How do we know salvation comes before faith?

The understanding that salvation precedes faith is rooted in the theology of sovereign grace. In Acts 13:48, we see that 'as many as were ordained to eternal life believed', indicating that belief is a response to being chosen for salvation. Furthermore, Paul argues in Ephesians 2:1 that we were dead in sins before being made alive through Christ, directly indicating that spiritual life (salvation) must come before an individual can respond in faith. This is also supported by John 6:44 where Jesus states that no one can come to Him unless drawn by the Father, showing that it is God's initiative in salvation that brings about our ability to believe.