God's grace is assured as Scripture teaches us that He first loved us, exemplified in His care for Hagar in Genesis 16.
The assurance of God's grace being always present is rooted in the understanding that we do not seek Him first; rather, He pursues us with His love. In Genesis 16, God sent an angel to Hagar, demonstrating His grace and care during her distress. Hagar’s experience of naming the Lord 'You, God, see me' signifies her awareness that God's grace was upon her even before she sought Him. This principle is foundational in Reformed theology, emphasizing that salvation is not initiated by our actions but wholly by God’s grace. This truth is encapsulated in 1 John 4:19, where we are reminded that 'We love Him because He first loved us.' Thus, believers can continually rely on the constant presence of God's grace.
Commentary