Is salvation a gift or an offer according to the Bible?

The Scriptures depict salvation as a gracious gift from God, as emphasized in Ephesians 2:8-9, which states that we are saved by grace through faith, and that faith itself is a gift from God. This clearly indicates that salvation is not contingent upon human actions or decisions but is initiated and completed by God's sovereign grace. Furthermore, Romans 9:16 affirms that it does not depend on human will or effort, but on God's mercy. The understanding that salvation is a gift cultivates a sense of gratitude and reliance upon God's grace rather than promoting a transactional mentality of earning favor with God.