Salvation is a free gift from God because we cannot be perfect enough to earn it and His blood and sacrifice make it all possible.  However, a Christian will be attached to the vine and bearing fruit fitting of repentance and seeking forgiveness (1 John 1:9).  But without that repentance on our part, it would not appear that the process of forgiveness is possible.

 So there may be something we need to do, too.  To just sit back and do nothing and say one accepts Jesus, while continuing in unrepentant sin, could be a mite dangerous.  The Bible asks, “How shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?”

 

We know that if we spurn the Holy Spirit and commit the unpardonable sin by not repenting and using the Spirit that has been bestowed upon us, we have a certain fearful looking toward the Day of Judgment and there is no longer any sacrifice for sin that can be applied toward us (Heb. 6:4-6).

 We also have Hebrews 10:

 ²⁶ For if we willfully persist in sin after having received the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins, ²⁷ but a fearful prospect of judgment, and a fury of fire that will consume the adversaries. ²⁸ Anyone who has violated the law of Moses dies without mercy “on the testimony of two or three witnesses.” ²⁹ How much worse punishment do you think will be deserved by those who have spurned the Son of God, profaned the blood of the covenant by which they were sanctified, and outraged the Spirit of grace? ³⁰ For we know the one who said, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay.” And again, “The Lord will judge his people.” ³¹ It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God[1]

 The only thing I can think of that would be worse than physical death would be eternal death.  So once again, I’m having trouble believing there is absolutely nothing we should do.  While there is nothing—not enough—we can do to earn salvation, we at least have to have the will and desire to do our part, it would appear.  Then He would be doing “above and beyond” what we are able to do.

 But to do absolutely nothing—no works and a dead (tantamount to no) faith, then how can someone be “saved by faith”?  If one can actually outrage the Spirit of grace, then you’d think he should be very careful in how he walks.

 Think of it another way.  You have won a free gift in a sweepstakes.  Ed McMahon writes and tells you that you have won.  Now you must step right up and claim it in order to be a true winner.  You have won it and it is “yours for the asking,” but if left unclaimed you will not receive or be able to avail yourself of it. 

 You have to step up and show that you want it.  If you actually spurn the gift as “trifling and worthless,” then in essence you really don’t deserve it and it may not do you any good if you can’t fully enjoy and be thankful for it.

 This explanation or analogy could go a long way in helping us appreciate the words of Jesus when He talked about profaning what is holy:

 

Profaning the Holy

⁶ “Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you.[2]

 If you become a swine who can’t appreciate what you’ve been offered—or if the Giver sees that His gift (of the Spirit and of subsequent eternal life) is spurned rather than relished, there is then “no more sacrifice for sins” and Christ’s blood cannot be applied to cover your sins—since you are not repentant and actively seeking to have them covered by His blood through your seeking forgiveness (1 John 1:9) when you sin.

 This also gives new insight into Christ’s notation that the violent seize the kingdom of heaven by force (Mt. 11:12).  We also have Luke 16:

 ¹⁶ “The law and the prophets were in effect until John came; since then the good news of the kingdom of God is proclaimed, and everyone tries to enter it by force. ¹⁷ But it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away, than for one stroke of a letter in the law to be dropped.[3]

 The law is not done away, since heaven and earth have not passed away.  It is true that He lives His life in us and covers our sins, but we must step up and claim that forgiveness.

 It makes sense that unrepentant sinners will not receive the free gift they have so easily and consistently spurned.  To say they will in essence be forced to accept it—against their will, as it were—does not appear to be in tune with the scriptures.

 I hope to get that “eternal security” article finished off this weekend, as it is mostly completed already.  This is a deep subject, as usual, be oh so important, for sure.