What is the Puritans' definition of grace?

• A. Grace is earned by good works.
• B. Grace is the experience of transformative change granted to the elect by God.
• C. Grace is a social status among church members.
• D. Grace is a symbolic term for church membership.

Answer: (B)

Grace, in Puritan theology, is God’s unmerited action that brings about a real, transformative change in a person’s life. It is granted to the elect by God and leads to regeneration and ongoing sanctification—conversion, repentance, and a life shaped by obedience. This view rejects the idea that grace is earned through good works, since salvation is a divine gift rather than something human beings achieve. It also isn’t simply a social status among church members or a label for membership; rather, grace is an interior change that will be evidenced in how a person lives and remains faithful.