What does it mean that salvation is of the Lord in its application?
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It means that God is the One who applies salvation to our hearts through the Holy Spirit, regenerating us and granting us faith.
The application of salvation refers to the work of God in the believer's heart, whereby He imparts spiritual life and conviction. According to Ephesians 2:1, we were dead in trespasses and sins, unable to respond to God on our own. It is God who must quicken us; this is the regeneration by the Holy Spirit that leads to faith and repentance. Therefore, faith is not a human effort but a gift from God, as articulated in Philippians 1:6, which states that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it. This reinforces the understanding that salvation's application is solely God's work, exemplifying His grace and sovereign authority in bringing sinners to Himself.
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