Is Salvation Free?

Yes. Salvation is free because it is a gift of God's grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). But salvation was not free for God our Father and the Lord Jesus. It cost the Father to give His Son, and it cost the Son His life - for us. So salvation is both free and not free - free for the recipient, but not for the giver.

The reason I asked the question in the first place is because I have for years pondered that question and not long ago someone asked me that very question:

Is salvation free?

My reply was yes, but that does not mean the Christian life will not bring many trials.

You see, the world has it backwards. They believe they can work their way into heaven through philanthropy, feeding the poor giving to charitable organizations, or being a good citizen. While all the above are good things, they cannot redeem the soul. The world will use their "good deeds" as a sort of good faith deposit for peace and tranquility into what many call the afterlife. In other words, if they believe in their own mind their good has outweighed their bad, then they are "reincarnated" and all will be well. 

I heard the late Pastor and Bible Teacher John MacArthur call that the religion of human achievement. One has to seriously ask themselves the question, "where will my soul end up when I die?"

Here is the main problem with human achievement, it focuses soley on the person and not God. Its the sacrifice of Cain that God had no respect for (Genesis 4:5). When one is spending and laboring their whole life long trying to earn their way to heaven, they blaspheme the Lord. What you are saying to God is, "I don't need you. I am good enough to do this on my own. I can save myself!" 

He that trusts in his own heart is a fool (Proverbs 28:26).

That is someone who is trying to earn what Jesus already paid for by dying on the cross for our sins. That person has despised the atonement of Jesus Christ - trampling on His precious blood He shed for them. In attempting to earn salvation, you're actually mocking God. You have proven that you hate Him.

The Dichotomy

Many who are not saved are striving with every fiber of their being to purchase their slavation in the here and now. These people are hopefully deceived. God will never accept any human achievement from the unrepentant.

Let's read some proverbial passages.

Proverbs 14:12 and 16:25 say, "There is a way that seems right to a man, but end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 15:8, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord. But the prayer of the upright is His delight."

Proverbs 21:27, "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination. How much more when he brings it with wicked intent."

Then there are those who are saved. Many of them have decided to sit on their hands and do nothing for the kingdom. All they do is attend Church to receive the Word and then leave, nothing more. One would expect that behavior from young believers, but not older ones. This is dishonoring to God. The scripture teaches us to work out our salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in us both to will and do His good pleasure (Philippians 2:12-13).

The message of Salvation is always new

The teaching on salvation of /by Jesus Christ is new everyday. For me its like hearing it for the first time although I've heard it countless times. It refreshes and always invigorates the soul if received by faith. What is Biblical Salvation? First of all is the Rebirth by the Holy Spirit. It is the resurrection from the dead (Eph 2:1; Col 2:13). Did not Jesus declare of Himself that I AM the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. And whoever lives in Me shall never die. Do you believe this (John 11:25-26)? This declaration and question He asked Martha the sister of Mary after their brother Lazarus died. 

It is the forgivness of our sins and the precious gift of eternal life. It is the rescue of the human soul from death. It is deliverance from the fires of hell. It is peace with God, forever. It is the baptism of God's love on our tortured wretched souls. It is the opening of our eyes from blindness. Because of God's revelation I can see all the way to eternity through the telescope of scripture. Now I  know how this present world will end and how the new heavens and earth will begin and remain forever. It is the opening of our ears from deafness. It is joy unspeakable. Who wouldn't want or need the salvation that God offers through Christ?

Thanks be to the Lord. My soul is at peace because of God's salvation. It is important that I say this regarding God's peace: Do not determine the peace of God based on what you see around you. If one has more faith in what they see verses what they can't see; i.e. the promises of God that will be fulfilled in the future, then they will never have real peace at all.  God's peace is untouchable. The world cannot take it away for it is a divine gift of God's grace. It comes from heaven so it transcends the trials of this sinful life. God's peace is His assurance that calms the restless soul which lasts forever. Yes! The child of God can have peace in every circumstance.

The apostle Paul provides us with a wonderful doxology of God's love:

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

- Romans 8:37-39