God's Attributes: Grace Pt 2

Systematic Theology - Lesson 31 - God's Attributes: Grace (Part 2). The Means of Grace. "Fallen man receives all the blessings of salvation out of the eternal fountain of the grace of God, in virtue of the merits of Jesus Christ, and through the operation of the Holy Spirit. The Church may be represented as the great means of grace which Christ, working through the Holy Spirit, uses for the gathering of the elect, the edification of the saints, and the building up of His spiritual body. He qualifies her for this great task by endowing her with all kinds of spiritual gifts, and by the institution of the offices for the administration of the Word and sacraments, which are all means to lead the elect to their eternal destiny. She is not instrumental in communicating grace except by means of the Word." - Berkhof, pg. 583