I've lived long enough to know that most of the time when people offer you something “FOR FREE,” it comes at a cost at some point. A perfect example of this is all the very familiar so-called “free” software programs offered online, that come with a bunch of annoying pop-up advertisements, spyware, browser add-ons and additional software that we didn't ask for, all trying to sell you something. None of these programs are truly “FREE!”
“Salvation can only be evidenced by works, if works are required to be saved.” —Pastor Ralph Yankee Arnold, “Why Lordship Salvation Is Wrong!”I have often seen banks and other businesses offer new customers a “FREE GIFT” if they sign-up, open an account or buy something. How is that free? If you have to commit to buying something, or commit to a one-year contract, then it is really a reward, not a gift!
Our text Bible verse says in Romans 6:23b, “the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Oh, how important is this beautiful word—GIFT!!!
When I hear a Calvinist teaching that a saved person WILL persevere in good works, and WILL turn away from their sins, OR ELSE (they say) THIS PERSON IS NOT SAVED; then I know they do not fully understand the depth of God's grace and the free gift of God! Salvation is free without obligation. In fact, a person can get saved, and yet still choose to continue living in willful sin, and not be at risk of losing eternal life. That is how a gift works! The recipient is not obligated to live a certain way because they received it.
The Bible Even Calls Eternal Life A “Free Gift”
Please notice in the following Scripture passage, that the word “GIFT” is mentioned 6 times...Romans 5:15-18, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.”What a beautiful doctrinally rich passage of Scripture! Notice that the Bible specifically mentions the “GIFT BY GRACE” and the “GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS.” What awesome phrases! God's gift is provided by His GRACE. I like an acronym which is often used for G.R.A.C.E. (God's Riches At Christ's Expense). JESUS PAID IT ALL!!! Christ paid our debt of sins. The price was His precious blood. ...
1st Peter 1:18-21, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God.”I love that phrase—“WHO BY HIM DO BELIEVE IN GOD”!!! John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.” The Holy Bible is very clear in this matter, that if you want to come to God the Father, you MUST absolutely come by way of faith in God the Son!!!
God offers to each and every human being the FREE GIFT of eternal life, through faith in the 'GOOD NEWS' of Jesus Christ crucified, buried and risen (1st Corinthians 15:1-4). Unlike most things today, which are falsely advertised as “free,” but come with a catch; God said what He meant, and meant what He said. John 14:2b, “if it were not so, I would have told you.” Our God is faithful!
Pastor Harry Ironside Was Not A Calvinist
Read what Dr. Harry Ironside (1876-1951) said in his Gospel tract: “ANOTHER GOSPEL?” ...“When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender' of all that they have to God, and who 'pay the price of full salvation' he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary's cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him.” —Pastor Harry A. Ironside, from the Gospel tract, “Another Gospel.”Amen and amen! I thank God for Pastor Ironside. In recent decades, Moody Bible Institute in Chicago has lied about Dr. Ironside, claiming that he transitioned in his latter ministry toward a moderate Calvinist position, which is totally untrue. I tell you, Pastor Harry Ironside was NOT a Calvinist! Just because he used some familiar Calvinist terms to explain his theology doesn't make him a Calvinist. Brother Ironside plainly stated that he believed in the Perseverance of The Holy Spirit in a believer, which is 100% Biblical. In other words: Once saved, always saved. Once the Holy Spirit indwells a saint, they cannot lose the new birth! Dr. Ironside DIDN'T believe in the false doctrine of the Perseverance Of The Saints.
Calvinism in all its tenets (a religious doctrine taught without proof) is of the Devil. John Calvin (1509-1564) was a horrible man, who murdered 58 people for disagreeing with his junk theology. Despite the heretical teaching of Mr. Calvin that salvation WILL produce a changed life (aka, the Perseverance Of The Saints), John Calvin never changed himself! What irony! Calvinism has been repackaged today, commonly known as “Lordship Salvation.” As we have just seen in the Scripture for our self, salvation is the FREE GIFT of God. It is God's GIFT OF RIGHTEOUSNESS!!! Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”
I have already received that wonderful GIFT of righteousness through faith in Jesus Christ. How about you dear friend? Simply come to God as a needy sinner, acknowledging that you have broken His Commandments. Simply by faith receive Christ's sacrifice on the cross as payment for your sins, believing that He is bodily risen from the dead, and you are saved! You have God's PROMISE of it! Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” The word “CALL” here doesn't mean to pray, it means to RELY upon the Lord to be saved. It means to put your TRUST in Him. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith.
“How can you give up the world? Just do what you ought to do, and it will give you up.” —Pastor Jack Hyles
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