Nothing is free, not even Salvation

So, who pays? Continue reading to find out the answer.

There is a popular belief that has been going around for a long time. This belief threatens the very essence of repentance and salvation. The belief is that salvation is a free gift. Many people have been known to follow this up by saying that all you have to do to be saved is to believe. This is erroneous teaching because the Word is clear that even the demons believe in Jesus however they are not saved (James 2:19). While it is true that salvation is a gift to those who choose to accept it, it is not and has never been free. Everything comes with a price and salvation is no different.

For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps ~ 1 Peter 2:21 (NKJV)

The payment for this gift was the life and bloodshed of Jesus Christ. The bible reminds us of this in John 3:16 when it says that God gave His only begotten Son because of His love for us. This suggests that there was indeed a price paid. Another verse brings clarity to the fact that a ransom was given (1 Timothy 2:5-6). If you know anything about a ransom, you know that a ransom is something paid on behalf of someone else, typically in an effort to save or rescue that individual. The technical definition of the word ransom is a consideration paid or demanded for the release of someone or something from captivity. This all ties back to the point that nothing is free, not even salvation.

Many people value things more when there is a price attached to it. Let's face it, when you have to come out of your own pocket to pay for a resource or service, you tend to value it more than if it were given to you for free. I know that has been the case in the past for me. The bible warns us in Matthew 7:6 when it says not to cast our pearls before swine. When we walk around with the mindset that things are owed to us or something should be handed to us, we come under the bondage of entitlement and that is not in line with God's character. Entitlement cripples many people and God is not in the business of slavery.

Not only did Jesus pay the ultimate price for our sin, and thus our salvation, we have to understand that we must also willingly pay a price to be in right standing with God. How do we pay? We pay through the confession of our sins and by giving up things that go against the will and nature of God. Many times these things are familiar, maybe they have even become normal, to us. This will often mean forgiving someone that betrayed, hurt, or wronged you in some way. Forgiveness is not always easy but it is always necessary for us to walk in true salvation and freedom. It could mean coming out of agreement with incorrect instruction and teachings by allowing the Holy Spirit to renew our minds. It could also mean walking away from a relationship or creating boundaries when dealing with a loved one. Just like the disciples had to leave everything to follow Christ (Matthew 4:20; Mark 1:18; Luke 18:28), true salvation requires action from us and that action is our portion of the payment.