Have you ever thought about how God’s grace works? Things like pride can practically stop the flow of God’s grace while the sacraments and humility can help restore and increase it. Grace is mentioned in the Gospels. We will consider God’s grace in this post, and we will review 6 Gospel verses for a better understanding of such an important topic.
#1 Cooperation with God’s Grace
God’s grace is working in your life. You must abide in Christ and Christ in you. In order to increase in God’s grace, it is helpful to know as much about it as you can. This lecture by Fr. Chad Ripperger will help you to learn how God’s grace works.
“With Christ’s help, we who live and abide in Him will never be separated from His body and His grace.” + St. Cyprian
#2 God’s Grace Flowing in the Lives of Catholic Families
Some examples of the dispensation of God’s gifts of grace would be the following:
- Marriage
- Family
- Friendships
- Education
- Formation
- Suffering
Have Faith in God.
Nothing happens in our lives, good or bad, unless it is first allowed by Christ. Everything that happens to you in your life is directed towards your salvation under God’s authority. Christ controls all aspects of spiritual warfare in your life.
Then Jesus approached and said to them, “All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18
#3 Why God’s Grace is Important
God’s grace is important because you cannot enter the Kingdom of God without it.
Many are invited but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14
God’s grace is supernatural. When we are baptized in Christ, our souls are infused with sanctifying grace from God. We can, however, lose our sanctifying grace through mortal sin. This is why the sacrament of confession is so important, because a contrite heart and absolution from the priest restores our sanctifying grace with God.
Q. 461. What is sanctifying grace? A. Sanctifying grace is that grace which makes the soul holy and pleasing to God. Source: Baltimore Catechism
#4 How to Make Use of God’s Grace in Spiritual Warfare
Step #1 Stay in a State of Grace.
The #1 principle of Catholic spiritual warfare is to stay in a state of sanctifying grace. Like the Bible says, do not sin. We do not cooperate with God’s grace when we sin.
Become sober as you ought and stop sinning… 1 Corinthians 15:34
Step #2 Frequent the Sacrament of Confession.
If we do sin, whether venial or mortal, the Church teaches we should frequent Mass and the Church Sacraments instituted by Christ to be reconciled with God.
- Baptism gives us sanctifying grace.
- The Eucharist wipes away venial sin.
- Penance restores sanctifying grace with God from mortal sin.
Step #3 Increase in God’s Grace.
Prevalent issues for the Church today such as a rise in the occult, witchcraft, freemasonry, pornography, unhealed wounds from the past, unforgiveness, pride, generational spirits, etc., the exorcists and spiritual warfare experts will generally revert back as a starting point for the afflicted soul to receive God’s sanctifying grace.
God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. James 4:6b
For one to turn their life around in Christ, God’s sanctifying grace is essential. Once you receive it (through baptism) or have it restored from confession, you can increase in sanctifying grace. Examples: Receiving the Eucharist and reading God’s Word.
Here is a comprehensive post on sanctifying grace: How to receive sanctifying grace.
#5 Restoring God’s Grace
1. Receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation.
We can help restore God’s sanctifying grace by going to confession, living a life of penance, having a dislike for sin, and recite a Renewal of our Baptismal Promises:
2. Renew Your Baptismal Promises.
I recently learned from exorcist Fr. Vincent Lampert it is good to pray the Our Father after praying aloud the Renewal of Baptismal Promises.
Help God’s grace flow in your life by renewing the promises made at your baptism.
“Do you reject Satan? And all his works? And all his empty promises? Do you believe in God, the Father Almighty, Creator of heaven and earth? Do you believe in Jesus Christ, His only Son our Lord, Who was born of the Virgin Mary, was crucified, died and was buried, rose from the dead and is now seated at the right hand of the Father? Do you believe in the Holy Spirit, the Holy Catholic Church, the Communion of Saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and life everlasting?”
3. Live a Devout Life in Christ.
We must live devoutly in Christ. God’s graces (actual graces) will shine in our hearts and flow in our lives through frequent participation in the following examples:
- Church sacraments
- Use of sacramentals
- Praying the rosary
- Prayer devotions
- Bible study
- Almsgiving
- Fasting
- Works of mercy
- Good deeds
#6 What is Actual Grace?
Actual grace is a supernatural help of God which enlightens our mind and strengthens our will to do good and avoid evil. Source: My Catholic Faith
A growing knowledge of Sacred Scripture should help to increase God’s actual grace flowing down from above and allow Christ’s holy light to shine in our lives.
“The Word of the Lord is a light for the mind and a fire for the will… It is a weapon against a heart stubbornly entrenched in vice. It is a sword against the flesh, the world, and the devil, to destroy every sin.” + St. Lawrence of Brindisi, Doctor of the Church
#7 God’s Grace in the Gospel
Grace is not Mentioned in the Gospels of St. Matthew and St. Mark
The word grace (Greek: charis) is not mentioned in either the Gospel of St. Matthew or the Gospel of St. Mark. Grace is only mentioned in St. Luke and St. John’s Gospels.
The word grace is found eight (8) times in St. Luke’s Gospel and three (3) times in St. John’s Gospel. After Christ’s Ascension, God’s grace is mentioned many times (over 100) in the New Testament books of the Bible such as St. Paul’s Epistles.
6 Verses About Grace From St. Luke and St. John’s Gospels
We will review these verses about God’s grace (charis) from the Gospels.
| # | Gospel | From | Theme | Verse |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | St. Luke | St. Gabriel | God’s favor | Luke 1:30 |
| 2 | St. Luke | St. Luke | God’s favor | Luke 2:40 |
| 3 | St. Luke | St. Luke | God’s favor | Luke 2:52 |
| 4 | St. John | St. John | Incarnation | John 1:14 |
| 5 | St. John | St. John | Incarnation | John 1:16 |
| 6 | St. John | St. John | Incarnation | John 1:17 |
Verse #1 Mary Receives Grace (Favor) From God.
Then the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Luke 1:30
The Blessed Virgin Mary is a Disciple of Jesus.
The Blessed Virgin Mary is an exemplary disciple of Christ. Her humility and love is what we should all strive for in our discipleship. Humility is essential for God’s grace.
“But he who earns favor in the sight of God has nothing to fear. Hence it follows, For you have found favor before God. But how shall any one find it, except through the means of his humility. For God gives grace to the humble…” + St. John Chrysostom
Verse #2 Jesus Receives Grace from God the Father.
The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom; and the favor of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40
The Word of God Helps Us Increase in Grace.
There appears to be a correlation with the favor of God’s grace upon a soul based on their formation in Sacred Scripture. This may help explain the holiness of the saints such as St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Ambrose, and St. Gregory the Great.
Be holy because I am holy. 1 Peter 1:16b
Young Jesus Was Formed in the Scriptures.
The Blessed Virgin Mary’s Magnificat gives testimony to the Church that she knew the scriptures, and she and St. Joseph would have formed Jesus in them.
Formation in the Lord
- Samson grew and received blessed favor from the LORD (Judg 13:24-25).
- John the Baptist grew and became strong in the spirit (Lk 1:80).
- Jesus grew strong and was filled with God’s wisdom and God’s grace (Lk 2:40).
- Jesus was filled with God’s grace like His Blessed Mother (Lk 1:30).
Obedience to God Helps God’s Graces Flow in Your Life.
- Obedience to God’s commandments
- Honoring our mother and father
- Increasing in wisdom from the Word
Jesus Increased in Wisdom and Grace.
CCC 531 During the greater part of his life Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor.
His religious life was that of a Jew obedient to the law of God, a life in the community.
From this whole period it is revealed to us that Jesus was “obedient” to his parents and that he “increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man.” Source: Catechism of the Catholic Church
Verse #3 Jesus Increased in Grace from the Father
And Jesus advanced in wisdom and age and favor before God and man. Luke 2:52
The Obedience of Jesus and the Holy Family
In this passage the child Jesus returned home (Nazareth) with His parents Mary and Joseph from the Temple in Jerusalem. Jesus was obedient to both God’s will and His parents. This is all we know about Jesus until his public life began at the age of 30.
Receiving God’s Grace in Daily Life.
Jesus’s early years gives us an example of how to receive God’s grace in daily life.
- Obedience to God’s will
- Obedience to God’s commandments
- Obedience to our parents and elders
- Continual formation in the Word
- Living a life of humility and chastity
- A devout prayer life with the Lord
The Hidden Life of Christ
By His hidden life Jesus Christ teaches us to learn holiness and wisdom before we presume to teach others. He teaches us by living in obscurity, to fight against our vanity, which makes us desire to be doing only what seems great and important, which makes us desire to be praised and noticed.
By His hidden life Our Lord teaches to subdue our pride, to live day after day without impatience or complaint, unknown to the world, and even despised, if that is the will of God for us; then we shall have peace of heart. Source: My Catholic Faith
Verse #4 St. John Experienced God’s Grace.
And the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us, and we saw His glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
God Became Man.
Christ became man to save our fallen human race. Incarnation means, “becoming flesh.” Christ lowered Himself to take on our human nature and became part of creation, but He was and is filled with grace and truth, love and fidelity for us.
Grace and truth: these words may represent two Old Testament terms describing Yahweh in covenant relationship with Israel, thus God’s “love” and “fidelity.” The Word shares Yahweh’s covenant qualities. Source: USCCB
Verse #5 Faith in Christ Leads to Eternal Life.
From His fullness we have all received, grace in place of grace, John 1:16
Christ is the Redeemer of Human Souls.
Christ is the Redeemer of fallen mankind. From His Incarnation to His saving work on the cross, Christ establishes the New Covenant in His own precious blood. From His fullness, the Creator of the entire universe lowered Himself down on earth to save us.
CCC 504 Jesus is conceived by the Holy Spirit in the Virgin Mary’s womb because he is the New Adam, who inaugurates the new creation…From “his fullness” as the head of redeemed humanity “we have all received, grace upon grace.“
Verse #6 Grace and Truth Came From Jesus.
Because while the law was given through Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. John 1:17
The Mystery of the Incarnation of God as Man
Jesus is fully God and fully man. The mystery of the Incarnation of the Word among us is a mystery beyond human comprehension. It is a mystery so profound it is recognized by the Church in praying the Angelus daily at 6am, noon, and 6 pm.
The Church Helps Us Increase in God’s Grace
The graces from God can perhaps best be received by ordering our lives to receive them. Christ has graciously given us access to increase in graces through the Church.
- Church sacraments and sacramentals
- Praying the Angelus and Rosary (Lk 1:28)
- Formation in the Word and increasing in wisdom
- Spiritual and corporal works of mercy
- Obedience to God’s commandments
- Humility in imitation of Christ and His Mother
- Love of God and love of neighbor (Mt 22:40)
