Is salvation a "free gift"?

Question

1. Is salvation a free gift according to Christianity?

2. How does repentance fit into the equation? Isn't there supposed to be a cost involved in order to become a Christian?

3. Is repentance a requirement for justification?

Answer 1

1. Salvation is free gift of God conferred upon His Elect and no one else. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” Ephesians 2:8,9

God, before the foundation of the world chose certain individuals to be the object of His grace. These and only these He purposed to save. “Even as He has chosen us before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and blameless before Him.” (Eph. 1:4)

2. Repentance is a gift of God's grace, whereby a sinner, out of a true sense of his sin, and apprehension of the mercy of God in Christ, turns from his sin unto God, with full purpose of, and endeavor after, new obedience. Repentance is a result not the cause of salvation (regeneration).

3. Justification is an act of God's free grace, wherein He pardons all our (Elect) sins, and accepts us as righteous in His sight, only for the righteousness of Christ imputed to us, and received by faith alone.

In summary, salvation is a free gift of Triune God, each member of Trinity participating in and contributing to the salvation of the Elect. The Father, before the foundation of the world, marked out those who were to be saved and gave them to the Son to be His people. At the appointed time, the Son came into the world and secured their redemption. The renewing work of the Holy Spirit completes the work of salvation by applying the benefits of Christ's obedience and death to the Elect. The Holy Spirit never fails to bring to salvation those sinners whom He personally calls to Christ.

Answer 2

1. Yes it is a free gift. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, "For by grace you are saved though faith, that not of yourself it is a gift from God. Not of works, lest any man should boast."

2. If there is no repentace, there is no salvation. To simply belive and take no action doesn't make you any better than the demons. James 2:19 says, "You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder."

3. Yes, there is no justification without repentance. Justification requires man to both belive and repent. To in a sense hand your life over to God.

Some may look at this and say that repentance is an action we take therefore we do work for our salvation. I'd say that person misunderstands what we mean when we say it is a free gift. Many people have this conception in their mind that God is up in heaven weighing our good verses our bad actions. That is not the case, our good actions will never be enough to bridge the gap between us and God. The only thing that can bridge that gap is Christ. Christ offers us salvation, it is a free gift there for us to simply accept. Accepting a gift is different from trying to make yourself worthy of a gift.

Answer 3

There was a cost, Jesus Christ paid that price on the cross, and took His Blood to the Father for a Blood Atonement for you and I, and for who so ever will. All anyone has to do is accept this gift, and repent. A person who refuses to repent is not worthy of the kingdom of God. Repenting after receiving Christ is much easier I can do all things in Christ. I have ask the Lord to help me each day. The old me keeps haunting me, and Satan keeps bringing the past up.

Answer 4

Let me try these in order
1. Salvation is a free gift. By "free gift" we mean that Christ has done all that is needed for God's wrath to be removed from a person's life.

2. Faith (trust) in what Christ has done and repentance (turning away from sin and to trust in Christ) are how you receive the gift. It ceases to be a gift if you do not accept it. The cost you are speaking of is kind of a slang for the idea of considering carefully the choice you make in choosing to follow Jesus.

3. Yes repentance is necessary for justification. Justification is a theological term that means God decalres that based upon your faith and repentance Jesus' righteousness is now yours.

Answer 5

1. Salvation is a free gift.

2. Repentance leads to forgiveness of sins and washing our hearts white as snow. Even after salvation, we still live in this world, and continue to sin. But "if we confess our sins, God is faithful and will forgive us." Salvation gives us the ability to repent and make things right with God once again.

3. Sure. I mean, you cannot say, "Christ, I accept your gift of salvation and I repent of my previous sins," and then go out resume serial killing of women, small children, and dogs with no further repentance. . . I mean, you haven't accepted anything or realized God's grace and tried to live with a clean heart, an attitude of repentance, etc.

Answer 6

Salvation is freely given when you accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
There are those that associate a cost as you must repent of a lifestyle that is against Christianity and the teachings of Jesus Christ.
That's where the repentance comes in, turning away from those things that are sin in your life.

Answer 7

All you have to do is accept it. In order to accept it you need to have first recognised your need of salvation, which involves repentance. Those who don't think they need salvation see no sin in their lives. So they think they have nothing to repent of.

The stopping sinning and doing better and acting in consequence of this great, free gift of salvation is a natural response of love (or at least it should be.)

If it weren't free there would have been no point to Jesus dying on the cross; we could all just continue to make brownie points with God...and continue to fail to reach the goal.

Answer 8

1.Its not exactly free. You have to give your whole heart, mind, and body to Jesus, and let him guide your life.

2. Repentance means that God will forgive you for all your sins. Yeah, he loves you that much.

3. Repentance a requirement for justification...hmmm, that's a tricky one. I'm gonna have to go with yes. It is a requirement. Think about it, your human, you sin. In order to be justified you must be washed away of your sins. Therefore, you must repent.

Answer 9

1) No, it isn't free. But Jesus picked up the tab when he died for all of us. Probably not a bad idea to say "Thanks" now & then...

2) Part of accepting Christ is to repent of sin & make an effort not to continue to sin. It's sort of that "least you can do" thing.

3) Not a requirement per se, but if you know you're sinning & you don't repent, what does that tell God about you & about how you feel regarding the HUGE sacrifice that Jesus made for us. You don't show your parents you appreciate the new bike by leaving it laying in the street, do you ?

Answer 10

1. I have a cross with the words "paid in full" on it. Jesus paid the price for salvation for all who would receive it.

2. Repentance is the equal sign : repentance(minus sin) = salvation. The price paid for salvation was the blood of the only begotten Son of God, Jesus. Only His sacrificial blood was perfect enough for God to forgive sin and receive man back into His kingdom.

3. One cannot be sanctified or renewed without the remission of sin to receive the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus.