2007-12-16 06:20:18 · 8 answers · asked by realchurchhistorian 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Religion & Spirituality
Salvation is a free gift, but it didn't come cheap - it cost God the tortured death of his Only Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, who willingly offered himself as a sacrifice for our sins.
Once a person has been forgiven by God (= being pardoned = salvation) the Holy Spirit indwells that person and he or she begins to do the good works God prepared for them to do before even the universe was created. So even the good works are all of God! As with any free gift, it has to be accepted. To offer to pay for it is to insult the giver. There is no price anyone can pay to redeem a soul. We can only accept the wondrous gift and cherish it. And our lives are then living sacrifices we offer to God in return, in appreciation. Then all the good works we do bring glory to God, not to ourselves.
2007-12-17 04:51:45 · answer #1 · answered by Annsan_In_Him 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The word gift is an important one in the Bible, and it is good that we understand its definition and implications.
In the New Testament, there are several Greek words translated “gift.” Some of these words are used in contexts other than God’s gift of salvation, such as the reciprocal gift-giving of celebrants (Revelation 11:10), the things received from fathers (Matthew 7:11), offerings to a ministry (Philippians 4:17), and the gifts of the magi (Matthew 2:11).
However, when it comes to the matter of our salvation, the New Testament writers use different Greek words—words that emphasize the gracious and absolutely free quality of the gift. Here are the two words most commonly used for the gift of salvation:
1) Dorea, meaning “a free gift.” This word lays particular stress on the gratuitous nature of the gift—it is something given above and beyond what is expected or deserved. Every New Testament occurrence of this word is related to a spiritual gift from God. It is what Jesus offers to the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:10). It is called the “free gift” in Romans 5:15. It is the “unspeakable [or indescribable] gift” in 2 Corinthians 9:15. This gracious gift is identified as the Holy Spirit in Acts 2:38; 8:30; and 11:17.
The adverb form of this word is dorean, translated “freely” in Matthew 10:8; 2 Corinthians 11:7; Revelation 21:6; 22:17. In Romans 3:24, immediately following God’s pronouncement of our guilt, we have this use of dorean: “Being justified FREELY by His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” The gift of salvation is free, and the motive for the gift is nothing more than the grace of the Giver.
2) Charisma, meaning “a gift of grace.” This word is used to define salvation in Romans 5:15-16. Also, in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death, but the GIFT [charisma] of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” This same word is used in conjunction with the gifts of the Spirit received after salvation (Romans 12:6; 1 Timothy 4:14; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10).
Obviously, if something is a “gift of grace,” it cannot be earned. To work for something is to deserve it, and that would produce an obligation—a gift of debt, as it were. That is why works destroy grace (Romans 4:1-5; 11:5-6).
When presenting salvation, the New Testament writers carefully chose words that emphasize grace and freedom. As a result, the Bible could not be more clear—salvation is absolutely free, the true gift of God in Christ, and our only responsibility is to receive the gift by faith (John 1:12; 3:16; Ephesians 2:8-9).
Recommended Resource: Faith Alone: The Evangelical Doctrine of Justification by R.C. Sproul.
2007-12-16 15:31:25 · answer #2 · answered by Freedom 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Salvation as union with God is t he free gift of grace earned through the Incarnation,death and resurrection of Jesus not by mere human effort(Pelagianism)
but it is also like the gift of a bicycle
I can receive the gift but never use it and never get anywhere with it since i refuse to sit on it and move the pedals.
I did not earn the gift but i have to use it
I can leave the gift in its crate or i can take it out and ride it
I can let it rust and fall apart or i can restore it by use and care
Matt7
The gift has to be cooperated with for it to get me anywhere
Matt7:21 not one who says "Lord,Lord' will enter the Kingdom of heaven but he who does the will of my father
1Pet1:17 Rev20:12-13 Rms2:2-8 Coll 3:24-25
God judges according to one's deeds
James2:14-24 faith alone is dead
faith that works and produces justifies not dead isolated faith that refuses to serve and do it call to charity
Gal 5:6 saving faith works through love,if it doesn't it is unsaving and dead
1 Cor 13 faith ,even strong conviction,without love is nothing
Jesus told us to keep the commandments if we want to enter into life(Matt19:16-17)
We are judged on Heaven or Hell by what we do to"the least of my brethren" not by our beliefs and feelings according to Jesus
Living by faith,hope and love is all by grace and no by our'pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps"
No mere mortal has anything to boast of.
2007-12-16 14:59:55 · answer #3 · answered by James O 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free gift.
2007-12-16 14:24:57 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 4⤊ 0⤋
Free gift for those that believe
2007-12-16 14:33:12 · answer #5 · answered by skurka 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Free gift with a heavy price;
Mat 16:24-25 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.
2007-12-16 14:36:48 · answer #6 · answered by Dave G 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Eph. 2:8, 9, "For be grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is a gift of God, not works, lest any man sould boast."
2007-12-16 16:01:38 · answer #7 · answered by J.L. — Dominus Sapiens 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Free gift.
But you have to show yourself worthy of receiving that gift.
2007-12-16 14:30:42 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋