Bible Question:
I read your article about choosing salvation, and I've always thought of salvation as a gift from God. I don't think that we actually choose salvation. I think we're already saved, but it's up to us to accept the gift. The apostle Paul never chose salvation. He accepted it. “Salvation is a gift, Heaven is the reward, what you do with your gift determines your reward. ” God Bless
Bible Answer:
God gives us many gifts such as faith, eternal life, the Holy Spirit, God’s grace, and spiritual gifts. That is the message of the following passages.
For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. (NASB) Eph. 2:8-9
For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. (NASB) Romans 6:23
All the circumcised believers who came with Peter were amazed, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. (NASB) Acts 10:45
. . . of which I was made a minister, according to the gift of God’s grace . . . (NASB) Ephesians 3:7
If I have the gift of prophecy . . . (NASB) 1 Corinthians 13:2
But these gifts, including salvation, are not given to us automatically. Faith must accompany true salvation. That is we are not automatically saved. We do not automatically have salvation – the forgiveness of our sins. That is the message of the following well known passages.
. . . so that whoever believes will in Him have eternal life . . . He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. (NASB) John 3:15, 18
. . . if you confess with your mouth Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation. (NASB) Romans 10:9-10
. . . though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls. (NASB) 1 Peter 1:8-9
Salvation is not automatically given to us as a gift. We do not have the forgiveness of our sins without believing in Jesus. 1 Corinthians 15:1-3 warns us that we might not be saved or have salvation if we do not believe in Jesus Christ.
Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you . . . by which also you are saved, if you hold fast the word which I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures . . . (NASB) 1 Corinthians 15:1-4
Notice that God says we might not be saved if we believe in vain. It is possible to believe that Jesus was a good man who walked the earth, but not believe that He was God. It is also possible to believe that He was God, but not submit to Him. If so, that person does not have salvation (John 3:36; James 2:19). Real belief depends on God.
Conclusion:
God only wants you to believe that Jesus is your God, Savior, and Lord! He is your Savior because He is the only One who can forgive your sins and provide you peace with God (Acts 4;12; Rom. 5:1). He is your Lord because He is your God and you should submit to Him (Luke 6:46). Salvation is not automatic (2 Tim. 2:10).