IS SALVATION A "FREE GIFT" -- OR NOT?

In the discussion "The Stations Of The Cross - Response To Mr. Gray" on the TimesDaily, Florence, Alabama, Religion Forum-- my Friend, VP, tells me, "Well....Mr. Gray, we're making progress. I do sincerely appreciate, and am quite relieved to see that you acknowledge and corrected your error. Indeed it was a poor choice of words. I sincerely hope that it does not reflect the underlying sentiment."

Thank you. But, I am not sure what you mean by "the underlying sentiment." To have used the word "deserve" was in error -- for none of us deserve God's grace nor His mercy. However, if you are referring to the fact that I say that I KNOW that I have eternal life in Jesus Christ -- no, that sentiment has not changed. For a Christian believer to not KNOW he/she has eternal life in Jesus Christ -- is to call Him a liar. For, He tells us, in John 6:47, "He who believes HAS eternal life." So, I ask you -- is this statement made by Jesus Christ true -- or a lie?

Then, VP, you say, "I think that where we indeed split is in your conviction of a "free gift." I do not believe for one minute that this gift is free. I believe that Jesus suffered way beyond our comprehension. Physically and emotionally."

I said the gift of salvation is FREE to US; I never implied that Jesus Christ did not suffer to make that "gift free." Yes, He most certainly suffered a cruel crucifixion in our place. Yet, He "paid in full" the price of our salvation. So, to us -- the gift of salvation is "free" -- but, only if we will accept it. Let's suppose you are broke and homeless and I come to you and offer you $1,000,000 free and clear. Can you earn that $1,000,000? Do you deserve that $1,000,000? No. But, if you will receive it from me as a "free gift" -- you are a millionaire.

If you refuse to receive the "free gift" of $1,000,000 from me -- you are still a broke, homeless person.

The same is true of salvation: Jesus Christ is holding out His hand and in it is your eternal salvation. If you will not receive it; then you do not have salvation.

Next, you tell me, "And I believe he continues to suffer!! Every time we sin (and we ALL do) we hurt Jesus. Physically and emotionally. All over again."

Yes, our iniquities, our sins, do grieve our Lord -- but, can we hurt Him "physically" again? No. Jesus Christ died on the cross of Calvary -- ONCE for all.

Romans 6:10, "For the death that He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God."

Hebrews 10:10, "By this will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."

1 Peter 3:18, "For Christ also died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, so that He might bring us to God, having been put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit;"

This is why, in the Protestant churches, you will not see Jesus Christ hanging on the cross; you will see only the cross -- the symbol of what He did for us. He hung dead on the cross; but, He rose -- as we will celebrate next week -- and HE LIVES! Never to be crucified again! Never to hang on a cross again -- in reality or symbolically.

You say, "Sin separates us from the love of God."

Yes, we are born with a sin nature inherited from Adam; and this separates us from God. We are told in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."

We are told in Romans 8:1, "Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus."

And, we are assured in Romans 8:38-39, "For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Sin indeed does separate us from God. However, once we become a child of God, once we become a born again Christian believer -- no power on earth or in heaven can separate us from the love of God. We are permanently adopted into the Family of God, joint heirs with Jesus Christ -- eternally secure in Him.

Then, you tell me, "When He says 'It is finished' -- I believe this means his work on earth. I do not for one second believe that the battle with Satan is over. I believe, if anything, that it is more fierce than ever.

Jesus Christ came to earth for one purpose: To bring the "free gift" of eternal salvation to all who will receive it.

When, on the cross, He said, "It is finished!" -- He had accomplished this task; He had done all that needed to be done to provide the "free gift" of salvation to all who will receive it.

Satan has lost the war -- he just is not smart enough to know it. Does Satan still harass Christian believers? You bet he does!

Can Satan or his demonic spirits possess the body of a Christian believer? No. Absolutely not! When we become a Christian believer -- we are indwelled by the Holy Spirit, God the Holy Spirit takes up residence within us, seals us until the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30). And, God will not share His abode with anyone else; especially Satan or any of his demonic spirits. Satan's demonic spirits can harass us, but, they cannot enter us or possess us. Our God is a jealous God (praise the Lord!) and will not share what is His with Satan.

VP, I have shared this before; but, before you came on the Religion Forum. About six years ago, a friend's mother-in-law had destroyed her marriage. The girl was staying with us for a while. The mother-in-law, who was very much into psychics and other New Age things, called one day. The girl was out with my wife, so I talked with the mother-in-law, trying to convince her to leave the young couple alone and let them rebuild their marriage. But, this woman was evil, no other woman was going to have her son.

And, this I am not making up or exaggerating. While we were talking, I could feel, strongly sense, many demonic spirits in my home office -- just from talking with this woman over the telephone. It felt like my office was filled to the brim with these demonic spirits. But, since I know I am a child of God; I felt no fear, just annoyance that this woman was so controlled by Satan and his spirits -- that she wanted to destroy any woman who came close to her son.

Yes, Satan and his demonic spirits can harass we Christians -- but, we have the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10-20) protecting us.

You tell us, "Jesus suffered so greatly, that I cannot even begin to put into words. He spent His life on earth SHOWING us how to be. We are supposed to strive to be like Him. Not just to "accept" him, and move on. It is not free. The cost of sin is the blood of the Lamb of God. Yours, mine, and every man on earth and under the earth. He sacrificed Himself so that we may believe. So that we may continue His teachings -- in Word, AND practice."

None of us can begin to imagine how He suffered for us. This is so true; and this is why I felt that Mel Gibson's "Passion Of The Christ" movie was so worthwhile for all Christians to see. No one could see this movie, even though it was only a movie -- and not feel some of that pain. So, yes, we are to strive with all our being to be like Him -- that is why we are called Christians, Christ Followers.

You say, "(Salvation is) Not just to "accept" him, and move on."

I agree with you completely! When we become Christian believers, when we accept that "free gift" of salvation -- our mission as a believer has only begun. The salvation was given as a "free gift" -- something we could not, in our own power, earn. Yet, once we accept that "free gift" -- if the fruit of our salvation does not kick in, if we just sit on our duff and ignore others who have not yet been able, or willing, to believe and receive this "free gift" -- we are dishonoring our Lord.

He gave us two ordinances: baptism and communion -- that we do in remembrance of Him.

And, He gave us marching orders: Go, Make Disciples, Baptize Them, Teach Them (Matthew 28:19-20) -- Be My witness in all the world (Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15).

If we do not do these things -- we are still saved, we still have His promise of eternal life -- but, the fruit of our salvation is dead
(James 2:17). Yet, we, ourselves, are still saved (1 Corinthians 3:10-15).

You tell us, "The analogy that I will present is like a marriage. Is it enough to say "I do"? Does that complete your obligation? NO! It is an every minute of every day in and day out commitment. It is asking for forgiveness when we mess up, and being that forgiveness for the other. It is in being kind and charitable, humble and accepting. "I do" is just the opening of the chapter. Jesus shows us how to handle ourselves in our relationships- forgiveness, patience, tolerance, and humility.

Amen! Amen! Amen! The moment we become a Christian believer; we have eternal salvation. However, if we are to be effective Christ Followers -- our work in the service of the Lord has just begun. That is when our Christian motor should kick in; that is when we will love our neighbors as ourselves; that is when we strive hard to feed the less fortunate -- physically AND spiritually. This is when it should become the highest priority -- that we take the love of Jesus Christ to the lost world. While our more liberal friends will want to wrap this in the "Social Theology" mantle; I prefer to just call it being a Christian missionary; taking Christ to the world.

Finally, you say, "I think that accepting the "not so free gift " is the "I do"...then the hard part is up to us."

You say it is a "not so free gift" -- yet, the Word of God, in Romans 6:23 and in Ephesians 2:8-9, tells us it IS a "free gift." Who are we to believe -- you or God?

God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,

Bill Gray