This is for the JW lurkers out there.
1st off, lets look at the word Gift :
1. something given voluntarily without payment in return, as to show favor toward someone, honor an occasion, or make a gesture of assistance; present.
2. the act of giving.
3. something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned: Those extra points he got in the game were a total gift.
4. a special ability or capacity; natural endowment; talent: the gift of saying the right thing at the right time.
–verb (used with object)
5. to present with as a gift; bestow gifts upon; endow with.
6. to present (someone) with a gift: just the thing to gift the newlyweds.
Now lets look at the word earned:
1. To gain especially for the performance of service, labor, or work: earned money by mowing lawns.
2. To acquire or deserve as a result of effort or action: She earned a reputation as a hard worker.
3. To yield as return or profit: a savings account that earns interest on deposited funds.
Now, lets look at how the word Salvation is used in the Bible. We see that the word Gift is used when the Bible describes how one obtains Salvation, but the word Earned is never used. So by the Bible, Salvation is something bestowed or acquired without any particular effort by the recipient or without its being earned.
Hopefully this will help anyone out who wonders why most non JWS think Salvation is a free gift.
Is Sallvation a gift or by works? (An explination)
by A-Team 2 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
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A-Team
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The Dragon
do you earn a gift?
Do you buy a gift?
There really is no undisputable answer to this question though....we have no idea for sure what "salvation", "works", or "gift" even is for sure!
all I can do is guess.....
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bob1999
Romans 4:4-5
4 Now to one who works, his wages are not reckoned as a gift but as his due. 5 And to one who does not work but trusts him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is reckoned as righteousness.