sin and pleasing to Him through grace,grace attested to by faith.

The just man is one who is virtuous and faithful to God and who does the will of God.

Some Protestants do not believe that salvation and justification is an ongoing gift of grace but that it is a once only gift received when they first announced their belief in Jesus, and that it cannot be lost,

What a precious gift we have in Jesus, I am reminded again of the danger of presumption! God Bless, Carlan