I have heard many Christians say that if everyone got a free pass into heaven, there would be no incentive to do good; to be good. People would do whatever they chose to do because it didn’t matter.

On the other hand, people accused of being Universalists would counter this claim by saying that if they knew what Jesus did for them they would always want to do good; that if they knew how much Jesus loved them, their response would be kindness and love toward others.

What if, instead of trying to counter the free pass theory, we looked at the other side? What would be the alternative to everyone being included? If everyone were not included, what would be the incentive to do good?

It seems to me there are two options. If only a select few were included in the invitation, salvation would either be random or it would be earned.

If it were random, there is no incentive to be good, for we would be created in the image and likeness of a creator who is, himself, not good. How can any creator be considered good when they decide your fate of heaven or hell by the flip of a coin? How can he condemn most of his creation to eternal suffering, and still be called good, other than out of fear?

You can certainly praise your creator if you are on the positive side of this equation. We must praise him or forever be looking over our shoulder for a fearful God who may change his mind on a whim.

And what is your incentive to do good if mere randomness put you in heaven to begin with?

The other option is doing good to earn your salvation. But wasn’t this addressed many times over?

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. Ephesians 2v8-9

He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy. Titus 3v5

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. Romans 3v28

We know that a person is not justified by works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. Galations 2v16

Earning your salvation by works does not work. When you try this, you turn God into a transaction and not a relationship.