First Sunday of Advent, 2012
Deacon Robert Banet
A discussion of salvation as a free gift, and something that is merited.
Free Gift?
Last week you told me about salvation being a free gift.
Yes. I’m glad you remembered.
I have a question about it.
Shoot.
Well, if it’s free and if you’re baptized, then you never have to worry about whether you commit sin or not, right?
Not exactly. It’ something that has been fought over for many years. You must live a good life. And if you sin, then you must go to confession.
So it’s not really free then, right?
Let’s think of salvation as a check. God gives you this check and it’s yours. It’s got your name on it and it’s got God’s signature on it. Now what you have to do is cash that check for it to do you any good.
Ah! I knew there was a catch.
You can call it a catch or not but it’s still your money. It belongs to you. God created us without our say-so, but He won’t bring us to Heaven without our cooperation. He makes the first big move by handing us that check.
It’s beginning to make sense.
Just think if you had to go out and get a job and then with your money, you buy that ticket to heaven.
You know, that’s the way I always thought of it. Now I really see it. I beginning to see how good God is.
We’ll never stop praising and thanking Him.