The Free Gift of Salvation
 

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

True if one would repent and be baptized in Jesus name and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

And keep the faith, fight the good fight, endure to the end. And hate your family. (Figuratively speaking, of course. :winkgrin)

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

Don't forget to count the cost. You know, for "free" salvation.

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

(BTW, Robert, did you know there is an "ignore" feature here? Just in case. :))

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

So much for the free gift...

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

Are you worth saving?

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

In other words... it is "free"... to those who earn it?

I believe,

Romans 8:30
English Standard Version (ESV)
30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

It's an unbroken chain. God predestined His elect children in accordance to His love, will, and desire. And it is the elect whom He has called (John 6:44), and justified in Christ Jesus (Romans 5:1), and it is we who are glorified in Christ (Ephesians 1:4).

When we begin to realize that God has a sovereign plan for mankind and that God intervened to save an elect body unto Himself and that God pursues, calls, chastens, and wrestles with that elect body to bring them to salvation... we'll truly understand what it means to be saved by grace alone. God isn't dependent upon us to pardon ourselves. No man can pardon himself. It takes the sovereign will of the one with authority to pardon. And he pardons whom He will.

Salvation is the work of God in us, His chosen. It isn't something we can earn by thought, word, or deed. We can even resist for a time... yet God's grace will overpower us and bring us to the end of our rebellion. Don't believe me? Ask Saul of Tarsus. He learned the hard way that "kicking against the pricks" (resisting God's saving power) only led to him being knocked off his horse and blinded by God.

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation
 

God's grace convicts the elect sinner... and the sinner repents.

The church baptizes the convert in the name of Jesus.

God Himself fills them with the Spirit.

Technically... the sinner need only to repent under the efficacious calling of grace when salvation presented with a body who preaches a "biblical" Gospel.

Re: The Free Gift of Salvation