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'{{redirect|God's grace|the Bernard Malamud novel|God's Grace}} '''Divine grace''' is a [[theology|theological]] term present in many [[religion]]s. It has been defined as the [[divine]] influence which operates in humans to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses, and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation;<ref>''OED'', 2nd ed.: grace(n), 11b</ref> and as an individual virtue or excellence of divine origin.<ref>''OED'', 2nd ed.: grace(n), 11e</ref> ==Christianity == {{Main|Grace in Christianity|Irresistible grace|Prevenient grace|Sola gratia}} Grace in Christianity is the free and unmerited [[wikt:favor|favour]] of [[God in Christianity|God]] as manifested in the [[Salvation (Christianity)|salvation]] of sinners and the bestowing of blessings.<ref>''OED'', 2nd ed.: grace(n), 11a</ref> Common Christian teaching is that grace is unmerited mercy (favor) that God gave to humanity by sending his son to die on a cross, thus delivering eternal salvation. [[Bill Gothard]], an American conservative Christian, has suggested "God's grace gives us the desire and the power to do his will."<ref>{{cite web|last=Gothard|first=Bill|title=Grace and Faith|url=http://billgothard.com/teaching/grace/}}</ref> Within Christianity, there are differing concepts of how grace is attained. In particular, Catholics and Reformed Protestants understand the attainment of grace in substantially different ways. It has been described as "the watershed that divides [[Catholicism]] from [[Protestantism]], [[Calvinism]] from [[Arminianism]], modern liberalism from conservatism".<ref>Charles C. Ryrie, ''The Grace of God'' (Chicago: Moody Press, 1963), pp. 10-11.</ref> Catholic doctrine teaches that God has imparted Divine Grace upon humanity, and uses the vehicle of [[sacrament]]s, carried out in faith,<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] No. 1127|location=Vatican City-State|quote=Celebrated worthily in faith, the sacraments confer the grace that they signify.}}</ref> as a primary and effective means to facilitate the reception of his grace.<ref>http://www.saintaquinas.com/Justification_by_Grace. html</ref> For Catholics, [[sacrament]]s (carried out in faith) are the incarnational or tangible vehicle through which God's grace becomes personally and existentially received.<ref>[[Edward Schillebeeckx]], ''Christ, the Sacrament of Encounter with God'' (Rowman & Littlefield, 1963), Foreword pp. 16</ref> Reformed Protestants, generally, do not share this sacramental view on the transmittal of grace,<ref>http://www.experiencefestival.com/a/Heaven_-_Heaven_in_Protestant_Christianity/id/1292134</ref> but instead favor a less institutionalized mechanism. For example, in the Catholic Church, the primary initiation into a state of grace is granted by God through baptism (in faith)<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] No. 1992|location=Vatican City-State|quote=Justification is conferred in Baptism, the sacrament of faith.}}</ref> instead of by a simple prayer of faith ([[sinner's prayer]]); although, Catholics would not deny the possible efficacy of even a simple prayer for God's grace to flow (Baptism by desire<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] No. 1260|location=Vatican City-State}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] No. 1281|location=Vatican City-State|quote=... those who ... seek God sincerely and strive to fulfill his will, are saved even if they have not been baptized.}}</ref>). In another example, for Catholics, the [[Sacrament of Reconciliation (Catholic Church)|sacrament of reconciliation]] (in faith) is the primary means of transmitting grace after a [[mortal sin]] has been committed.<ref>{{cite book|title=[[Catechism of the Catholic Church]] No. 1446|location=The Vatican|quote=Christ instituted the sacrament of Penance for all sinful members of his Church: above all for those who, since Baptism, have fallen into grave sin, and have thus lost their baptismal grace and wounded ecclesial communion. It is to them that the sacrament of Penance offers a new possibility to convert and to recover the grace of justification. The Fathers of the Church present this sacrament as "the second plank [of salvation] after the shipwreck which is the loss of grace."}}</ref> Many graces are historically associated to the prayer of the holy [[Rosary]]; also, the tradition held by Dominicans reports of the [[fifteen rosary promises]] made by the Blessed Virgin Mary to Saint Dominic and Alan de Rupe in favour of Christians who faithfully pray the Rosary. ===Scriptural usage=== In the [[New Testament]], the word translated as grace is the Greek word ''charis'' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|eɪ|r|ɪ|s}}; {{lang-grc|[[Wiktionary:χάρις|χάρις]]}}), for which Strong's Concordance gives this definition: "Graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude)".<ref>[http://strongsnumbers.com/greek/5485.htm Strongnumbers.com Grk 5485]</ref><ref>Strong (2001) Grk entry number 5485 (p. 1653)</ref> A Greek word that is related to ''charis'' is ''charisma'' (gracious gift). Both these words originated from another Greek word ''chairo'' (to rejoice, be glad, delighted).<ref>Strong (2001) Grk entry numbers 5486 and 5463</ref> In the [[Old Testament]], the [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]] term used is ''chen''<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.blueletterbible.org/lang/lexicon/lexicon.cfm?Strongs=H02580&Version=kjv|title=Blue Letter Bible entry for Strongs Hebrew term 2580|publisher=[[Blue Letter Bible]] institute|accessdate=2011-01-01}}</ref><ref>[http://www.biblestudytools.com/lexicons/hebrew/nas/chen.html Biblestudytools.com "Chen"]</ref> ({{Hebrew|חֵן}}), which is defined in Strong's as "favor, grace or charm; grace is the moral quality of kindness, displaying a favorable disposition".<ref>Strong (2001) Hebrew entry number 2580 (p. 1501)</ref> In the King James translation, ''chen'' is translated as "grace" 38 times, "favour" 26 times, twice as "gracious",<ref>Proverbs 11:16 and Ecclesiastes 9:11</ref> once as "pleasant",<ref>Proverbs 5:19</ref> and once as "precious".<ref>Proverbs 17:8</ref> == Hinduism == {{main|Kripa (philosophy)}} [[Hindu]] devotional or [[bhakti]] literature available throughout India and Nepal is replete with references to grace ([[Kripa (philosophy)|kripa]]) as the ultimate key required for spiritual self-realization.<ref>[http://www.hindu.com/2005/06/30/stories/2005063000400900.htm Descent of divine grace] ''[[The Hindu]]'', June 30, 2005.</ref>{{Additional citation needed|date=September 2011}} Some, such as the ancient sage [[Vasistha]], in his classical work [[Yoga Vasistha]], considered it to be the only way to transcend the bondage of lifetimes of [[karma]].<ref>[http://www.venkatesaya.com/241_vasistha01_months_tags/index.vasistha01_months_tags.php?m=12&d=27]</ref> One [[Hindu philosophy|Hindu philosopher]], [[Madhvacharya]], held that grace was not a gift from God, but rather must be earned.<ref>''Great Thinkers of the Eastern World'', Ian McGreal.</ref> ==Islam== [[Umar Sulayman al-Ashqar|Dr. Umar Al-Ashqar]], dean of the Faculty of Islamic Law at [[Zarqa Private University]] in [[Zarqa]], [[Jordan]], wrote that "Paradise is something of immense value; a person cannot earn it by virtue of his deeds alone, but by the Grace and Mercy of Allah." <ref>{{citation|url=http://www.call-to-monotheism.com/answering_common_questions_on_salvation_that_christians_pose_to_muslims|title=Answering Common Questions on Salvation That Christians Pose to Muslims|author=Bassam Zawadi|author2=Mansur Ahmed|accessdate=2011-01-01}}</ref> This stance is supported by [[hadith]]: according to Abu Huraira, prophet Muhammad once said that "None amongst you can get into Paradise by virtue of his deeds alone ... not even I, but that Allah should wrap me in his grace and mercy."<ref>{{citation|title=Sahih Muslim, Book 39|chapter=Chapter 15: None Would Attain Salvation Because of his Deeds but it is Through Lord's Mercy, Number 6764|publisher=University of Southern California center for Jewish-Muslim engagement | url=http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/039.smt.html|accessdate=2011-01-01}}</ref> ==See also== * [[Hana (given name)|Hana]] ==References== {{Reflist|30em}} ==Sources== * {{citation|title=The Strongest Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible|last=Strong|first=James| publisher=Zondervan|year=2001|isbn=978-0-310-23343-5}} * {{citation|title=Stongnumbers.com|publisher=Online Parallel Bible Project (Biblos.com)|url=http://strongsnumbers.com/}} * {{citation|title=Biblestudytools.com|publisher=[[Salem Web Network]]|url=http://www.biblestudytools.com}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Divine Grace}} [[Category:Christian terminology]] [[Category:Luck]] [[Category:Salvation]] [[Category:Metaphysics of religion]] [[cs:Milost]] [[de:Gnade]] [[es:Gracia divina]] [[eo:Graco]] [[fr:Grâce (religion)]] [[gl:Graza]] [[hak:Ên-tién]] [[ko:은총]] [[bpy:গ্রাকা]] [[ia:Gratia divin]] [[it:Grazia (teologia)]] [[la:Gratia]] [[nl:Goddelijke genade]] [[ja:神の恵み]] [[no:Nåde]] [[pl:Łaska]] [[pt:Graça]] [[ro:Har]] [[ru:Благодать]] [[simple:Divine grace]] [[sk:Milosť (náboženstvo)]] [[sl:Božja milost]] [[sr:Божја милост]] [[sh:Božja milost]] [[fi:Armo]] [[sv:Nåd (kristen princip)]] [[tl:Grasya]] [[uk:Благодать]] [[vi:Ân điển]] [[zh:恩典]]'