Tim Maas Supporter Retired Quality Assurance Specialist with the U.S. Army

I understand the questioner's point, but none of us deserve anything from God. Even the faith in Christ that saves Christians is a gift from God, given for a purpose (Ephesians 2:8-10). Despite that, God sacrificed His Son to allow the possibility of salvation for all of humanity. However, humans can selectively reject that gift (as well as the other witnesses that God gives of Himself), for which they alone are accountable (Romans 1:20)..

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Mark Vestal Supporter Proud of nothing of myself. Freed by Christ who did it all!

In the verses cited, Paul is explaining how it could be possible for Gentiles to now be granted access to God without first having to hear of Him through Israel (vs. 24-26), who until this point were to be God's chosen people for that very purpose (Ex 19-6). However now (Eph 3:2), God's "selective mercy" is offered to all, as is seen in Christ crucified for the forgiveness of all sin to "the world":

2 Cor 5:19
"To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation."

God forgave the world because of His love for humanity, and His will would be for all to be saved (1 Tim 2:3-4), but not all care to see His love. They refuse to believe, but belief (having faith in Christ) is the response of love from them to His love for them:

1 John 4:19
"We love him, because he first loved us."

God has offered His gift of salvation (Eph 2:8-9) to the entire world, but only those who accept His free gift (place their faith in Christ) will be saved.

Rom 6:23
"For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord."

Rom 11:25-33
"For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in.
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob:
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins.
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all.
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!"

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