Growing in Grace

A major part of the Wesleyan heritage (so named for Rev. John Wesley 18th century Anglican priest) of United Methodists is the theme of "gradual growth in holiness." I like to use this language: "We are becoming the people God has created us to be." The theme developed among the early Methodists because of their deep conviction that salvation was more than intellectual ascent to the work that Jesus had completed on behalf of humanity.

For the Methodists, salvation included our acceptance of Jesus' work on our behalf - the pardon of our sin (Justifying grace), and our participation with God in the on going work of restoring the likeness or image of God within us (sanctifying grace). Wesley scholar, Dr. Albert Outler said it nicely, "Wesley's characteristic emphasis was that we are pardoned in order to participate."

While salvation is something for which we are entirely dependent upon God, God's work on our behalf is for the purpose of restoring our capacity to love what God loves. So there is naturally something we do to participate with God in his saving work on our behalf. This is "Growing in Grace."

Here are some of the practices that put us in a position where we can receive the Spirit of God and grow in grace. Participating in corporate worship where we sing our faith, confess our sin, hear the word of God proclaimed, offer ourselves to God, give thanks at the Lord's Supper, share the peace and fellowship of Christ and are sent out by God's Spirit to love and serve our neighbor. Communal Support from other sisters and brothers in Christ so that we can remind one another what it that we believe, hold one another accountable to a life of love, build each other up in order to sustain joy in our journey of faith. Study of Scripture in order to recall who God is, who we are and who God calls us to be. Works of Mercy which cover a range of possible contributions to the welfare of others such as clothing and shelter, to health care and education, to basic friendship.

I hope as you read about these practices you will recall how they have been used by God to help you "Grow in Grace." Practice, practice, practice!