Grace is free...that's the whole point of God's extravagant love and grace and mercy towards us. He is displaying His heart and will towards us. He loves us dearly and is not looking for ways to disqualify us from what His Son bought for with His life and blood.
Romans 5:15 (NASB)
[SUP]15 [/SUP] But the free gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one the many died, much more did the grace of God and the gift by the grace of the one Man, Jesus Christ, abound to the many.
Romans 6:23 (NASB)
[SUP]23 [/SUP] For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Ephesians 2:8-9 (NASB)
[SUP]8 [/SUP] For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves,( this is where the works-based mindset messes up ) it is the gift of God;
[SUP]9[/SUP] not as a result of works, ( this is where the works-based mindset messes up ) so that no one may boast.