are freely given and freely received. to attempt to give or receive a gift in any other manner makes it not a gift. so it is with our salvation. god offers us salvation as a free gift. he does not attach strings to it, because to do so makes it something other than a gift. in addition, any attempt on our part, no matter how small, to pay for our salvation by doing something or giving up something is an insult to god. no one in heaven will ever be able to say, “look at me! i made it! with a little help from god. i made it!” salvation is 