In that case, it wouldn't be a free gift. Anything that someone must do to obtain it, makes it theirs only by their doing, and therefore, not a free gift. To be truly free, it must be imputed to someone, placed into their possession in spite of, and apart from, anything they may do, otherwise, it isn't free.
[Tit 3:5-7 KJV]
5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;
7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
[1Co 1:30 KJV]
30 But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
[2Pe 1:1 KJV]
1 Simon Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, to them that have obtained like precious faith with us through the righteousness of God and our Saviour Jesus Christ:
The only free choice I see left after the cross where Jesus the Son took away all the nasty nines and dirty dozen first. Left everyone to choose to believe God his Father or not, in the salvation offered them in risen Son for them. Then the new begins in each one that does believe God from within themselves
Eph 1:13. 6,7 good to read the entire Chapter for the context and trust God to reveal it to you too
Cool, all that is left from that cross of being reconciled by Son, all sins right then and there are by God forever forgiven, left one choice left to do for each person, "To Believe or not to believe" in the risen Son for us to be born new by God for us in trust (Faith) (2 Cor 5:17-20) he took away all Sin at that cross for his Father to receive it and then, we each have a new relationship, where Jesus separated sin and death once forever in Father's sight for us the people, in that final sacrifice of shed blood that used to bring forgiveness once a year under the Levite Priesthood, set up by Moses, that sacrificed perfect animals, that Father was not satisfied in people having to do that year after year, never being or getting 100% purged from sin forever. Now in Son from Father's view we are new, or to be new if another believes God in this truth. It is done by Son as said (John 19:30)
Read Hebrews 10, that is deep as can be and got me to see this truth, thank you, hoping for everyone else too. to see this, ask God for to see it in truth for you too and be freed in this love and mercy from now on too
The truly righteous are not self-righteous, ever, think on that, I do and see daily I am not righteous. Yet God is and remains righteous, that I remember I am by God only made righteous from God alone, written in stone from God through risen Son thanks, y'all are also. if, since you believe God too. Oh, and if one reading here has not seen this yet, continue in belief to see it through, thank you, even if you go through diversities, adversities, troubles too.