By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Dec 24: Ba’ Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian has urged Sarawakians to embody unmerited grace and unconditional love towards one another, transcending race, creed, or background.
His message, inspired by the Bible passage 2 Timothy 1:9-10, will be part of his sermon this Christmas entitled “The Appearing of Our Saviour: The Gift of Grace” at a local church in Kuching.
Baru emphasised that Christmas is not merely a celebration of God’s love but also an opportunity to reflect that love to those around us, particularly those in need of kindness, compassion, and hope.
“The Apostle Paul writes that God has saved us and called us to live a holy life—not because of anything we have done, but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace, given to us through Christ Jesus, was planned before the beginning of time and revealed through the appearing of our Saviour,” he said in his Christmas message today.
He highlighted that the essence of Christmas lies in God’s purposeful and unmerited grace, manifested in the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem.
“The word grace—derived from the Greek charis—means the unmerited favour and kindness of God toward humanity.
“Christmas, therefore, is a powerful reminder that salvation is a free gift from God, not earned by our deeds but granted through His love,” he said.
As Romans 5:8 states: “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
Baru also reminded that this gift of grace calls for action. Drawing from 1 John 4:9-11, 19, he noted that because God so loved us, we are called to love others.
“This love must extend beyond our families and faith communities to humanity as a whole.
“As we celebrate Christmas, let us remember its true meaning: God’s unconditional love for the world. In response, may we extend that same love to our fellow human beings, regardless of race, creed, or background.
“On this joyous occasion, I wish everyone a blessed and meaningful Christmas. May the message of hope, peace, and love inspire us all to be agents of grace in our communities and beyond. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!” — DayakDaily
