The Freeness of Salvation

John 3:14-21  And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

“We believe that the blessings of salvation are made free to all by the Gospel (Isaiah 55:1); that it is the immediate duty of all to accept them by a cordial, penitent, and obedient faith (Romans 1:16,17; 16:25,26); and that nothing prevents the salvation of the greatest sinner on earth but his own inherent depravity and volun­tary rejection of the gospel (Romans 10:16,17); which rejection involves him in an aggravated condemnation (John 3:18,19).”

The blessings promised and provided in the gospel are the very blessings we sinners need.  These blessings are described in Isaiah 55 as “the waters,” refreshing, satisfying, the living water of John 7:38.  They are next described as “wine,” the “wine that maketh glad the heart of man” (Psalm 104:15).  The third descriptive word is “milk,” shown in I Peter as the nourishing word of God  (I Peter 2:2).

According to the invitation  (Isaiah 55:1), these blessings are offered without charge or payment; gratis.  We are to buy it without money and without price.  The double expression is most sweeping, clearing away for all time any idea of salvation being purchasable by any human effort whatsoever  (I Peter 1:18,19).  Everlasting life cannot be bought with gold, good works, status, or promise of com­mitment.  Vain are man’s treasures pledged for redemption.  Foolish is man’s knowledge before the Cross  (I Corinthians 1:18-24).  Whenever a man is saved, he is saved because God freely saves him and not because there was anything in him to deserve salvation, or any par­ticular fitness in him why God should deliver him and not another.  Salvation is the gift of God to be received only and altogether by believing on the LORD Jesus Christ.  God’s offer to man is grace and man’s response to God is faith.  Faith is the channel through which God’s grace quickens the sinner from dead works to serve the living God  (Ephesians 2:5,8; Hebrews 9:14; Titus 3:5-7).

All the manmade religions teach that the gifts and callings of God are to be purchased or merited.  But what sayeth the Scripture?  “Whosoever will...”  (John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Revelation 22:17).  The character of the Giver, the value of the Gift, and the extreme helplessness of the sinner  (Ephesians 2:1-8), combine to magnify the undeserving grace of God.  Then, God forbid that we be guilty of falling for the enemy’s lies in seeking salvation and in proclaiming a salvation of works  (Galatians 3:1-29).

Seeing this salvation is “without money and without price,” we must boldly preach the gospel to every creature.  The Freeness of Salvation precludes human selection of the candidates of grace!  We have been ordered by our LORD to “Go...into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature”  (Mark 16:15).  Because it is God Who offers salvation, and Who says, “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD shall be saved”  (Romans 10:13), it is the utter­most folly for anyone to reject this “so great salvation,” and to “judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life”  (Acts 13:46).

- - - - The Scriptures below are referenced in the doctrinal statement - - - -

Isaiah 55:1  Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.

Romans 1:16-17  For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. (17) For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Romans 16:25-26  Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began, (26) But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:

Romans 10:16-17  But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? (17) So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

John 3:18-19  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (19) And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.