Does God choose the people who get salvation?

Hi hi! Today’s article is special to me because we’ll be answering this question: Does God choose the people who get or qualify for Salvation? I’m sure you’ve heard someone ask that question, or maybe you’ve even had that question. Let’s find the answer together.

What is salvation?

It’s fitting to explore what salvation is first. So, what is Salvation? In an article I wrote in 2023, I answered the question: Can I lose my salvation?. In that article, I shared some things about salvation which are still relevant. Please check out that article later.

As a matter of fact, salvation is the result of one’s choice to believe in the Gospel of Jesus.

What is God’s intent with salvation?

A quick recap of what the Gospel is: Jesus was born on earth to save you and I (& all (wo)men) from sin. Even if you’re a good, loving, and kind person, your natural state is sinful. We were all born with sin as our nature, even the best of us. Jesus, understanding this, died on the cross to pay the price of your sin. No, you didn’t ask Him to, but He needed to, so you can have access to and communion with God.

Consequently, when Jesus died on the cross, He was buried in a tomb. But He didn’t stay buried for long cause exactly 3 days later, He resurrected. Any man can die, but only Jesus died and resurrected. How did He do it? By the Spirit of God.

Honestly, I went through that to show you God’s intent with salvation. Jesus’s birth, death, and resurrection were all God’s idea. How do I know this? Let’s see Ephesians 1:3-5 ERV:

[3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. [4] In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. [5] And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it.

Although history records that Jesus was on earth over 2000 years ago, (Wikipedia) we see from Ephesians that God already chose us in Christ before the world as we know it today was made.

So, can everyone boldly declare that God chose us to be His a long time ago? Not yet. Why? He added the caveat of being His children through Jesus.

Now we can make the equation that says:

God’s children = those that come through Jesus

How does one come through Jesus? Believe the Gospel of Jesus.

Does God actually choose who gets salvation?

Consequently, we’ve seen what salvation is and how people get it. Now, let’s try to answer the question; Does God choose the people who get salvation?

What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments, and I’ll be reading.

Let’s see John 3:16-17 ERV –

[16] Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life. [17] God sent his Son into the world. He did not send him to judge the world guilty, but to save the world through him.

From that verse, we see that everyone who believes in Christ would not be lost. This Meaning, everyone has a conscious choice to make. Although God wants all men to come to salvation (1 Timothy 2:4), He has given man free will to choose.

In the end, the man who decides he doesn’t want Jesus has excluded himself from God’s “choice” of those who get salvation.

So, does God choose the people who receive salvation? No, He doesn’t. Even if we paint the picture of a God who knows the future, He has given us the free will to make a decision. Consequently, we partner with God to ensure everyone hears the Gospel, that way no man can say they never heard the Gospel.

What should be the next question we answer? Add it here

Thank you for reading – Funmi