Is Salvation Really Free?
We say, “Salvation is the free gift.” That is a true sentiment but there are some things about this that are significant for us to understand. It may need some qualification.
The sentiment is expressed in Rom. 5:12-21. You can't read these passages without the emphasis given to grace being apparent. It is such a prominent part of the text. “By one man sin entered into the world and by that sin came a judgment, a condemnation upon men, because all men have sinned.” But there stood on the other side of that, the grace of God that brought provision through another man, Jesus Christ. The sinful man who had been condemned, now might be presented free so that he might be justified and reconciled to God.
Grace is prominent in this passage and also, Paul calls it a gift. God owed man nothing. It was a gracious act of God. It was a part of the expression of His concern toward man that He made provision, and the gift of grace was given (also called the free gift in Rom. 5:15-16).
In view of that, is salvation really free? Start with the fact that salvation is something we never could buy. How much money would the sinful man need to pay in order to buy his redemption? There’s not enough money. Today, a person may buy their way out of the court room or buy his way out of the penalty of civil law, but a person is not going to buy his way out in God's court. It’s a gift, unable to be purchased with money.
This concept can be taken too far and can produce a misconception that there’s no strings attached. I'm just in this world, nothing I have to do with it. No price to be paid by me or anybody else.
At the outset we need to see, “There ain't no free lunch.” Salvation is free, but because of sin, there is a debt to be paid and somebody has to pay for it. Man is sold into sin, so what is the price that must be paid? The wage of sin is death. There has always been just one price for any sin, in any time, and that is death.
Jesus Christ came to make salvation available to us. He paid the price so that I don't have to pay the price of death. He exempted me by taking my place instead. When we sing redeemed, we sing about being bought back. Jesus paid the price.
Let's not get to thinking it is free like a free lunch. Nobody is paying for it. Somebody already paid for it. We need to be reminded and our thanksgiving needs to rise along with the idea of salvation being free.
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