The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that ... we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age.

(John 1, 17; Titus 2, 11.12)

The grace of God has a name: Jesus Christ. It appeared in His Person and is something truly living, neither a principle nor a mere theory.

It already existed and was effective before Jesus Christ came into the world. Salvation from sin had already been announced as due to appear. However, formerly a believer could only appreciate the allusion to grace from afar. But then it appeared so that every person could see and receive it. The gospel presents the Person who incorporates God's grace visibly. Through Jesus Christ salvation is assured - at the cost of His suffering and death.

Grace gives without demanding anything in return. It simply has to be accepted. And what does it give? Salvation for everyone, the extent of which is universal: only those who reject it are excluded.

The fact that grace is free contradicts people's own thinking. They will not accept the fact that God's gift costs nothing. If God were to offer them the chance of working for their own salvation and help them to attain it, they would readily accept that. Man wants to show something for it, however paltry it may be, so that he has something to boast of later. But that would mean degrading God's grace and the Person of our Lord Jesus Christ, in whom it appeared

Good Seed Calendar, April 7, 2007