Why can't salvation be both a gift and something you work for?
Salvation cannot be both a gift and earned because working for something cancels its status as a gift. Romans 6 verse 23 contrasts the wages of sin, which is death, with God's gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ. If salvation required works, it would no longer be a gift; it must be received without any work.
Les explains that Romans 6:23 literally blows the works-salvation idea out of the saddle. The wages of sin is death, spiritual death, which is something earned. But the flip side is that the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. He then asks how much work you can do and still call it a gift. The answer is none. You cannot work for something and then call it a gift. As soon as you work for it, it is no longer a gift, and so it is with salvation. Salvation must be taken totally as a gift of God without having to do any work of any kind. He also notes that believers are to work for areas of reward, but not for salvation itself.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
More Questions
What is the difference between wages and a gift in salvation?
The difference between wages and a gift is that wages are what you deserve, while a gift is something you do not deserve.