Acts 2:40&41 “With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, 'Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.”' Those who accepted his message were baptised, and about three thousand were added to their number that day.”
Jesus is the Saviour. But people must believe in Him to be saved, and in so doing they save themselves. The two are not mutually exclusive.
Yes, they actually are mutually exclusive of each other. Were what you say true, then Christ wouldn't/couldn't be the Saviour - it's as simple as that, but He IS the Saviour. Look at it this way: as I understand it, according to you, if someone believes then they become saved; if they don't believe they won't become saved, therefore, it depends upon an individual's actions/choices in order to become saved or not, making themselves saviour and not Christ. This then drags Christ into it only as a fait acompli to implement that which has already been determined by the person. With that in mind, how then could Christ be the Saviour, and not only implementor?
Salvation is fully and completely a gift from an exceedingly merciful and gracious God through Christ unto those who in no way deserve it. One's faith and believing comes from - as a result of - salvation, not leading to, nor bringing salvation. There can only be one Saviour who is Christ alone. You seem unwilling to eliminate man from the salvation equation, even though the Bible clearly tells us that it is Christ who is Saviour, again, confirming my prior assessment of you and Kroogz. You've placed yourself into direct contradiction of God's clear proclamation regarding Christ as Saviour.
Honestly, I know that you are a very smart guy, so I am kind of dumbfounded that you are unable to see this.
I've posted this before but will do so again in the hope that you might perceive what it is saying. Do you see within it that
to be able to believe in Christ, we must first be given the faith of Christ as a prerequisite? That means to believe we
must first have been saved.
[Gal 2:16 KJV]
16 Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law,
but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be
justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Read John 6:37 - 6:39. Where do you find any participation of, or requirement of man, in order to become saved?
You won't be able to find it because it isn't there. Instead, the salvation transaction (so to speak) was implemented entirely between God the Father and Christ.
[Jhn 6:37, 39 KJV]
37
All that the Father giveth me shall come to me; and him that cometh to me I will in no wise cast out. ...
39 And this is the Father's will which hath sent me,
that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.
Those of Acts 2:40 and 2:41 had already become saved and their actions a result of that.
Look at Acts 2:39. Do you see that it resulted from God's promise, and is unconditionally/unequivocally manifested and granted specifically unto only "as many as the Lord our God shall call"? A person's choices play no part in the receiving of it - but only of God.
[Act 2:39 KJV] 39
For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, [even]
as many as the Lord our God shall call.