There are means or gifts that the Lord Jesus Christ has given to the church for its ongoing sanctification or growth in holiness.The scripture proves that salvation is monergistic; God is the author and agent of our salvation. However, with equal force the scriptures also teach that our growth in sanctification is synergistic. (Phil. 2:12-13)There is no room in biblical Christianity for apathy, a lack of discipline, or a “let go and let God” attitude.Our desire for the extraordinary should never lead us to neglect the ordinary means that God has given us to grow.

The Means Of Grace

Means of Grace(media gratiae): the ordinary means of grace or the ordinary way in which God has decreed that Christians will grow in conformity to ChristMeans refers an action or system by which a result is brought about; a method.The most prominent and essential of these means are the study of the scriptures, devotion to prayer, and participation in the life and ministry of the local church.

Definition

Apart the triune God Himself, the greatest and most indispensable gift that the Lord has given to the church is the Bible. There is no other source of inerrant truth regarding God’s person, decrees, works, will, and promises.“All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭3‬:‭16‬-‭17‬ ‭ESV‬‬If we hesitate to affirm the Bible’s inspiration, inerrancy, or sufficiency, we forfeit a firm foundation for the Christian life.

1. The Scriptures

The Bible is inspired, not magical—its truths don’t transfer passively. We must study it diligently to benefit from it.“Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭2‬:‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬“Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, … Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress.”‭‭1 Timothy‬ ‭4‬:‭13‬-‭15‬ ‭ESV‬‬

The Study Of Scripture

True knowledge of God requires diligent study, sound teaching, and biblical fellowship. Without this foundation, growth in His will is unlikely.The goal is to enjoy the scriptures, to grow in the knowledge of God, and to be transformed by that knowledge.Paul Washer recommends study Bibles to help your study, such as Reformation Heritage Study Bible, the Reformation Study Bible, the ESV Study Bible, the MacArthur Study Bible.As you read the Bible, memorize key theological texts and verses that speak to your current needs.

Study The Scripture As A Daily Life Discipline

The psalmist wrote, “Your word I have hidden in my heart, that I might not sin against You” (Ps. 119:11). The inverse is, “Your word I have not hidden in my heart, that I might sin against you.

Alongside personal Bible study, the faithful preaching of godly pastors in the local church is a vital means of grace. While nothing replaces personal study, neither can we replace the shepherding of pastors who know, love, and sacrificially serve their flock through the Word.It is also important to remember that even the greatest preachers are mere men who are capable of error and must be judged by the Word of God.Let's be like Ezra who prepared his heart to seek the Law of the Lord, and to do it, and to teach (Ezra 7:10).

The Exposition Of Scripture

The Bible must be central in public worship through reading, preaching, and singing. As Paul commands in 1 Timothy 4:13, we are to devote ourselves to the public reading and teaching of Scripture.We build on sand when we shorten sermons or readings to fit modern attention spans. Instead, we must patiently proclaim the Word until it transforms hearts. True biblical preaching is not about life tips but about knowing God, leading to faith, worship, and obedience.Singing in worship is also means of grace through worshiping with scripture and must align emotionally and theologically with the Bible.

The Use Of Scripture In Worship

Scripture is not only the great means of salvation and sanctification but also centers on the person and redemptive work of Jesus Christ. Christ must be at the beginning, center, and end of all our reading, study, memorization, meditation, preaching, and singing.the gospel is not only “the power or God to salvation for everyone who believes,” but it is also the greatest catalyst or incitement for our advance and perseverance in the faith (Rom. 1:16).

The Great Theme Of Scripture

Daily Bible reading and prayer are often the most neglected disciplines in the Christian life—yet this neglect lies at the root of many spiritual struggles. Though believers affirm their importance, most admit to neglecting them. Why is prayer so difficult? Because our flesh resists it; secret prayer denies self-sufficiency, offers no glory to self, and directs all praise to God.Prayer invites us to witness God do far more than we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20). As we rely less on the flesh and more on God, His power works in and through us. For this reason, prayer is a vital means of grace.

2. Prayer

To expose our self-sufficiency, we need only look to Jesus. Despite a demanding ministry, He excelled in prayer. He was a man of prayer. Day and night, Christ prayed.“For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily” (Col. 2:9), and yet He was also a real man, and as a man, He is our example. He drew His direction and strength from the Father through the Holy Spirit in prayer. How much more should we recognize the same need and devote ourselves to prayer!

Following Christ’s Example In Prayer

In our prayer life, we must avoid two extremes: praying by emotion alone neglecting scripture, or relying only on biblically written prayers. While both can have value, true prayer should be guided by scripture without rejecting the spirit-led, extemporaneous prayer.The Bible offers many model prayers, but above all is the Lord’s prayer (Luke 11), given by Jesus as a guide. It provides three key points of the backbone of Christian prayer and shows how we should pray with both structure and sincerity.

Learning Prayer From Christ

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.”
‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬
This book shows three gifts of God he provided for growth in godliness.

Too often, Christians wait for some extraordinary move of the Spirit to correct all their spiritual ills. Although such a revival is possible, it is not the way God ordinarily grows His church. In The Essential Means of Grace , Paul Washer considers the three prominent gifts God provided for growth in godliness: the Scriptures, prayer, and participation in the life and ministry of the local church. Our desire for the extraordinary should never lead us to neglect the ordinary. Rather, let us devote ourselves to these ordinary means of grace in dependence upon the Spirit for an extraordinary conformity and usefulness to Christ. Table of Contents: 1.The Means of Grace 2.The Scriptures 3.Prayer 4.Repentance and Confession 5.The Church 6.In Defense of Simplicity

The Essential Means of Grace

SeungHyun Kim