Eternal Life Is A Gift, Not An Award Or Exchange

Romans 5:15-18, “But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many. And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification. For if by one man's offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ.) Therefore as by the offence of one judgment came upon all men to condemnation; even so by the righteousness of one the free gift came upon all men unto justification of life.” Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Ephesians 2:8-9, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

Repeatedly in the Bible we are taught that eternal life is a “gift” from God. Lest anyone should cast any doubt, the Bible clarifies in Romans 5:15, 16 and 18 three times that eternal life is a “FREE GIFT.” If you always keep this beautiful truth in mind dear reader, you will never be led astray by the myriad of false teachings concerning salvation that abound in churches today.

I don't like refuting other preachers, but I do love contending for the faith (Jude 1:3). Interestingly, the Bible says that we actually need false prophets, so those who preach THE TRUTH can be made known. 1st Corinthians 11:19, “For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.” Having said that, I want to expose a couple popular false teachers of our generation, who pervert the grace of God.

Evangelist Steve Pettit Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

The first false teacher is Evangelist Steve Pettit (president of Bob Jones University since 2014). In a heretical sermon preached on January 26, 2015 at BJU chapel, titled: “What Does it Mean To Run The Race?,” Dr. Steve Pettit heretically refers to Heaven as an “award” and a “prize”...

“We run the race, we cross the finish line, and so what’s the prize? What is the award? Well, there are different viewpoints. Some would have the viewpoint that the awards are crowns in Heaven. But as I read the book of Hebrews and see the whole gist of the book and the flow of the book, I don’t believe its referring to crowns in Heaven. I think it is referring to Heaven itself.” [emphasis added] —Dr. Steve Pettit (“What Does It Mean To Run 'The Race'?” - 22:57)

Dear reader, Heaven is not an “award,” it is a gift. The very moment that a person becomes born-again, by faith alone in Jesus Christ, they are 100% guaranteed going to Heaven. Nothing more is required from God than faith. Sadly, Dr. Pettit errantly teaches that in order to obtain the “prize,” the “award,” of Heaven, he says you must “QUALIFY” for it by faithfully running the race all your life. This is NOT sound Bible teaching! Kindly said, Steve Pettit has corrupted God's grace—by misrepresenting the Gospel—turning it into a “prize” and an “award” that depends upon OUR faithfulness, instead of a “free gift” that depends upon GOD'S faithfulness.

Pastor John MacArthur Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

Second is Pastor John MacArthur of Grace To You ministry in California. In his popular 1988 book titled, “The Gospel According to Jesus,” Pastor John MacArthur even heretically uses the word “exchange” concerning being saved:

“Thus in a sense we pay the ultimate price for salvation when our sinful self is nailed to a cross. . . . It is an exchange of all that we are for all that Christ is. And it denotes implicit obedience, full surrender to the lordship of Christ. Nothing less can qualify as saving faith.” [emphasis added] —Pastor John MacArthur; The Gospel According to Jesus, p. 140

Dear friend, salvation is not an exchange, it is a free gift! Receiving the free gift of eternal life is not a trade, not an exchange. John MacArthur is preaching another gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works! MacArthur is teaching doctrines of Devils. Not surprisingly, the preceding heretical book by Dr. John MacArthur is required reading at the demonic Mormon 'Brigham Young University' in Utah. When hellbound Mormons are promoting a preacher's plan of salvation, you know something is very wrong!

Mr. MacArthur is not a born-again Christian, he is a tare in the churches. A true believer is wheat. Matthew 13:38, “The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;” The Bible calls anyone “accursed” who preaches another gospel (Galatians 1:8). Salvation is not doing your best, it is having Christ's best put to your account through receiving Him by faith. God will not save anyone who is trying to be saved, He will only save those who are trusting to be saved. Salvation is received, not achieved!

Religion is man trying to reach God through human effort, but Christianity is God trying to reach man by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son on the cross. It is not your faithfulness that gets you to Heaven, it is God's faithfulness. What saith the Scripture? Philippians 3:9, “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:”

PGM's 'UNSHACKLED' Is A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing

I was disgusted the other day while listening to Pacific Garden Mission's popular radio program called 'UNSHACKLED.' Pacific Garden Mission is troubling Chicago with their perverted gospel of partial faith in Christ plus works. Don't take my word for it, read this sickening transcript from UNSHACKLED:

Program #3625 - Aired in 2020 (the story of Cydanni Ade; she takes a stroll on the beach and meets a stranger, to whom she starts discussing her struggle with truth.) Here is some of their heretical interaction...

Cydanni Ade: “I know, you're going to tell me He [Jesus] loves me unconditionally, and wants to be my Savior.”

Stranger On The Beach: “Yes and no!”

Cydanni Ade: “What?”

Stranger On The Beach: “He does love people, but Him becoming your Savior HAS CONDITIONS!”

Cydanni Ade: “I've always heard He loves everyone unconditionally.”

Stranger On The Beach: “Then, why does He call us to repent? If God loves everybody unconditionally, then you can do whatever you want, and believe whatever you think.”

Cydanni Ade: “I know that's not true!”

Stranger On The Beach: “Right! So, God placed an absolute condition, by which He requires, commands all people everywhere, to repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ, and live for Him!”

Cydanni Ade: “Huh.” [emphasis added]

SOURCE: Program #3625 - Aired in 2020 (the story of Cydanni Ade)

Dear reader, there are NO CONDITIONS of salvation, except to freely RECEIVE God's free gift! No where does the Bible teach to “turn from your sins” (false repentance) to be saved. That would be a trade, an exchange, giving up your sins in exchange for eternal life. That could not be a free gift! No where does the Bible require a person to “live for God” to be saved. Pacific Garden Mission is guilty of perverting the Gospel of free grace. They have sinfully added forsaking your sins, and living for God, as requirements to receive God's free gift. That is NOT what the Bible teaches!

Salvation Is Receiving, Not Giving

Please beware of anyone who teaches that God requires something FROM YOU in return, or as a condition, of receiving His free gift of eternal life. God is offering eternal life to everyone as a free gift! The debt has been paid in full. Your sins have been completely paid for, and all you have to do is receive God's gift of forgiveness of sins and eternal life. Just take it by faith! You don't have to ask God to save you, because He is already asking you! He simply wants you to receive His gift, by taking Him at His Word as recorded in the Scriptures.