Free Salvation

"For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 6: 23 NIV)

Salvation is not what is earned but what is given freely and graciously to undeserving sinners.

Sinners have earned both condemnation and death. They have earned Hell fire and its punishments. But, this cannot be said of their justification and salvation, for it is anything but "wages," or what one "earns" for "doing" something meritorious. The word "gift" in the above words of Paul is set in contrast to "wages."

If one searches the many scriptures, especially in the New Testament, that deal with how men are saved, he will discover that the bible writers frequently spoke in the negative about how men are NOT saved. Why is this neccessary? Why does he have to say that salvation is NOT a "wage," or what is "earned"? Is not simply stating the positive enough? Does simply saying salvation is a "free gift" (Romans 5: 15-18 KJV) not in itself exclude merit?

The reason why the bible writers often tell us how men are NOT saved is because men are prone to believe that they earn salvation, the positive statements about being saved freely and by grace being insufficient. Men need to be told how they are NOT saved as well as how they are saved.

"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11: 5, 6 NIV)

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2: 8-10 NIV)

Notice how grace is defined as excluding works. Man does not do anything to earn salvation. It is given by grace, and grace, by definition, is that which is unmerited and undeserved.

Works of righteousness always follow salvation, and do not precede it. Man does not work in order for God to create him anew in Christ, but he must be first created in Christ to do any good works. Faith itself, like repentance, being a part of the salvation experience, is not that which man himself creates nor is it that which earns him salvation. Wrote Paul - "he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."

Mercy, like grace, excludes all merit and desert. Mercy can never be demanded nor earned and is always at the option of the one who has the right to either bestow it or to refuse it. As Lord God said to Moses - "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." (See Exodus 33: 19 & Romans 9: 15)

Salvation from first to last is declared to be all "to the praise of his glorious grace," and is that "which he has freely given us in the One he loves." (Ephesians 1: 6 NIV) Many other passages emphasize the same truth.

"And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely...And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." (Revelation 22: 6, 17 KJV)

"Let the wicked forsake his way and the evil man his thoughts. Let him turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God, for he will freely pardon." (Isaiah 55: 7 NIV)

"I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them." (Hosea 14: 4 NIV)

"Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55: 1, 2 NIV)

Oh the "freeness" of salvation in Christ! Oh yes, salvation costs, for the law has to be satisfied. However, Christ paid the debt for every believer in him. He bore all the "costs" associated with deliverance from guilt. That is why it is now offered to sinners freely.

It is because Christians understand this freeness that they are able to be freely kind and generous to others. Notice these verses.

"Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give." (Matthew 10: 8 KJV)

"I was young and now I am old, yet I have never seen the righteous forsaken or their children begging bread. They are always generous and lend freely; their children will be blessed." (Psalm 37: 25, 26 NIV)

"One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty." (Proverbs 11: 24 NIV)

Those who have truly received "grace" will show grace to others. Those who have been dealt with freely and generously by the Lord will act in the same manner towards others.

Friend, salvation is both easy and difficult. It is easy in that all one has to do is to believe in Christ as Lord and Savior and turn from their sin. Yet, this is so hard to do, yea, even impossible, unless the sinner look solely to Christ to give him faith and repentance. Jesus said - "with men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (Mark 10: 27)

If you find it hard to believe, then ask the Lord to give you faith.

If you find it hard to repent, to turn from your sin, then ask Christ to give you repentance and a will and power to turn from it. All you have to do is ask. You also must be sincere.

If you have trouble being sincere, then ask the Lord to make you sincere. You really have no excuse, for whatever is keeping you from salvation is available in Christ, and all you have to do is ask for these things.

James said - "you have not because you ask not." I urge you to not be one who fails to ask Christ for whatever it is that you need to be saved.

Salvation is God's "free gift" in Christ and all you have to do is to receive it humbly and in faith. Will you do so today?