The Apostle Paul urges Christians not to receive the grace of God in vain. Paul knew that ultimately, behind whether or not a professing Christian received the grace of God to eternal life or in vain, lies the God’s decision whether or not to give irresistible and unconditional grace to bring that person to eternal life. But he also knew that Christians were responsible and needed to be encouraged to make the right choice.

So what is the grace given in baptism? Many answers are possible.

• It is the grace of being grafted into the vine of Christ as a branch and thus obligated to bear fruit and abide in Christ’s love.
• It is the grace of being grafted as a branch on the olive tree of the rich root of God’s covenant and thus obligated to stand by faith and not be arrogant but fear the Lord, continuing in God’s kindness.
• It is the grace of being made members of Christ’s body and thus obligated to regard oneself as incomplete without the other members, and as in need of them. “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it” (1 Cor 12.27).

Perhaps I’ll blog about more Biblical answers to the question later.