Salvation is a gift from God, as it is based solely on Christ's completed work, not on human effort.
The assurance that salvation is a gift from God is rooted in Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that we are saved by grace through faith, and that not of ourselves; it is the gift of God. This concept aligns with the teaching in Hebrews that all the blessings of salvation were accomplished by Christ's obedience unto death. Thus, believers receive salvation without any works on their part, affirming it as a sovereign gift of God's grace, conditioned not on human decisions, but on Christ’s redemptive work.
Scripture References:
Ephesians 2:8-9, Hebrews 9:15, Romans 5:8, Ephesians 1:4-5, Matthew 15:21-28, Isaiah 46:13, John 3:27
Commentary