Answers
By BGEA Staff • February 17, 2024 • Topics: Salvation
Q:
It’s hard to get a clear answer on the cost of salvation. Some say it’s a gift from God, others say we have to earn our salvation, and then there are those who claim it costs nothing. My pastor says it’s all the same and that people just use different terminology. Which is it?
A:
From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham
People have become well versed in Christian terminology but are remiss in the actual practice of Christ’s principles and teachings. Our greatest need is not more Christianity but more true Christians.
Salvation is free to us, but it cost Jesus His life. It will also cost the sinner his or her sins when a person receives His gift. This does not mean that we have to clean up our lives in order to be saved. The Lord knows we don’t have the power to do that. But we must come to Him in repentance, and then His Holy Spirit will take up residence and empower us to walk away from sin. That’s why Jesus paid for our sins with His blood—to set us on a new path.
Now many people quickly say, “Well, I do love God and follow Him,” but we must put it to the test. Do we prove our love to God when we go against His commands? The Bible says, “Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him” (1 John 2:3–4, NKJV).
How can we imagine living in disobedience while claiming the Holy Spirit is guiding us? If we do so without conviction and repentance, we prove we do not love Jesus—because Jesus said His Spirit would convict of sin.
We can be convicted of sin—we can pray and confess our sin—but the real test is our willingness to obey.
(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)
