Salvation is called a FREE gift because we cannot EARN it, that is, we have nothing of
equal worth to the Son and what He did for us on the cross. We cannot
barter or
exchange in order to obtain it. The whole idea of
doing anything to OBTAIN salvation was rejected by Paul and the other Apostles.
Subsequently, have gone to the extreme of saying we must
do nothing at all but, rather,
remain passive in the process and wait for God to do the whole work of saving us
without any response from us. However, the gospel has always demanded a response from human beings - not that we should find our own way to justify ourselves. Instead, we must believe the truth of the gospel which includes the
truth about ourselves as well as the
truth about what Christ has done for us.
Though the promise of eternal life is FREE (in the sense that we cannot earn it) Jesus often presented salvation as an
EXCHANGE -our life for His. In the parable of the
Pearl of Great Price, Jesus said:…45Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. 46
When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it
(Matthew 13:45-46)
The merchant did not go to the owner of the field and haggle over the price. He believed the pearl was priceless and that, once that became known, the whole idea of
buying or earning would be undermined. It was not about
earning but
discovering it and then acting in a way that was
consistent with the knowledge. Jesus said the merchant responded to his
belief in the pearl by going and "sell all He had" This was, in no way, an
equitable transaction. In one sense, the pearl was 'free" because it's value had never been assessed and no price had been placed on but that is because it was hidden. Even so, obtaining the pearl required the merchant to
sell all he had.
