Your right, its not free. Jesus paid for it with his life on the cross.
But I sadly know this is not what youmeant
No, It caused Christ his life.
When I repent like the tax collector. I am admitting to God I have failed. I am lost. I have no hope, and I am begging God for his mercy. In doing this, I have basically given up my freedom and my life. and given it to God
Remember, God said he went home justified. Not the do gooder religious person who thought he cleansed himself and made himself pure.
Yes, But did not the tax collector do this? has not everyone who has truly repented and Given their life and eternity To God for his safe keeping and his power to become children of God. And his strength to sanctify us in spirit and in truth so we are empowered to do these things?
And will not the man who loves his life (a life of sin) never come to Christ fully? Maybe in mere belief as in James, but not fully trusting God with a living faith that saves?
Again, Did Not God promise that he who began a good work will continue it? or not?
so basically, You offer your children a gift, yet tell them they must meet certain conditions to keep this gift. is it not really a downpayment for work that will be done, Or as some call it a bribe to try to get someone to do things your way?
Free means free, if conditions are placed in it, Is it really free?
Your right, And the most common gospel of all religions on earth is the fact that good works are what are required if you are to get into heaven. The thought of salvation being paid completely by the God of this universe is a laughable offense. And the would say those who even think this are easy believers.
How Ironic, It is like I foresaw this.
I am not an easy believer, It takes more than belief, it takes a living faith. No one is saved based on mere belief james 2 along with the book of Jude)
Jesus says otherwise?
The penalty of sin is death, the gift of God is eternal life.
Jesus said as moses lifted the serpent in the wilderness so to that the son of man must be lifted up that whoever believes in him will never die, but has eternal life.
If seems like maybe you do not understand this life Jesus speaks of is our salvation. We are saved from death.
You still have not answered are we saved because of belief.
So you have a faith that is outside scripture, and involves a free offer of salvation, which is accepted without belief.
But accepting something is a condition of the gift taking effect this means it is earnt in this language of conditionality.
If everyone gets the gift without accepting it, universalism, then that is unconditional.
Free prize draws require the claiment to produce a ticket to show they have a right to the prize.
I see your problem, but if you believe in the lake of fire and judgement, this has to be based upon something ie a condition.
In a very real sense we did not earn Christ's love and sacrifice, He gave it freely, but faith was His condition.
And linked as part of this faith is obedience and love.
Paul put the conditional nature of salvation even more clearly
9 That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
Rom 10:9-10
Paul is talking about confession in a deeper sense as well, as walking in the ways of Jesus, following His example.
I know those wounded by a lifetime of legalism, any rules or issues around rejection cause panic and depression.
In some ways this is a problem of theology and ideas, as opposed to knowing Jesus and the cross. Jesus's love is overwhelming, and the causes of sin our aloneness and bitterness over hurt. Remove the aloneness and bitterness, and His love heals and changes us. But for those with a closed heart trying hard to be good, are undermined by their own position and state.
I have a friend who is addicted to dominance, in every conversation and interaction. He believes in Jesus, but to a limit. He is totally unaware that I do not need dominating, or being put down, or being seen as a threat. I am not sure he will ever come out of this, but it dominates everything, and he wonders why people do not connect.
In Jesus we have to go beyond ideas into who and what we really are, and in need of Him.
So I feel the mind that desires to turn things around to their model of the world, except I know Jesus and His gospel. You cannot change this mountain or His words, only humble oneself and bow the knee and learn His ways. God bless you