Salvation Is Not as Free as We Think

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8).

The Price of Salvation

We often say salvation is free. Is this what the Bible teaches? The answer is no, and before you stone me, please continue reading.

Salvation cost Jesus – God the Son, who came in human flesh – His very life! Jesus bore the sins of humanity in His body on the cross (1 Peter 2:24). He died for us, because we could not die for ourselves! He died because of our sin, not His own, because He was sinless. Jesus gave His life freely and willingly (John 10:18). What else did His sacrifice for our salvation cost Jesus? He was mocked, spit on, misunderstood, ridiculed, and crucified (read the accounts in the four Gospels).

As believers in Jesus, we do not live worry-free, difficulty-free lives. Jesus tells us that those who follow Him will be hated and persecuted by the world (Matthew 10:22-23). Our Lord tells us that we should to die to self, take up our cross, and follow Him (Matthew 10:38).

We are to die to all we want, hope for, and claim, apart from Jesus. He tells His disciples that those who follow Him must lose their life for His sake and only by that, can they find life (Matthew 10:39).

Not only did the salvation Jesus purchased for us cost Him His life, but it cost us our lives as well when we repented and believed!

Salvation and grace are not cheap, and when we say it is easy to become a Christian, we do a disservice to the Bible, the Gospel, and the Holy Spirit. This is evident in John 3 where Jesus speaks of being born again. When we give our lives to Christ, it is not just business as usual as we are to conform to the image of our Lord and Savior.

In fact, when an individual gives their life to Christ, they are marked for ridicule, scorn, and even death. Jesus says: If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you (John 15:18-19).

Salvation is a free gift of God's grace, without works (Ephesians 2:8-9), but it cost Jesus everything, and it costs us everything! When we put our faith in Jesus alone for salvation, we submit to Him as Lord, Savior, Redeemer, and Provider.

He becomes our life. We become His slave, and a slave has no rights! Will we live perfect lives? Of course not, but this is no excuse to water down the truth of what God says in His Word. We must know, live out, and stand for the Gospel!

Devaluing Salvation

Declaring salvation is free – as we define free – devalues salvation. We must carefully use our words so as not do harm to others' understanding of salvation. When we give a valuable gift but neglect to explain its value, the recipient can take this valuable gift for granted. However, if they understand the value of the gift, they take it seriously.

When we say something is free, people wait for the catch. When we say there is no catch and all you have to do is believe, is it any wonder why we rarely see those people step into a Church, open the Bible, take responsibility for their lives, or pray?

Do you take salvation seriously? Do you live sacrificially for Christ? When you proclaim the Gospel, do you talk about the cost of salvation? Do you explain that salvation will cost them everything, and that their lives will change because salvation is not as free as we think?

May God give us discernment to preach a salvation of worth and cost.

Michael Weis is a pastor, video operator, editor, and social media manager at Zion's Hope.