How do we know that salvation is determined by God's will?

The doctrine of salvation according to God's will is firmly rooted in Scripture. Both Galatians 4 and John's Gospel clarify that it is God who initiates and accomplishes salvation, not our free will or human decisions. In John 1:13, it states that those born again are not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. This reinforces that our salvation does not depend on human endeavor but is rooted in God's sovereign choice.

Romans 9 reiterates this theme, stating, “So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.” This sovereign grace perspective underscores that God's purposes prevail in all matters of salvation. It highlights the encouragement believers receive in knowing that their standing before God is secured not by their merit but by God's unwavering promise and merciful intent.