[Kara21]

The core principle that set's christianity apart from any other faith is Grace.

So I was wondering what is your understanding of Grace and how have you seen it outworked in your life and the lives of others?

[Kez82]

No answer really, but I had to reply because I literally LOLd at your signature! I thought you were aged 83 and was thinking "wow! you're doing well to be on an intenet forum at that age!!!".

I've been reading a book titled "What's so amazing about Grace"....it certainly got my pondering

[Saecularis Angel...]

That's a very huge question, OP, and I imagine we could write whole books on it.

I guess I'd say as a starting point that grace is an attribute of God, shown in God's loving works. Primarily of course in the atonement, but in all of the works of healing, wholeness, growth, equipping and building up which the Spirit does in us. God's grace is something with which we can cooperate by, for example, availing ourselves of the sacraments (baptism and Eucharist), by prayer and reflection on Scripture, by offering ourselves for willing service, by committing ourselves to community and relationship, and the like.

I see each person as being created, gifted and called to be unique, and to play a part in the household of faith which accords with that uniqueness. So as I walk with God and discover who I have been created to be, what gifts I have been given, and have the chance to live out that calling, I find more purpose and joy than I have ever known outside that. It's been said that the glory of God is a human person fully alive, and as I watch others come alive in relationship with God I do celebrate that glory and see it as grace fulfilled.

In many ways I think it's a real shame that one legacy of the Reformation is a huge battle amongst denominations over how to understand grace, because I have benefited a great deal from different understandings. The Reformers had important insights, but so have others such as Ignatius of Loyola, whose work has been absolutely transformative for so many people.

[red door]

My father celebrated his 20th year clean a few years back and a good friend of his sang "amazing grace"...he spoke about grace working in his life and how he credits his sobriety to grace and nothing else.