God's free gift of heaven....and man's interpretation of what that means

My interpretation is that salvation is a free gift for anyone who accepts it. So yes you have to accept it, but you don't have to go to church on Sundays, take communion, give money to church, or take any other action.

Now what does it mean to "accept" the free gift? Honestly, I'm still trying to figure that part out.

Others could offer more than I could, AJK, but would love to give an opinion. 8)

Does the Bible really say we're given a free gift of salvation? If so, I haven't read it.

When we give gifts, we offer verbal thanks, and a written note. Who would keep giving if the recipient grabbed the gift and left? Guess it seems to me that we should at least offer thanks to God and try to follow what He wants us to do to show our appreciation for His gifts.


The scriptures I've read make me think something is expected. James, in James 2:24 says "You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only."

Peter said, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the holy spirit." Acts 2:38

Throughout the Bible it mentions faith without works is dead, and that we are to love one another. Wouldn't that indicate that some action is required of us?

Noah was given a gift, but he had to build an ark to take advantage of the gift.

Interesting thoughts you presented. Thanks for offering something to think about.

You raise a point, and in no means am I saying that if we choose to do something other then good things with the gift we are given, we won't suffer for it down here, cause we do. But.....have you stopped to think what would happen if there was no such suffering, and how it would change life here and beyond? I am coming to understand it all has a purpose, and every soul has a place in God's plan, whom without, it all would cease to be.

Last Edited by ajk on 12/21/2010 06:16 PM

Yes, have thought much about a world without suffering. It would be like paradise. Like the original Garden of Eden. Maybe we'll have it again, like we're promised:

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away. Rev. 21:4

Maybe it'll be in our lifetimes, AJK. Would that be awesome?

Salvation is clearly spelled out in the Psalms, lonnnng before Jesus and no sacrifice required.


Psalm 51

1Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions.

2Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

3For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me.

4Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest.

5Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me.

6Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.

7Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

8Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

9Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities.

10Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.

11Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me.

12Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit.

13Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.

14Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.

15O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.

16For thou desirest not sacrifice; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering.

17The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.

18Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem.

19Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering and whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.

Ah but we need suffering.....I'm going to send you something privately to explain what I mean ok?

I could spare you your psychological malaise, but you'll probably dismiss me out of hand. Your question doesn't exist, except rhetorically. There is no such thing as salvation. We do not need to be saved from anything. We are eternal creatures who live on and on, moving in and out of form. We are life in its most sublime state. Nothing can harm us or stop us or relegate us to some nether region based on some misconstructed religious rhetoric. You may disagree, especially for the sake of your discussion here, but you are wrong. And you will find out you are wrong when you leave the planet, again, only to find out that the universe is one big processing/reprocessing plant for life. Your query also implies that there is a localized being you would refer to as "god" - and probably a man, no less. Good luck finding him when you cross over too.

Last Edited by twitter this on 12/21/2010 06:37 PM

Oh no don't misunderstand.....I fully believe we all a part of God and go back to Him after this life, just didn't know how else to really title it in relevance to this particular issue.

So why start a thread about salvation?


And we don't "go back to god" as you put it. We move on and along, in and out of form continuously. There is no end point or destination.

Have changed the title.

Sure......I think.

What, oh what is the point to these "free gift" threads?


Heaven is also a rhetorical misconstruction. It doesn't exist. We don't live one lifetime and then park our butts somewhere for eternity as some reward or punishment. That's insanely stupid and an insult to all life and to whatever created it.

Ah but you're wrong.....all this exists for a purpose good and evil alike.

Gasp. You changed "salvation," to "heaven." That's out of my realm.

I was being generous when I said that 99.99% of what I stated went over your head.

Be ever-firm in all you think and when the next strong breeze comes along, you will snap like a twig.

Last Edited by twitter this on 12/21/2010 06:54 PM