John 10:17-18 English Standard Version

¹⁷ For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. ¹⁸ No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father.”

It is difficult to understand how something so precious as salvation could be free. Let us try to understand this from God’s perspective.

Nothing can be stolen from God. God is not weak.  Man cannot overpower God. Here Jesus declares the two foundational truths of the free will gift. “I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” The first demonstrates His free will sacrifice and the second demonstrates His power over death. His own words tells us how this relates to our salvation.

John 11:24-28 English Standard Version

²⁴ Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” ²⁵ Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, ²⁶ and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” ²⁷ She said to him, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.” ²⁸ When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary, saying in private, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.”

Jesus is calling. Can we confess in our hearts the words spoken by Martha? “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who is coming into the world.”

“Yes Lord” shows we have accepted His Lordship. “I believe” is by faith, because words have no meaning without faith. He is “coming into the world” is His promise to abide in us all who accept Him into their hearts.

Romans 3:23-24 English Standard Version

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, ²⁴ and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

The emphasis is always put on salvation which is the end game but we do not find that word in this scripture. We first find the word justified. God does not save what He cannot justify. This is why justification needs to be at the core of our understanding and our security in relationship with God.

Deuteronomy 32:4 English Standard Version (ESV) “The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he.

Psalm 118:22 English Standard Version (ESV) The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone.

Jesus Christ is the Rock, He is the Cornerstone upon which His church is built. His ways are justice. What He has done justifies us.

Romans 3:28 English Standard Version (ESV) For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.

At the core of individual salvation is the feeling of being lost. We are searching for a way out of the trap that has ensnared us.

Psalm 9:16 English Standard Version (ESV) The Lord has made himself known; he has executed judgment; the wicked are snared in the work of their own hands. 

Psalm 124:7 English Standard Version (ESV) We have escaped like a bird  from the snare of the fowlers;
the snare is broken, and we have escaped!

Once we realize we have been caught in sin’s snare we want to move from Ps 9:16 to Ps 124:7 but we cannot do it on our own, we need help. We don’t care much about why we are freed so much as just escaping.

Ephesians 2:8 English Standard Version (ESV) For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God,

How do we receive this gracious gift?