Allen Dvorak
01/09/09
Sometimes I wonder if my name is actually listed under "Gullible" in the yellow pages of the telephone book. Why else would I receive calls from salespersons who begin their spiel like this: "Mr. Dvorak, we want to give you a free, seven-year subscription to the magazine "American Worm Growers," two family photos and a free, two-week vacation in the Bahamas. Would you be interested in that?" Who wouldn’t want a seven-year subscription to "American Worm Growers"?
Of course there is always a hook somewhere in all of that bait. The telemarketer first spends time luring the prospect with promises of free this and that, asking questions to which only morons would answer "no" ("Mr. Dvorak, could you use a million dollars?") until it is assumed that the "mark" is salivating at the thought of receiving all this free stuff.
Eventually, however, it comes out. "Now, Mr. Dvorak, to receive your free magazine subscription, free 14-day, 2-night vacation and family photos, all you have to do is purchase our deluxe home vacuum which normally retails for $8,549, but is available today only for the special price of $2,999. Do you want that vacuum shipped to your home address at?" Whatever is being offered in the way of "incentives," biting on the hook will cost me much more than the value of the freebies.
The effect of this kind of telemarketing is that we become (or should become!) suspicious of anyone offering anything to us at no cost. When the telephone call begins, "Mr. Divoriak, would you like to go on a European vacation for only $39.95," I have begun saving myself and the telemarketing salesperson valuable time by just asking, "What do I have to buy?" Sometimes I can hear the disapproval in the caller’s voice when it becomes obvious that I am not going to play according to advertising rules!
No wonder folks are a little skeptical when they hear that salvation is free. It sounds too good to be true; they are looking for the hook in this attractive bait. Unfortunately, the prevalence of religious shysters has also helped to create the impression with some that religion always has a "hook."
The good news (the "gospel"), however, is that no one can earn salvation. The apostle Paul wrote that we are justified "freely by His grace" (Romans 3:24) and that salvation is the gift of God (Ephesians 2:8).
No amount of church attendance, charitable contributions, prayer or Bible study will earn the redemption that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 3:24). No treasure chest of good works is large enough to pay the price of my forgiveness; it took the blood of Jesus to redeem me (Ephesians 1:7).
Some have confused earning salvation with the conditional nature of salvation. Redemption, however, is "in Christ Jesus," a phrase which indicates a relationship with Jesus. While forgiveness is free, man is expected by God to respond with obedient faith to the invitation of the gospel (Romans 3:21-26; 6:3; Galatians 3:26-27).