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Grace
Grace is “favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him; favorable influence of God; divine influence or the influence of the spirit, in renewing the heart and restraining from sin; the application of Christ’s righteousness to the sinner; a state of reconciliation to God; virtuous or religious affection or disposition, as a liberal disposition, faith, meekness, humility, patience, etc. proceeding from divine influence; favor; mercy; pardon.” Grace is “a disposition to be generous or helpful, courteous goodwill, or clemency; the condition or fact of being favored; the share of favor allotted to one by Providence or fortune; one’s appointed fate, destiny or lot.” Grace is also “an individual virtue or excellence, divine in origin; mercy, clemency, hence pardon or forgiveness.”–Webster’s American Dictionary
In the broadest and most general terms, as it applies to the Christian doctrine of grace, grace is “the free and unmerited favor of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowing of blessings; the divine influence which operates in men to regenerate and sanctify, to inspire virtuous impulses and to impart strength to endure trial and resist temptation, the same regarded as a permanent force, having its seat in the soul; the condition of one who is under such divine influence, a state of grace.”–Webster’s American Dictionary
Graciousness is the “possession of graces or good qualities; a pleasing manner; mercifulness.”–Webster’s American Dictionary
“Let the graciousness and the loveliness, the tenderness and the mercy, the compassion and the love of the Lord Jesus Christ now abide within you and move through all your affairs.”–Edna Lister
On the Via Christa, we recognize grace as being the milk of God’s mercy overflowing to nourish the soul. Yet the embodied soul may obtain grace only by complete surrender of the self, repentance for any and all transgressions of law, and perfect devotion to God, which turns the divine judgment into mercy. Grace is an attribute of God, and as a principle, is both absolute (residing within the Godhead) and abstract (materially intangible but nevertheless real). Because God grants you grace, it is incumbent upon you to be gracious under the law of being, and to act graciously toward others under the law of doing. Grace is also a soul power or virtue.
Edna Lister on Grace and Graciousness
Graciousness is grace from above.–Edna Lister, November 7, 1935
Be as gracious in your dealings with others as you wish graciousness from God.–Edna Lister, July 25, 1938
Remain in a state of full grace to see and hear clearly with your soul.–Edna Lister, October 31, 1938
Adoration of God bestows grace upon you, and to abound in grace means much gain, heavenly and earthly.–Edna Lister, November 12, 1938
Be in a state of grace, which is a state of full praise and full gratitude to the Father for His help, protection and for Power sent for you to release.–Edna Lister, January 2, 1939
Remain in a state of grace so that the law will not find you wanting when Light adjusts the fine balance scales of justice to your life.
Love makes you abound in full grace, which then flows from you as Eden’s four rivers flow from the everlasting throne of God.–Edna Lister, January 8, 1939
A state of grace is a state of perfect love, of full praise and gratitude to the Father, and in it no darkness.–Edna Lister, January 9, 1939
Praise and thanksgiving are outer signs of inner grace, which spins itself into a web of beautiful lights of twinkling colors, and ascends as sweet incense to mingle with the heavenly altar fires as they burn steadfastly forever.
Grace is sufficient unto all needs and requirements. It is the Holy Breath, which must go forth as love only, and in it no shadow of doubt or fear.–Edna Lister, November 29, 1939
The Voice of God can use the soul who who sees all, hears all, and remains in a continuous state of grace after due initiation. That soul is appointed because of lengthy service rendered unto the Master.–Edna Lister, December 7, 1939
Take reprimands graciously.–Edna Lister, February 26, 1940
The Master’s peace is your grace.–Edna Lister, April 19, 1940
God is gracious, for if you are too weak to hold fast and slide again, you may always step up, look up and find Him.–Edna Lister, A Design for Ascension, 1941
No disgrace is found in being so fervently faithful, so in love with God as to be constant, steadfast and white hot. Yet there is disgrace in becoming indifferent, lukewarm and saying, "Why should I carry the burden when others do not?" God can use you only as high as you are now willing to climb in sacrifice. Why waste time wallowing in self? Are you forever to have a greater self than a soul? Which is the true? Which the false? Which dark? Which Light?
“Choose this day whom thou shalt serve,” self or soul, and choose wisely. You have only one way to go on. Pay no attention to any self, yours or another’s. See only the Light. This is your work. See to it. Just carry on as if everything is perfect, and wait upon the Lord in the high place, lights burning, while He works out your salvation and exalts you for loyalty and honor.–Edna Lister, February 13, 1941
Declare “The graciousness and the loveliness of the Lord Jesus Christ now abides within me and moves through all my affairs.” You cannot be gracious save through love, peace and joy.–Edna Lister, July 3, 1941
A fall from grace is a fall from perfect love and faith of God into a lesser state of thought, emotion and action.–Edna Lister, October 7, 1941
Peace comes from an inner grace that radiates from the soul into the world.–Edna Lister, “Inner Peace,” Life in a Nutshell, 1943
Grace is the crown of Shekinah glory.–Edna Lister, January 27, 1944
The graciousness and loveliness of the Lord Jesus Christ are adequate and equal to anything when they possesses the soul.–Edna Lister, July 2, 1945
Pray for a higher state of grace than ever before. Otherwise, you cannot partake of that greater Power to applied in “greater works.” Make certain that you have done all that you vowed to do. Make certain that you are in a state of grace and not just thinking of a state of grace.–Edna Lister, July 13, 1945
You must be able to accept even a public reprimand with grace.–Edna Lister, August 11, 1945
Make your stand in graciousness and kindness but firmly and finally.–Edna Lister, September 4, 1945
While it is good and necessary to take a needed reprimand in good grace, you make no real achievement until you put it into action and it becomes reality. You are always called on the absolute necessity of being alert.–Edna Lister, October 11, 1945
A constant state of grace, within which you have known no travail, no darkness, no outer bondage of want or pain, is of little use. This is what people want when they say they want peace.–Edna Lister, May 13, 1947
Give no excuse or justification ever. Excusing or justifying the self is disgraceful for an ascending conqueror.–Edna Lister, January 8, 1948
The soul filled with the faith of God stands serenely confident in a state of grace.–Edna Lister, July 26, 1948
When you walk in graciousness and loveliness, you never have a sense of unworthiness because you walk in beauty, gentleness, tenderness and compassion and they clothe you in Light. When you descend from this attitude, you walk in self-made slums.–Edna Lister, August 15, 1949
The grace of the Lord is the white Light of the Christ in all its intensity. You earn a dividend of sweetness that shines from your personality as magnetism, which you can gain in no other way.–Edna Lister, October 3, 1950
Grace is the first daughter of the Mother of Love, which is pure harmony at the Source. Healing is a state of grace in the physical cells. A continuous state of grace sets the timing for a miracle of healing.–Edna Lister, July 30, 1951
Full prayer creates a state of grace.–Edna Lister, October 24, 1951
The graciousness and loveliness of the Christ Spirit, expressing as selfless compassion, is the only humility acceptable before the thrones.–Edna Lister, November 12, 1951
A state of grace is prayer without ceasing.–Edna Lister, August 2, 1952
As you grow in grace, raise your vibration, and understand more about God and His universes (we call it ascension), you raise [increase] the ratevibration of your body cells.–Edna Lister, August 10, 1952
As you grow in grace (meaning that you raise your vibration), as you understand more about God, our Supreme Creator and about His universes (we call this Ascension), you actually raise the vibration of the cells of your physical body.–Edna Lister, August 16, 1952
If you walked forever in the Light, you would walk in a very high state of grace.–Edna Lister, September 3, 1953
Grace is an eternal Godlike soul quality.–Edna Lister, I Accept, June 27, 1954
Receive the Power graciously, not as your right but as a beautiful, bountiful gift from the Source, from God.–Edna Lister, November 29, 1954
True humility is a state of grace, where having become law, you are used by love, and the glory of faith, with no thought of self.–Edna Lister, Promises Are Keys, May 29, 1955
To enter a state of grace, gather all your scattered parts, forgive, and lift all your imagined enemies and adversaries.–Edna Lister, August 7, 1955
A state of grace is an attitude of acceptance, surrender, kneeling before high, holy thrones in reverence, awe, devotion and praises, while expressing joy and compassion to the world.–Edna Lister, January 5, 1956
There is always a gracious and lovely way to declare evil good.–Edna Lister, July 3, 1957
You occupy a state of grace when you pray with a whole heart as a Mystic who communes directly with God.–Edna Lister, October 20, 1957
A state of grace is a state of devotional prayer using the Christed way of daily living: “I see no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil.”–Edna Lister, January 13, 1958
Remain in a state of grace to increase the quality and quantity of your love.–Edna Lister, March 6, 1958
The active law of nonresistance is “How wonderful it is to hold one’s tongue.” As a result of this law, one lives in peace and gives peace. When you live in harmony with God and man, you emanate harmony, and always will be graciousness itself. When the self accedes, God moves in. You can have no graciousness without God, for graciousness is the grace of God in action. When the self accedes, God moves in.
A gracious, accepting state is expected in heaven’s Courts, while you discipline self and work hard for your Christing on earth.–Edna Lister, October 9, 1958
The great secret of grace is to bite your tongue before speaking, especially when you would speak without thinking, or when you are not in the Light.–Edna Lister, A Charted Heaven, October 21, 1958
A state of grace is a state of complete surrender and devotion to God Supreme.–Edna Lister, May 2, 1959
Judge the day every night by reviewing it to fill any holes of ungraciousness, sharp words, or indifference you’ve left.–Edna Lister, The 33 Degrees of Soul Conquering, October 20, 1959
You can ascend on graciousness, and others can ascend on your graciousness; there are always dividends.–Edna Lister, November 23, 1959
Humility is the graciousness of acceptance.–Edna Lister, February 23, 1960
Righteousness is a state of grace, living with the Christ by your highest ideals.–Edna Lister, April 1, 1960
If God doled out grace strictly, according to how much we deserved it, none of us would qualify.–Edna Lister, April 22, 1960
A state of grace is a state of accepting truth.–Edna Lister, What Is a Miracle? May 6, 1960
When you relinquish something on the outer, you attain higher grace on the inner.–Edna Lister, June 6, 1960
A state of grace is a state of consciousness, a state of having no inner conflict. Many people have inner conflict all the time.
A state of grace includes compassion plus the love of God.
In a state of grace, your identity with God, and your "fellowship of the mystery" of the “unsearchable riches of Christ” (Ephesians 3:8, 9) is so complete that you cannot help but lead a triumphant life.–Edna Lister, This I Comprehend, December 10, 1961
There are as many states of grace as there are people. Grace is Christ’s Light and love shining through.
Whatever your state of grace, your highest state of consciousness, that is your heaven.–Edna Lister, Heaven Is a State of Consciousness, April 3, 1962
Honor is a state of grace.–Edna Lister, Honor Above All, April 8, 1962
Erase the word “humility” from your consciousness, and write “compassionate graciousness” instead.–Edna Lister, December 9, 1962
No greater fall from grace is to declare that Jesus the Christ is the highest, then to aggrandize the self.–Edna Lister, December 10, 1962
You must remain in a state of grace for God’s Power to use you fully.–Edna Lister, July 31, 1963
When you grow in the grace of unwavering steadfastness in obedience to law, promotion is assured.–Edna Lister, October 15, 1963
To be well mannered is one of the graces of heavenly places, and is important. Wherever you step abroad, have good manners so that Light manifests through you. Love of God, love of the Power, love of life, these things count. Hold in all ways, and invite them in as guests.–Edna Lister, November 4, 1963
Grace is a state of love, comprehension and compassion.–Edna Lister, December 13, 1963
The mystical marriage of the Lamb, the wedding of Wisdom and Love within the soul, occurs at the high point of your graciousness, acceptance and compassion.–Edna Lister, February 6, 1964
A state of grace is a state of devotional prayer using the symbol of the three monkeys as a guide: See no evil, hear no evil and speak no evil. They represent the Christ way of daily living.–Edna Lister, February 25, 1965
The graciousness, beauty and loveliness of the Christ Light you represent flow out into the world.–Edna Lister, June 17, 1968
You enter the Halls of Wisdom by the Gate of Grace, which you achieve by praise, gratitude, thanksgiving and forgiveness.–Edna Lister, October 23, 1968
Grace is the Light expressing through you as good manners and consideration; it is the art of living by the Light.–Edna Lister, Light on the Path, July 6, 1969
Moving up into the eternity God has prepared and always has waiting for you is beautiful beyond compare. The very act of always holding all your lines of Light lends you grace and an untouchable beauty.–Edna Lister, July 9, 1969
Good manners is a state of grace; the first protocol of Ascension, the first initiation is one of good manners. To cover others’ transgressions is a state of grace; this is within your power in any situation.–Edna Lister, Hold High Your Scepter of Power, May 31, 1970
Grace is good manners at all times saving sensitivities of others.–Edna Lister, June 14, 1970
Top ↑Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.–Hebrews 4:16
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.–Romans 5:20
And if by grace then it is no more of works.–Romans 11:6
Thou art fairer than the children of men: grace is poured into thy lips: therefore God hath blessed thee for ever.–Psalm 45:2
Grace in Other Sacred Writings
Observe opportunity, and beware of evil; be not ashamed when it concerns your soul, for there is a shame that brings sin, and a shame which is glory and grace.–Wisdom of Ben Sirach 4:20-21
The gospel of truth is joy for those who have received from the Father of truth the grace of knowing Him, through the power of the Word.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2
While the words were still depths of His thought, the Word, which was first to come forth, revealed them, along with a Mind that speaks the one Word in silent grace. He was called ’thought’, since they were in it before being revealed. It came about that he was first to come forth, at the time when the will of Him who willed desired it. And the will is what the Father rests in, and is pleased with.–The Gospel of Truth, Codex I, 3 and XII, 2
God is pure, immeasurable mind. He is life-giving life. He is a blessedness-giving blessed One. He is knowledge-giving knowledge. He is goodness-giving goodness. He is mercy and redemption-giving mercy. He is grace-giving grace, not because He possesses it, but because He gives the immeasurable, incomprehensible Light.–The Apocryphon of John, Codex III, 10
The perfect conceive and give birth by a kiss. For this reason we also kiss one another; we receive conception from the grace which is in one another.–Gospel of Philip, Codex II, 3
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Edna Miriam Lister1884–1971
The original Pioneering Mystic,
Christian Platonist philosopher, American Idealist, Founder, Society of the Universal Living Christ, minister, teacher, author, wife, and mother.
Etymology of grace: Latin gratia, “pleasing quality, good will, gratitude,” from gratus “pleasing, agreeable.”
“Grace” is the English translation of the Greek χάρις (charis) meaning “that which brings delight, joy, happiness, or good fortune.”–Calvin J. Roetzel
Grace is an absolute principle.
Grace is an abstract principle.
Graciousness is a law of being.
Graciousness is a law of doing.
Grace is a soul virtue.
References
Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, 2024.
The Holy Bible. King James Version (KJV).
The Nag Hammadi Library. James M. Robinson, ed. San Francisco: Harper and Row, 1988.
The Oxford English Dictionary: Compact Ed., 2 vols. E.S.C. Weiner, ed. Oxford University Press, 1971.
Roetzel, Calvin J. The HarperCollins Bible Dictionary, Paul J. Achtemeier, General Editor. HarperCollins, 1996, 386-387.
Webster, Noah. "Grace and Graciousness." Webster’s American Dictionary of the English Language. New York: S. Converse, 1828. This work is in the public domain.
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