Is It Really Free?

In American culture, the idea of a “free gift” hardly exists. Consider the familiar slogan: “Buy one, get one free.” But if you must buy one in order to get the second, is the second really free? What is the difference between “BOGO” and “50% off”? Essentially, nothing. Yet studies show that “BOGO” generates more sales than “50% off.”

We even have a saying: “There’s no such thing as a free lunch.” That’s usually true in the way we use the words gift or even free gift—there always seems to be a catch, some string attached. But that is not true of the way the word gift is used in the New Testament.

When it comes to salvation, two Greek words are used—dorea and charisma. Both convey the idea of a free, unearned gift—one given without obligation, payment, or expectation of return.

Paul used both of those words in describing the free gift of salvation:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift (charisma) of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Rom 6:23; NASB).

“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift (dorea) of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Eph 2:8-9; NASB).

Yet some Bible teachers claim that salvation will cost you everything. One well-known teacher even wrote:

“Saving faith is a commitment to leave sin and follow Jesus Christ at all costs. Thus in a sense we pay the ultimate price for salvation.”

But either salvation is a free gift, as the apostle Paul taught—or it costs us something. It cannot be both.

Dr. Harry Ironside warned:

“When anyone comes promising salvation to those ‘who make full surrender’ of all that they have to God, and who ‘pay the price of full salvation’ he is preaching another gospel, for the price was paid on Calvary’s cross and the work that saves is finished. It was Christ Jesus who made the full surrender when He yielded His life on Calvary that saves us, not our surrender in any way to Him.”

At this Thanksgiving season, as we pause to remember all that we are thankful for, let us rejoice most of all in the gift of salvation that is truly free.

“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift (dorea)” (2 Cor 9:15; NASB)!

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

The Sole Basis of Salvation
by Lance Latham

There is something within the heart of a man which constantly presses to make a perverse addition to the sole basis of our salvation, the work of Christ on the cross. Constantly pressed by the sin of pride, the mind of the natural man is ever reluctant to admit its sinful, helpless condition.

Many who understand the gospel refuse to come to Christ because they will not admit that they lack a shred of goodness, righteousness or desirability within themselves that God can accept.

Religious leaders try to add baptism, church membership, faithful living, personal sacrifice or some other human work to the work of Christ to the hope of salvation for the believer. Such philosophies may have filled the coffers of religion but have confused the issue of salvation and thus damaged countless souls.

One who discovers the gospel will instantly realize that the sole basis of his salvation is the work of Christ on Calvary’s cross. Saving faith depends alone on the value of Calvary. All other possible sources for the assurance of salvation are counterfeit.

 

Some exciting news!

I’m writing with some exciting news. After many years of keeping my Bible teaching resources online at my old site hosted by 4himnet.com, I no longer have access to update or manage it. That left me with a choice: let the online ministry fade, or start fresh. I chose to start fresh—and I’m glad I did!

I’m pleased to introduce my brand-new website: BobNyberg.org.

The internet has been part of my ministry journey for quite a while. I first dabbled with a website back in the late 1990s when free hosting sites like Angelfire were popular. In 2005 I moved everything over to 4HimNet, where the site lived for nearly 20 years. Now, in 2025, it feels good to have a new “home base” that is easier to navigate and much more up to date.

On this new site you’ll find a growing collection of articles I’ve written on key Bible topics—doctrines of salvation, the relationship between law and grace, issues surrounding Calvinism, and principles of Bible interpretation. These aren’t abstract theological exercises; my heart is to make these subjects clear and practical so that believers can grow in their confidence and joy in the Lord. You can explore the articles here: BobNyberg.org/Articles.

My vision for this website is simple: that it will serve as a resource to help people better understand the gospel of grace and the truth of God’s Word. Whether you are a pastor, a missionary, a Bible teacher, or simply a believer hungry for God’s truth, my hope is that these materials will strengthen your walk and equip you to share Christ more clearly with others.

I’d love for you to visit the site, bookmark it, and make use of the resources there. If you find it helpful, please consider sharing it with others who might benefit. And I would also welcome your feedback—what’s useful, what could be improved, and what topics you’d like to see covered in the future.

I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue serving the Lord in this way, and I look forward to what He will do through this new online chapter.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Doctrine Matters

The apostle Paul almost always began his letters with sound doctrine before moving on to exhortations for daily living. First, he laid the foundation of what believers are to believe; then he explained how those truths should shape the Christian walk. You cannot live the Christian life as God intends unless you first know what God has said. The truth must take root in your mind and heart before it can be worked out in your hands and feet. Right believing always comes before right living—that’s God’s design.

 

When “we” does not mean “we”!

A man lay in the hospital when a nurse came in. The conversation went like this:

Nurse: "Did we have our breakfast this morning?"
Patient: "I don't know about you, but I did."
Nurse: "And did we give a urine sample this morning?"
Patient: "What do you mean, 'we'?"

Sometimes we does not really mean we! Sadly, this statement can be illustrated regarding a well-known conservative seminary. Every year, professors are asked to sign the doctrinal statement to confirm their agreement. One professor signs it faithfully. Yet privately, he admits that he does not believe what it says. His justification? "We—my department—believes it. However, I do not personally believe everything in the doctrinal statement."

Again—sometimes we does not really mean we.

This hits closer to home as well. Not long ago, a student in our own training program privately confessed that he disagreed with parts of our doctrinal statement. Instead of addressing the issue, he was advised that if he simply kept his head down and stayed quiet, he would get through just fine.

That kind of thinking is dangerous. When people in Christian organizations continue to serve while quietly disagreeing with their stated doctrine, the result is doctrinal drift. And drift always leads away from truth, never toward it.

In recent days, the Biblical Resource Group has been discussing this problem. Sadly, we have found that some hold views that contradict the doctrinal statement they once affirmed. In my opinion, this is not merely a matter of differing opinions. It is a matter of integrity.

Recently, some of our leaders have expressed a concern about where this drift could lead if left unchecked. The gospel itself is at stake. As Paul wrote to Timothy, "Take heed to yourself and to the doctrine. Continue in them, for in doing this you will save both yourself and those who hear you" (1 Timothy 4:16).

We value your prayers as we seek to guard the truth, stand firm in grace, and resist the subtle pull of doctrinal drift.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

No Other Gospel

I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. (Gal. 1:6-7)

"Any other gospel is another gospel and is not the true gospel. Without the creation, the gospel has no foundation; without the promised consummation, it offers no hope; without the cross and the empty tomb, it has no saving power."

-Dr. Henry Morris

 

Speaking the Truth in Love

The apostle Paul challenged his readers to speak the truth in love (Eph. 4:15).

My old Bible college president, L.E. Maxwell, used to say, “The hardest thing to do in the Christian life is to keep balanced.” That’s especially true when writing about controversial subjects.

When writing polemic papers, which confront error, it’s easy to focus on speaking truth while neglecting to speak it in love. But both are necessary.

A shepherd has two main tasks: 1) to care for and feed the sheep and 2) to protect the sheep from danger.

In his writings, Miles Stanford sought to do both. His book The Green Letters built up the body of Christ, while The Red Letters warned against false teaching. Many appreciated The Green Letters, but The Red Letters sometimes met resistance. One of his polemic papers was even titled Brain Dead. While his warning may have been needed, the tone could feel to some as being too sharp.

This challenge is one our Biblical Resource Group is facing now. We’re revising a paper on Insider Movements that go to an extreme regarding contextualization. This is a controversial trend in missions.

What are Insider Movements?
These are approaches where people from another faith (often Islam or Hinduism) claim to follow Jesus but remain within their original religious community.

What is Contextualization?
It’s presenting the gospel in ways that fit a culture. Wise contextualization is biblical. For example, Paul became “all things to all men” (1 Cor. 9:22). However, taken too far it can distort the gospel and blur the uniqueness of Christ.

Some forms of Insider Movements represent this kind of extreme. Our group feels compelled to address it—but with care. We must speak truth boldly while guarding our tone.

We certainly need your prayers as we attempt to strike a balance. Please ask God to give us wisdom, clarity, and a loving spirit for this project. Pray that our words will help believers discern truth from error without unnecessarily offending those we seek to help.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Balancing Truth and Love

“Truth without love is brutality, and love without truth is hypocrisy.” –Warren Wiersbe

 

What is your identity?

Miles Stanford once wrote: “Let the facts of your position overwhelm the feelings of your condition.” This may sound a bit abstract, but it is a deeply practical and liberating truth.

What did Stanford mean by this? He was drawing a distinction between two realities: the facts of our position and the feelings of our condition. The former refers to our unchanging spiritual status in Christ—our positional truth. The latter refers to our experiences in life—our conditional reality, which can vary from day to day.

Stanford’s encouragement was simple yet profound: anchor your mindset and assurance in the objective truths of Scripture, not in the ever-changing tides of circumstance.

This perspective is deeply rooted in the teachings of Paul. For example:

• We are justified freely by His grace (Rom. 3:24).
• We have been crucified, buried, raised, and seated with Christ (Rom. 6:3–11; Eph. 2:4–6).
• We are complete in Christ (Col. 2:10).
• We are accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).

These facts are true regardless of how we feel on any given day.

Our condition—emotional state, mental struggles, physical hardships, or even our failures—may not always reflect these truths. That’s why Stanford’s message is so vital: don’t judge your spiritual identity by your current feelings or performance. Instead, reaffirm what is eternally true because of your position in Christ.

This message challenges a common error in Christian living. Many believers tie their assurance and joy to how well they’re doing or how much fruit they’re producing. Stanford offers a different alternative where growth flows from resting in our position in Christ rather than striving to earn or maintain it.

So how do we apply this?

• In times of failure, remind yourself: “There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus” (Rom. 8:1).
• When you feel unworthy, remember: You are accepted in the Beloved (Eph. 1:6).
• When discouraged, rest in this truth: Your life is hidden with Christ in God (Col. 3:3).

So, in the midst of weakness, failure, or emotional turmoil, anchor your heart in the unchanging truth of God’s Word. You are not what you feel—you are who God declares you to be in Christ. Let the unshakable facts of your position in Him rise above the instability of your condition. For in Christ, your identity is settled, your acceptance is secure, and your victory is already won.

Blessings,

Bob

* * *

Where Are You Looking?

If you want to be distressed, look within.

If you want to be defeated, look back.

If you want to be dismayed, look ahead.

If you want to be discouraged, look around.

If you want to be delivered, look to Christ.

If you want to be delighted, look up!