Information Related to "Does God Set Conditions on His Gift of Eternal Life?"
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In Ephesians 2:8-9, Paul explains that "by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast."
Eternal life comes as a result of God's grace. It is His gift, unearned and undeserved on our part. No one will ever be able to boast that he or she has earned or deserves the gift of eternal life.
But can we do things-or not do things-that will disqualify us from receiving that wonderful gift?
If there is an authority on receiving eternal life, it has to be Jesus Christ. After all, He is the one through whom we receive it.
In Hebrews 5:8-9, Jesus is called the author of our salvation: "Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered. And having been perfected, He became the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him."
Since salvation is God's gift, what does this passage mean when it speaks of "eternal salvation to all who obey Him"? If we must do something to receive God's gift of salvation, how can it be a gift?
Gifts can have conditions
The fact is, the Bible shows that God sets certain conditions for receiving salvation. Some conditions enable us to receive that gift, and other conditions disqualify us from receiving it.
To use an analogy, if someone offered to send you a $100 bill if you would send him a stamped, self-addressed envelope, he would be offering you a gift. If you failed to send the envelope, you would not receive the gift. You might complain, but you still would not receive the gift because you had not met the conditions. On the other hand, if you sent the required envelope and received the $100 bill, you did not earn the gift. You simply met the necessary conditions. The fact that conditions are attached makes it no less a gift.
Related Information on UCG Sites:
Obedience:
