If someone gives you a gift do you actually need to ask for it or is thank you enough?

Question

Seriously I was raised Protestant, I was taught that Jesus sacrifice and our forgiveness was a gift. When someone gives me a gift I do not need to ask for it I only need to accept it and say thank you. It then becomes mine and my responsibility to care for it and not loose it. I never understood why I needed to ask fo salvation if it is a gift. What do you think?

I converted to Catholicism by the way for many reasons as well as this.

Now confess and repent make sense. I believe, I confesss and I repent. These last two should be done often as needed.

Answer 1

you are exactly right, if you had to ask for it then your salvation would be requiring your action which is a good work.

if you think about it, "accepting Jesus" is the same thing. If you require the action of accepting, then your salvation would be requiring a good work. Faith is a gift from God that the Holy Spirit creates in our heart through baptizm and or hearing the Word. We can take no credit at all for our faith. I am so glad that my salvation does not require me to do something to earn it. It is a free gift of God the he creates without my asking.

Answer 2

oh, Debra, girlfriend, we have to talk!

I've been wrestling with this very point for about three months now. I was wondering the very same thing as you. Free? Grace?
BUT, here's the catch. You have to ask.???

I even found a website that preaches that Jesus' death paid for ALL, and it doesn't matter what our reaction to it is. All humanity came into sin by the action of the first Adam, and all humanity came into redemption by the action of the second Adam, Jesus Christ. That place, if you are interested, is gospelrevolution.org I think.

The thing that made me finally decide that what we've always been taught about having to accept or believe in Jesus was this.
There are so many verses that teach that salvation does hinge on whether or not we actually make a choice to repent and ask for forgiveness.

The other way makes complete sense to me. Oh, how I wish it were the truth, but I can't reconcile it to the Bible.

I know this much is true. God knows what He is doing, and if He says that belief is criteria for salvation, then that's what we do. He is God and I'm not. He can be trusted. He cannot lie. Please e-mail me and let me know where you end up landing on this issue. Thanks, God bless.

Answer 3

I think the way they view it, is that it's a gift for everyone, but some people (the ones who don't want to be "saved") will reject it. It's kind of like if I gave my friend a gift and then she just threw it in the garbage.

Then again, unlike other gifts, this "gift" from Jesus is not unconditional. I cannot say, "Thanks for the gift Jesus, I appreciate it." In order for me to accept it, I have to abandon my own beliefs and fork my life over to Christianity. So that, in a way, is asking for the gift.

Blessed be.

Answer 4

Salvation is a gift, but it was paid for with a price. Our agency is also a gift from God, and the only gift we can give back. To bring our will to His.

Even those who don't thank Jesus will receive salvation per say-- a resurrected body, death having no victory.

So you don't have to say thank you but God loves when we are grateful for His gifts. When we are not it doesn't please Him, and He rejoices not.

Answer 5

Well I can tell you your salvation is in your hands alone. Through jesus through yourself. you have the will and through that the legs to take you to where ever you wish to go.


Though if your guilty by being born.. I would see where its hard to consider if your ever worth anything if.. someone tells you god made you.. and made you guilty of sin.. making you nothing. unless you listen to jesus savation.

When the truth is your guilty the moment you beleave anyone else on this subject. Be your own mind save yourself learn from jesus learn from god.. you where given reason. Morals where just putting them into words.

Answer 6

Jesus died for US> if you don't accept Jesus sacrifice then it means nothing to your soul> in order for your sins to be forgiven you must acknowledge Jesus as lord and savior> peace.

Answer 7

I think you are right. You do not need to ask for salvation.

But in order to be forgiven you must confess and repent.

Answer 8

Jesus wants to save, but he doesn't force it on anyone. Salvation is available to anyone, free of charge, but you aren't required to take it. So, if you want it, you just say so.

Answer 9

It is a gift, but it is your choice on if you accept it or not. That is what is so great! God doesn't push himself on you, rather he lets you accept him or not accept him. It comes down to choice.

Answer 10

He died on a bloodly cross with spikes in his wrists, come on give em a break.