Why can’t we understand “free”?

Why do we fall for the “Buy one get one free” marketing hype, but doubt God’s absolutely free gift of salvation and grace?

Madison Avenue has gutted the  true meaning of  the word “free”.

We see “Buy-one-get-one-free” ads for all kinds of products. But “Buy-one-get-one-free” is fake advertising.

Consider this Ad:

“Buy one box of Tide for $8.00 and get the second box free.”

One box of Tide costs $8.00; then they say the second box is “free“.
It’s not “free” at all.
You paid eight dollars for two boxes. That’s $4 bucks a box.

As savvy consumers, we’ve become skeptics of fake ad claims. We’ve learned there’s no “free” lunch. When we hear something is “free“, we ask, “What’s the catch?” Because in the world there always is one.

Nothing on earth is ever “free”  except . . .

God’s free gift of salvation.

“The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 6:23

If eternal life is a free gift, as Romans 6:23 says it is (“the free gift of God is eternal life”), then . . .

• It is not a wage.
• It is not something we pay for.
• It is not something we earn.
• It is not something we deserve.
• It is not something we work to attain.

It’s free.

“And if this eternal life is the outcome (not the wage) of sanctification, as verse Romans 6:22 says (“But now you are free from sin. You have become slaves of God, and the result is that you live only for God. This will bring you eternal life.”) it is then that sanctification must be a free gift too.”¹

Salvation and attending Sanctification are both free gifts from God. He saves us. He sanctifies us, TOTALLY FREE. Totally His idea. His purpose. His work. By His hand.  And by His grace and for His glory.

¹excerpt from The Free Gift of God by John Piper