Q. 54. What are the primary outward and ordinary means by which God gives his saving and sanctifying grace?

• WSC 88

Ordinary. God is free and sometimes pours out his grace in extraordinary ways; however, it is our duty to attend to his appointed means and clear commandments, not to displace them in search of the extraordinary.

Means. The means of grace are “outward signs, words, or actions, ordained of God, and appointed for this end, to be the ordinary channels whereby he might convey to men, preventing [prevenient], justifying, or sanctifying grace” (Wesley, Sermon 16, “The Means of Grace”). Among the instituted means of grace, John Wesley also recognized fasting and Christian conferencing or fellowship.

Prayer … Word … baptism. Those who wish to be saved should search the Scriptures (2 Timothy 3:15), go to where the Word of God is preached (1 Corinthians 1:21), call out to God in prayer with confession of sin (Romans 10:13), and seek to be baptized (Acts 22:16).

Exposition. Christian preaching and teaching explains and applies Scripture (2 Timothy 3:16; 4:2). Irenaeus describes how faithful pastors hold fast to the apostolic teaching: “They expound the Scriptures to us” (Against Heresies 4.26.5).

Baptism … Lord’s Supper. Baptism and the Lord’s Supper are not bare symbols; they are channels through which God works in his people by his Spirit (see Q. 43; 44; 46). Every sacrament is a means of grace; not every means of grace is a sacrament. A sacrament always has a visible sign (e.g., washing with water in baptism); some means of grace (e.g., prayer) do not have a visible sign. 

Works of mercy. Works of piety (such as praying, reading the Word, and receiving the Lord’s Supper) should never be separated from works of mercy. Love for God cannot be separated from love for our neighbor (see Q. 13). Good works are a means by which we are sanctified (Q. 53) and grow in God’s grace unto final salvation (Q. 51; 55). See John Wesley, Sermon 92, “On Zeal,” and Sermon 43, “The Scripture Way of Salvation.”