FreeGrace2 said:
Whether "offers" or "brings" the concept is clear. Salvation is a free gift, offered to everyone. By God's grace, salvation is brought to mankind as a gift. It has to be received, taken in order to be possessed.
Like any other gift.
The difference between "brings" and "offers" is huge - giving totally different meanings to the verse.
A gift is brought to someone. That doesn't mean the person takes the gift.
If someone has to receive a gift of themselves to get it, then it isn't a gift.
And that's NOT what occurs when salvation is received. To your calvinist mind, the gift is actually forced against the will of the person receiving the gift. But you can't find that anywhere in the Bible.
A gift only becomes a gift when it is in the possession
This is a false opinion. Are you that naive about how many hopeful guys have offered an engagement ring to a girl, only to have the gift turned down??? When the guy leaves, the GIFT is still in his pocket.
All you are doing is making up your own definitions to fit your own theology.
An object doesn't become a gift ONLY WHEN it is received. Where do you get your material?
Until then it is nothing.
An engagement ring IS a gift whether taken or not.
Your private interpretations and definitions are not valid.
But salvation is described by the Bible as "free gift", so there can be no requirement
made of the receiver to obtain it
That is correct. When you were offered a Christmas present, did you take it? How much did you have to pay for it? If not, then there was NO REQUIREMENT.
You seem confused as to what 'requirement' means.
- it has to have been already placed into their possession
That is simply your own private interpretation and definition.
It is not valid.
Everywhere in the Bible we find that salvation must be received. That doesn't mean forced into someone's hands.
It has to to with FAITH, TRUST. That's HOW the gift of salvation is received.
John 1:12 - Yet to all
who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—
This is how one receives salvation: by believing in His Name.
1 Tim 1:16 - But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those
who would believe in him and receive eternal life.
The Bible equates believing with receiving. Not FORCING a gift into someone's hand.
btw, even if a gift is forced into one's hand, the person can still NOT hold onto the git, so that the gift falls to the ground. It is still a gift, just a gift that wasn't "claimed".
In the case of salvation, the gift of salvation/eternal life, the gift is "claimed on the basis of faith.