Source: https://www.bertha-dudde.org/en/proclamation/4917

4917 Redemption through Christ is an act of free will....

June 18, 1950: Book 56

I wanted to redeem the world from its sins, I wanted to bring freedom to people, I wanted to redeem them from their bound state which was the result of their sins.... Yet the world did not accept My sacrifice which I offered to God for them as the human being Jesus.... The world remained in sin and sank ever further into the abyss. This explanation has to be given beforehand, otherwise the concept of a redemption through Jesus Christ would be incomprehensible to people who seriously think about it and consider the spiritual low of people in general. Christ's act of salvation does not restrict people's free will, i.e. humanity has not been abruptly redeemed from bondage, but only those people who want it themselves can place themselves into the blessing of the act of salvation, they can be beneficiaries of the treasure of grace Jesus Christ acquired for humanity through His death on the cross. All people could place themselves in the blessing of the work of redemption if they wanted to, and all guilt of sin could be redeemed.... Yet people themselves did not want it apart from a few who took refuge in Jesus Christ and partook of the blessings His love acquired for them through His crucifixion, which is eternally unfathomable like His love, which eternally never ends. Yet free will is never ignored, otherwise everything spiritual would be redeemed immediately but could never become perfect. And therefore also the acknowledgment of Christ as God's son and redeemer of the world is an act of free will and faith, which again can be gained through right use of the will. The work of redemption can only come into effect with the conscious call of Christ for help, which, however, presupposes faith in Him, thus also means a volitional turning to Him. If this act has taken place, then the overflow of strength and grace is also assured, which brings the human being salvation from spiritual adversity, which sets him free from satan’s fetters, from the bound state, which is the fate of all spiritual things as a result of the former rebellion against God, as a result of sin.... The will alone sets a person free if he turns to Jesus Christ for help. But where faith in Him and His divine mission is lacking, there can be no redemption, there humanity remains in sin and remains bound in satan’s power until one day he allows himself to be seized by Christ's overwhelming love, until he too sinks down on His cross and begs Him for His mercy....

Amen

Translated by Doris Boekers