Question: Dear Dr. Roane: What is the difference between actual grace and sanctifying grace?
Answer: Dear friend, that’s a good question. Here’s the short answer: The primary difference is one of purpose. God's sovereign grace is that all embracing grace that sustains all creation (Heb. 1:3). This we can say because everything that is, is a result of God’s grace. The word ‘grace’ comes from ‘charis’ a Greek work which means ‘gift.’ So, in a real sense the entire universe is a God given gift.
Actual grace is that grace which nudges or pushes us towards God usually through reason (Rom 2:14) and experience (1 John 5:10); however, the grace that sanctifies to justify us before God is only activated when we by faith accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (Gal 3:26) at which time “Our spirit bears witness with His Spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:16)”.
The Bible teaches that in the spiritual realm it is God’s grace from the beginning to the end that justifies, sanctifies, and ultimately saves us. As Paul explains in Philippians 2:13:
This we call sanctifying grace—or, to use other terminology, the grace that shapes us into Christ image (Rom 8:28-29) and makes us ready for Heaven.
Answer: Dear friend, that’s a good question. Here’s the short answer: The primary difference is one of purpose. God's sovereign grace is that all embracing grace that sustains all creation (Heb. 1:3). This we can say because everything that is, is a result of God’s grace. The word ‘grace’ comes from ‘charis’ a Greek work which means ‘gift.’ So, in a real sense the entire universe is a God given gift.
Actual grace is that grace which nudges or pushes us towards God usually through reason (Rom 2:14) and experience (1 John 5:10); however, the grace that sanctifies to justify us before God is only activated when we by faith accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior (Gal 3:26) at which time “Our spirit bears witness with His Spirit that we are children of God (Rom 8:16)”.
The Bible teaches that in the spiritual realm it is God’s grace from the beginning to the end that justifies, sanctifies, and ultimately saves us. As Paul explains in Philippians 2:13:
“For it is God who is producing in you both the desire and the ability to do what pleases him.”
Trust this helps,
JimR_/
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