God desires that no one should ever perish but that everyone would come to repentance (see 2 Peter 3:9). To put that another way, God’s forgiveness is available to everyone but it is not a given; it’s not automatic. There is something we must do in order to receive salvation (salvation means we are saved from God’s judgment and the consequences of our sin); there is something we must do to receive salvation and God’s forgiveness: we must repent and believe the gospel (Mark 1:15). We must accept Jesus and what He has accomplished for us. It’s like the marriage ceremony: in sending his Son to save us God says to all who will listen:

“Sinner, Do you take this Saviour?”

“I will” (is the response God so desires to hear)

“I will,” (says Jesus, with his arms stretched wide open!)