Grace is a vital concept in Christianity. The short definition: grace is the free gift of God. Theologians throughout the centuries have tried to define how that gift worked by distinguishing sanctifying grace, actual grace, prevenient grace, cooperative grace and several other terms as well. The problem comes in making these distinctions when we imagine that grace is some kind of stuff we can have more or less of. Contemporary theologians have cut through those distinctions by saying that grace is another way of talking about the Holy Spirit in our lives. In other words, a better definition grace is God freely giving us God-self. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name — he will teach you everything. God has chosen to enter into our lives in an immanent way as the Holy Spirit dwelling in our hearts. In all things, we have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit within us.
