How do we know that salvation is initiated by God?

The message of salvation, as presented in Psalm 65 and elaborated throughout Scripture, indicates that God initiates and sustains salvation. In verse 9 of Psalm 65, it states, 'Thou visitest the earth and waterest it.' This visitation symbolizes God's direct action in bringing forth life where there is none, just as a gardener waters the soil to promote growth. We see echoed in John 3:5 that one must be 'born of water and of the Spirit' to enter the kingdom of God, underscoring that regeneration is wholly a work of God's grace. Moreover, in 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul further reinforces this point by referring to believers as God's husbandry, highlighting that it is God who cultivates and nurtures spiritual life.