A dictionary definition of 'grace' is 'goodwill' or 'kindness'. In the Bible a very important idea which develops until it reaches its fullest under-standing in the New Testament, is of the grace of God, meaning the goodwill, kindness and love which God offers to mankind who cannot merit or deserve it because of the sin which separates them from God. God's goodwill, kindness and love are totally unmerited by mankind who is so frequently shown in a state of rebellion against God in the Bible records. Yet in spite of his rebellion and ignorance, God freely offers his kindness and love to mankind because he wants them to share the joy and blessing of fellowship with him. Earlier prophets, particularly Hosea, had understood this. Jeremiah had understood that it is God who will make possible the reconciliation of men with himself by putting a new Spirit in their hearts (Jeremiah 31 :33-34). Ezekiel has a very similar teaching: 'I will give you a new heart and a new mind. I will take away your stubborn heart of stone and give you an obedient heart. I will put my spirit in you and I will see to it that you follow my laws and keep all the commands I have given you' (Ezekiel 36 : 26-27).

But Ezekiel's book, in many passages, makes it clear that Israel can do nothing to merit this wonderful changed relationship with God, which he promises. God's grace alone, freely given, will bring about this change. The Christian understanding of the fulfilment of this promise is that it is through the work of Jesus Christ that God has reconciled the human race to him. The work of the Holy Spirit brings about the inner change described in Ezekiel 36:26-27, reconciling man to God: 'When anyone is joined to Christ, he is a new being; the old is gone, the new has come. All this is done by God, who through Christ changed us from enemies into his friends.... Our message is that God was making all mankind his friends through Christ. God did not keep an account of their sins ....' (2 Corinthians 5: 17-19). In the same letter Paul refers to the Spirit of the living God who writes on human hearts: 'It is he (God) who made us capable of serving the new covenant, which consists not of a written law but of the Spirit' (2 Corinthians 3: 6). Romans 5: 6-8 says this: 'For when we were still helpless, Christ died for the wicked at the time God chose. It is a difficult thing for someone to die for a righteous person. It may even be that someone might dare to die for a good person. But God has shown us how much he loves us-it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us I'