Can Something This Good Really Be Free?

Alissa Perry —

We often say, “Nothing in life is free”—and if it is, there’s probably a catch. But is that always true? 

Think about some of the truly priceless things in life: the ability to hear, the joy of music, a sharp mind, or unique talents. How much did you pay for those? Nothing. They were simply given to you. And yet, while they cost you nothing, they often came at a cost to someone else. 

Recently, I took my two daughters on their first trip to New York City. For them, it was a gift—an adventure full of memories. But for me? Flights, hotels, food, and transportation—it cost quite a bit.  

 This brings us to a much bigger gift: salvation. The Bible describes it as a free gift (Ephesians 2:8). But that can be hard to accept. How could something so important, so life-changing, be truly free? 

 And yet, we accept gifts all the time—on birthdays, holidays, or when a friend can’t use their concert tickets. Most of the time, we don’t stop to question the giver’s motives. We may ask, “Are you sure?” But, in the end, we usually trust the person who’s offering it—especially if we know they paid for it themselves. 

 I’ll never forget the moment when someone gave our family a generous gift of cash for a specific need. I was stunned and overwhelmed. I looked at them and asked, “What do I do?” They simply said, “You take it.” I did. And to this day, the envelope that held that gift still sits in my desk as a reminder that some of the most meaningful gifts cost the giver deeply, even when they cost us nothing. 

That’s how the gift of salvation works. Jesus paid for it in full—and we receive it by trusting Him. Just like accepting that envelope, we enjoy salvation by placing our trust in Jesus, the one who gave it (John 3:16). 

Could it really be that something so good has already been paid for—and is now offered to us?  

 Maybe the reason salvation feels too good to be true is because it is so good. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. It just means someone else paid for it. And we can thank Jesus for doing so.