Since the final redemptive power of grace is to cleanse us from all sin, something we could never do by ourselves. As president Nelson said, “Christ came to pay the debt he didn’t owe, because we owed a debt we couldn’t pay.” It is in that sense a gift. However, while true salvation through Redemptive Grace is, in fact must be, conditional.
The Bicycle Parable
I have heard of some who have taken Stephen E. Robinson's parable of the bicycle out of context and then accused the author of teaching a false doctrine. In context, the story of the Bicycle did nothing of the sort. The incident of his daughter and her bike was an actual event. It was not a carefully crafted parable to teach the full doctrine of Redemptive Grace. It was in fact an actual experience that he was able to use to help his wife through a faith crisis sparked by her realization that she could never be perfect and so why try?
Reminding her of the experience with the Bicycle helped his wife understand the true doctrine of grace...that we cannot be perfect without Christ, but that we can be good enough to unlock the Redemptive Grace He provides to us and through which he makes us whole. It reminds us that Redemptive Grace that requires our contribution, is the only concept of grace that is consistent with the doctrine of agency.
The Mediator
Another powerful and spiritually verified teaching on conditional nature of Redemptive Grace, is found in Elder Packer's parable to the mediator. At the climatic scene where the mediator pays the foolish man’s debt, removes the shackles, and tenderly looks upon the recipient of His mercy, the Mediator tells him what He expect of the young man going forward, reminding him that it will not be easy, but encouraging him that it will be possible. The young man accepts the gift and the conditions outlined in his creditor’s requests. The beauty, power and truth of that illustration would have been lost if the creditor had simply looked upon the debtor and said, “ok go play, don’t work like a fool, my gift was free and I expect nothing of you!”
Scriptural References: Conditions for Redemptive Grace
James 2 Romans 2:5-13
2 Nephi 2:25 D & C 112:34
2 Corinthians 5:10 D & C 93:16-17
I Peter 1:17-22 Acts 10:35
D & C 76:17
The foregoing demonstrate just a few of the conditions required for the full effect of Redemptive Grace as outlined by God in His holy scriptures. These and many others verify the truth that Redemptive Grace, requires us to do our part or as the Bible dictionary states in its definition of grace, there “must be effort!”
Becoming
He tried to destroy agency,
With promise of security,
Remove accountability,
And proffered stagnant peace.
God’s plan required experience,
To be like him in every sense,
Each choice must have a consequence,
Without which, growth would cease.[i]
[i] Becoming© D. Keith Shurtleff April 2021