Another tough topic to get across to readers. Grace. More specifically, Efficacious Grace as opposed to Common Grace. It is also referred to as Irresistable Grace. Everyone, even non-believers recieve Common Grace. Not all recieve Efficacious Grace. Efficacious Grace is like being struck by a lightning bolt where as everyone else gets "illuminated" by the strike, you actually get hit by the bolt. So what is it? It is the work of the Holy Spirit unto the elect of God, illuminating the Gospel, convicting the heart and freeing the sinner to freely respond (accept) to the Lord in obedient faith. It is for the elect of God:
Many are called, but few are chosen~ Matthew 22:14
In other words, Common Grace does not assure salvation. Efficacious (saving) grace is applied to those God has chosen. Those that obtain salvation did nothing to merit it and nothing to earn it. The biblical support for this is numerous.
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.~Romans 8:28-29
...or we can just let the Lord Himself explain it in His own spoken words.
"All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.~John 6:37-39
"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. It is written in the Prophets: 'They will all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.~John 6:44-45
"This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him."~John 6:65
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