There is nothing necessary nor even possible that one can do to receive the gift - in its fullness, it is given freely to those chosen for it, by the exceeding mercy and grace of God through Jesus Christ the Savior - no one deserves it. As long as we believe we must contribute in some way to receiving it, by that, we demonstrate that do not yet have it, instead, if we are able to do so (as only those saved can do so), we are to fully trust and rest in that which Christ had achieved, it being fully sufficient in itself for salvation, not seeking to add anything to it. Now, after receiving it, it is an entirely different matter. Much is expected/demanded by God from those saved. They are to live in a Christ and God glorifying manner, sharing the true gospel of Christ with everyone at every possible opportunity, for no one knows beforehand who is of the elect and who isn't. The requirements imposed by God after salvation are far greater than those imposed for salvation which are no requirements whatsoever.
In a spiritual sense, being a child of God is strictly limited to those whom He elected unto salvation and has saved. In that sense, the gift is exactly the same between all. Those whom God did not elect, will never become saved, are not His spiritual children, nor will/can they ever be made so. They can never, ever receive the gift.
Your answer is nonsensical (and I note you provide no substantiating Scripture), because it is obvious that in order
to receive a gift one must accept and open it, but you indicate that God opens it and forces the recipient to keep it--
but only the favored few. Sorry Rog, but that doesn't jibe with a whole bunch of Scripture beginning with the 7 pearls
and Romans 1-5 below. The stumbling-block to a correct interpretation seems to be your unfounded belief that faith
or opening the gift means "one deserves it", when it is merely the non-meritorious condition of opening the gift. BTW,
if God hates half of humanity, there is no guarantee that you are not deceived by thinking you are not included in that half,
because no one knows "afterhand" who is of the elect, either. By believing you have it, you demonstrate that you do not have it.
Anyway, please go ahead and share your understanding of the following (perhaps a few/five at a time):
1. Romans 1:16 says the Gospel reveals that (s/e) is for “everyone who believes”, both Jew and Gentile.
2. Romans 1:17 describes s/e as “righteousness from God” that is by faith “from first to last” or from creation until the end.
3. Romans 2:4 teaches that God’s kindness or patience with sinners is meant to lead them toward repentance, which implies that sinners are able to repent because of God’s leading.
4. Romans 2:5 warns that those who do not repent but instead stubbornly resist God’s leading are storing up wrath against themselves for the day when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed, which implies that God enables sinners to repent–or not (cf. Deut. 30:19).
5. Romans 2:6 affirms what is called karma by saying that “God will give to each person according to what he has done”, which (in Gal. 6:7-9) is called reaping what a person sows.
6. Romans 2:7 speaks of the need for “persistence in doing good” and seeking glory, honor and immortality in order to receive s/e or eternal life, which echoes what Jesus commanded (in Matt. 7:7) and connects with the doctrine of perseverance (cf. Heb. 10:36 & Jam. 1:3-4).
7. Romans 2:11 teaches that “God does not show favoritism” (cf. Eph. 6:9, Col. 3:25, 1Pet. 1:17), which is how God judges people justly, so the fact that some sinners ignore God’s Gospel indicates that His will or leading is resistible because of MFW.
8. Romans 2:15 teaches that sinful souls have a conscience or awareness of “the requirements of the law”, which may be combined with Romans 1:20 to teach that God’s power and moral nature or will may be perceived via creation and conscience (called natural revelation), thus those unfamiliar with God’s Word in Scripture have no good reason for resisting divine leading and choosing atheism/evil.
9. Romans 3:20-21 states the law makes souls conscious of sin and that “the Law and Prophets testify” or prepare the way for the new revelation of righteousness from God apart from the Law, which takes up where Romans 1:17 left off.
10. Romans 3:22a says that “righteousness from God” or s/e comes through faith “in Jesus Christ” (cf. Eph. 2:8), a phrase Paul used eleven times in Ephesians 1:3-14 to indicate s/e.
11. Romans 3:22b says that God’s righteousness is given “to all who believe—there is no difference”” signifying that all sinners may believe or be s/e (cf. 1Tim. 2:3-4, John 3:16, Tit. 2:11), because there is no favoritism (#7).
12. Romans 3:23 teaches that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”, meaning that no one can be good enough to earn salvation because of their own merit.
13. Romans 3:24 says sinners “are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus” (via faith per v.22, cf. 3:27-28); s/e is free because Christ paid the price/cost.
14. Romans 3:25a explains redemption as being “a sacrifice of atonement” for those who have faith in Christ’s work of dying in their place.
15. Romans 3:25b further explains that God demonstrated his just patience (#3) or forbearance in leaving unpunished those sins committed before the revealing of the Gospel (foreshadowed in Gen. 22:8 & 13), implying that sinners had/have the opportunity to believe and be s/e thereby demonstrating God’s justice/not showing favoritism (#11).
16. Romans 3:26 continues to emphasize divine justice by declaring it three ways (“justice…, just…, justifies”), which justness is synonymous with righteousness (2Thes. 1:5-6, Heb. 6:10).
17. Romans 4:1-25 presents Abraham as a Gentile who became the physical father of the Jews and the spiritual father of all who choose to have faith in God/Christ.
18. Romans 5:1 echoes Eph. 2:8 by describing s/e as justification through faith, Eph. 1:5 & 7 by using the phrase “through Jesus Christ”, and Eph. 2:14 by describing s/e as having peace with God.
19. Romans 5:2 & 5 also echo Eph. 2:18 & 3:1 by describing s/e as having access to God’s grace via the Holy Spirit.
20. Romans 5:6-10 states that God’s love (cf. kindness in #3) for the ungodly, for sinners and for His enemies is demonstrated by Christ dying for their s/e or justification/reconciliation.
Over...