What makes the difference between saved and lost according to the Bible?

In Scripture, the distinction between the saved and the lost is tightly intertwined with God's sovereign grace. Romans 9 speaks of God's election, emphasizing that not all Israel are of Israel, and that the children of promise are those whom God has chosen (Romans 9:6-8). The Apostle John further clarifies this difference by stating that those who received Christ were born of God, indicating that regeneration is not through human will but divine intervention (John 1:12-13). This means that it is only God who can make the difference by granting faith and repentance, leading individuals to salvation through Christ alone.