If Salvation is a Free Gift Why Doesn’t Everyone Accept It?
First let’s talk about a free gift. If you add any requirement at all to a free gift, it is no longer free. Most unbelievers do not believe salvation is a free gift. Sadly, most believers do not believe salvation is a totally free gift either. Yeah, they may say they agree with the bible passages that say it is a free gift, however they like to add “ but ” you must do or not do this or that to be truly saved. Also they may redefine what true belief is.
Now to answer the question as to why people will not accept the free gift of salvation. I believe there are at least four reasons, while there could be more.
Reason-1 They just simply do not believe in a supreme being (God).
This group usually believes in “Mother Nature” who ever that is and/or evolution.
Reason-2 They do not believe a free gift is really being offered.
I have kind of said this before, but some do not believe a free gift is really offered. In the world today there is a saying that goes “There is no such thing as a free lunch”. Meaning if you are offered a free lunch there is usually something behind it, if only your time to listen to a sales pitch.
Reason-3 They believe they already have what it is you are offering them.
If you had a home with a brand new expensive stove and oven that you loved and someone was offering a free stove, would you take it? Now I am not talking about taking it to sell or give away. I mean you have no need of it, so the fact that it is free does not motivate you to accept it. This was the case with the Pharisees in the bible. They were depending on their own righteous for salvation. Like those who say they believe they will go to Heaven because they are a good person.
Reason-4 They do not want what it is you are offering them.
This one seems the hardest one to believe and I would not add it to the list if it was not clearly stated in the bible. You may be thinking as I would, how could anyone not want to go to Heaven? Remember though, Satan and a third of the angles left Heaven. So I guess they did not like Heaven. Why, because they were evil and filled with pride.
Here are the bible verses below to support this last reason highlighting 19 and 20.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
John 3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
John 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.
John 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
John 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
Goodboy