How are people drawn to salvation? What does it mean for God to draw us to Himself?

TL;DR:

God initiates salvation by drawing people to Himself, revealing His existence, convicting us of sin, and giving us a desire to believe. Our faith is a response to God’s grace, making salvation entirely His work from start to finish.

what does the bible say?

God draws people to salvation by revealing Himself through creation, making His existence and glory known to all. Because of our sinful nature, we would never seek God on our own, but He initiates the process by placing the desire to believe in our hearts. This drawing includes convicting us of sin and providing the gospel message that stirs faith and repentance. God initiates our salvation, and He calls us to respond to Him. Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace, from beginning to end, ensuring no one can boast in their own efforts. Our response to His drawing us leads us to life everlasting.

from the old testament

God has revealed Himself through His creation, providing ample evidence of His existence and the expectation of people to worship Him. Psalm 19:1-3 also echoes this idea when it states, "The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork. Day to day pours out speech, and night to night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there words, whose voice is not heard."

from the new testament

Jesus said in John 6:44 that "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him."
First, Romans 3:10 is clear, "None is righteous, no, not one." Every person has a sin nature and would not desire to come to faith in Jesus unless God first placed the desire in the person's heart.
In one sense God has called all people to salvation. For example, Romans 1:20 teaches, "For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse." God has made His existence clear and expects all people to respond to who He is.
In addition to the general revelation of God to all people, the Bible teaches that God draws people to salvation. He convicts people of sin (John 16:8).
God also provides the gospel message that gives us a desire to believe in Jesus as Lord. For example, when Peter preached on the Day of Pentecost, we read, "Now when they heard this they were cut to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, 'Brothers, what shall we do?'" (Acts 2:37). These people were drawn to salvation through the hearing of the gospel message and the Spirit of God. As a result, many believed and were saved on that day (Acts 2:41).

implications for today

Many struggle with the relationship between God's "drawing" of a person to salvation and the human choice required to believe in Jesus as Lord. The Bible presents both aspects as essential to salvation. However, it is clear that it is God who initiates the process, provides the way of salvation through Jesus, and provides the faith necessary for a person to believe in His name. Every part of the process is due to God's grace, though a human response is involved in placing one's faith in Christ.

Ephesians 2:8-9 serves as a wonderful summary of this dynamic, stating, "For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast." Salvation is God's gift provided by His grace. We receive it by faith, experiencing the salvation only God can provide.

understand

God initiates salvation by revealing Himself, convicting people of sin, and placing the desire to believe in their hearts.
Salvation is entirely a work of God’s grace.
Though God calls us all to salvation, we must respond to His drawing.

reflect

How have you experienced God drawing you closer to Himself in your own life?
How do you see God’s pursuit of you at work in your life?
How does knowing that salvation is entirely God’s work affect the way you live and trust Him?

engage

How does understanding that God initiates salvation challenge or deepen our view of human responsibility in faith?
What examples in the Bible or in our lives illustrate the way God convicts hearts and draws us to faith?
How might recognizing God’s active role in salvation inspire us to pray or act differently for those who have not yet believed?