“The Free Gift” (2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 15, HCSB) by Carley Evans

Paul is convinced that “if one dies for all, then all die.” The One who dies is Jesus Christ. Since He dies for all, then we who live because of Him “should no longer live for [ourselves].”

In Christ, we are “new creation[s].” (2 Corinthians 5: 17) In Him, we are “the righteousness of God.” (2 Corinthians 5: 21)

The righteousness of God comes “through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all sin and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by His grace as a gift.” (Romans 3: 22 – 24, ESV)

Our salvation is a gift. And, this gift is free as Paul repeatedly proclaims: “But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many die through one man’s trespass, much more has the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abound for many. And the free gift is not like the result of that one man’s sin. For the judgment following one trespass brings condemnation, but the free gift following many trespasses brings justification.” (Romans 5: 15 – 16)

Paul is not concerned with being redundant, and so encourages us with this truth: “The free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6: 23, ESV)