Loving grace/saving grace

Posted by Lewis on September 11, 2003

In Reply to: Loving grace/saving grace posted by Kartar on September 10, 2003

: Can anyone enlighten me on the difference between the two, especially meaning of the phrase "loving grace". I came accross it as "saved by the loving grace of ...". Thanks!

back to theology here - "grace" has sometimes been explained as if it were an acronym "God's Riches At Christ's Expense" meaning that grace is being able to have some benefit that somebody else pays for. It has connotations of not being deserved, but granted by somebody "gracious".
"Saving Grace" (as well as being a film about growing cannabis) has a number of established meanings. The most literal is that it is salvation of the spirit granted to mankind by God. However, it has also acquired a less literal meaning - that of being a facet of something / a positive trait that "redeems" it from being entirely worthless.
So 'saving grace' is something that redeems.

'Loving grace' is less common and could be any other positive trait - a grace - not necessarily connected with redemption. It would most often be applied to the general good will and positive intention that God has towards mankind and thereby be something worthy of acknowledgment. Perhaps "saying grace" in the sense of giving thanks for the bounty of the earth and the food before one - is acknowledging that 'loving grace'.

to say "saved (getting redemptive grace) by the loving grace (the underlying positive good will that motivates that wish to grant salvation) of God" is pointing out the cause and effect of that grace within God.