Election
Revealed Truths
God offers everyone the choice to be saved.
God allows everyone the choice to be lost.
Jesus died for everyone, even though many would reject Him.
Those who accept Jesus retain their free will.
Some key verses:
Jn 3:16, Jn 6:40, Ac 17:26,27, Ro 5:18, 1Jn 2:2, Rev 22:17
Exposed Falsehoods
It is false to think that God predestines who will be saved.
It is false to think that God predestines who will be lost.
It is false to think that the benefits of Jesus' death are beyond the reach of some persons.
It is false to think that those who accept Jesus are immune from later rejecting Him and becoming lost again.
Some key verses:
Eze 18:23,32, Mt 24:13, Heb 6:4-6, 2Pe 3:9, Rev 22:19
God has Foreknowledge of Future Events
God has foreknowledge of future events. (Isa 42:9, Isa 46:9,10, Jn 6:64, Ac 15:18, 1Jn 3:20)
God's foreknowledge of the future is the essence of Bible prophecy.
Example: The revelations in the books of Daniel and Revelation. (Da 2: 26-28, Rev 1:1)
Example: The path of Israel (Dt 31:15-18, Mt 21:33-41,43)
Example: The Babylonian siege of Jerusalem and 70 years captivity (Jer 25:11,12)
Example: The world history outline prophecies of Daniel (Da 2:20,21,28) (Da chapters 2,7,8-9,10-12)
Example: The first advent of Christ (Ge 3:15, Ge 22:15-18 compare Gal 3:16, Isa 7:14, Lk 24:27,44)
Example: The Roman Empire siege and destruction of Jerusalem (70 AD) (Mt 24:1,2, Lk 21:20,21)
Example: The second advent of Christ (Jn 14:2,3, 1Th 4:16,17)
Example: The final destruction of the wicked (Rev 20:10,15)
God Foreknew Everyone He Created
God foreknew everyone He created. (Ps 139:13-16)
God Directs the Course of History Toward Salvation
God directs the course of history toward salvation. (Isa 46:9-13, Mt 25:34, Ac 17:26,27, 1Pe 1:19,20, Rev 13:8)
God directs the lives of all cooperating individuals toward salvation and sanctification. (Ro 8:28-30)
God does Not Violate Individual Free Will
Satan and his demons were allowed to become enemies of God.
Each person is allowed to choose good or evil. (Ge 2:16,17, Ge 4:6,7, Dt 30:15-19, Jos 24:15, Pr 1:28-33, Isa 7:15,16, Isa 65:12, Mt 23:37)
God Offers Salvation to Everyone
God offers salvation to everyone (without exception) as a free gift. (Jn 3:16, Jn 6:40, Jn 7:37, Ro 5:18, Ro 10:13, Eph 1:4,5, 2Th 2:13, 1Ti 2:3-6, 1Jn 2:2, Rev 22:17)
We can clearly see from these verses that the term "election" is best understood as a vote cast by God for the salvation of every person, with the condition that this free, unmerited gift is individually accepted.
In Ro 11:7, those who receive salvation are referred to as "the election".
God does Not Want Anyone to Perish
God does not want (or choose) for anyone to perish, even though many will. (Eze 18:23,32, Eze 33:11, 2Pe 3:9)
If it were impossible for certain people to believe, Jesus would not marvel at their unbelief. (Mk 6:6)
God's Call is Sent Forth through the Gospel Message
God's call is sent forth through the gospel message. (2Co 5:20, Rev 14:6)
The heart of the gospel call is the cross. (Jn 12:32,33)
Once Received, Salvation Can be Lost
During the Day of Atonement persons who disobeyed (by not afflicting their soul or by working) were cut off from Israel. (Lev 23:29-32)
A person's name can be blotted out of the Book of Life. (Ex 32:33, Rev 3:5)
A person can lose his place in Heaven. (Rev 22:19)
A person can willfully fall away and be lost. (Eze 18:24, Eze 33:13, Ro 11:19-22, 1Co 9:27, 1Co 10:11,12, Heb 6:4-6, Heb 10:26-29, 2Pe 2:20-22, 2Pe 3:17)
One can forget, lose sight of, and fall from their calling and election. (2Pe 1:5-10)
Consider Jer 17:14: "Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise."
When God saves, He really/fully saves.
Being saved, we are forgiven for past sins, not automatically of all future sins. (Ro 3:25)
Look at the parallel phrase about healing.
When God heals, He really/fully heals.
Being healed, we are not now immune to future disease.
We cannot continue to violate God's laws (physical, mental, or spiritual) and expect Him to overlook a disobedient course. (Jn 5:8-14 verse 14)
The unforgivable sin is to arrogantly/defiantly reject Christ by turning deaf to the Holy Spirit. (Nu 15:29-31, Dt 30:17,18, Isa 6:9,10, Mt 12:32, Mt 13:14,15, Mk 3:29, Lk 12:10, Ac 28:25-28)
Anyone who is truly repentant can still receive forgiveness. (Dt 30:1-3, Zec 1:3, Mal 3:7 first part, Lk 15:18-24, Jn 6:37, Ro 11:23,24, 1Jn 1:7,9)
We must continue to follow Jesus to the end. (Mt 24:13, Php 2:12, Col 1:21-23, Heb 3:6,12-15)
Note on Php 2:12: The fear advised here is to be a fear of our old nature and fear of self-righteousness. (1Co 10:1-12)
Difficult
Did God design wickness and evil plans? (Pr 16:4) (No)
God uses all things (even evil) for the ultimate benefit of those who love Him. (Ro 8:28)
Are only certain people to come to Jesus? (Jn 6:37) (No)
The word "all" here is in the neuter gender and refers to all gifts the Father wills for Jesus, not specifically to certain individuals.
Does God draw only certain people to Jesus? (Jn 6:44)
All people are drawn to Jesus through the love of God, as demonstrated by the cross. (Jn 12:32,33)
God's call is sent forth through the gospel message. (2Co 5:18-20)
Does God enable only certain people to come to Jesus? (Jn 6:65) (No)
Those who have willfully seared their conscience do not sense God's call and do not respond. (1Ti 4:2)
Are only certain people ordained to eternal life? (Ac 13:48) (No)
Ordained [Gr. tasso (tas'-so)] - "to arrange in an orderly manner, i.e. assign or dispose (to a certain position or lot) ... ,appoint, determine" (Strong's Dictionary)
The verb form used here can be interpreted reflexively as "appointed themselves" (implying a freewill choice).
The people ordered (arranged) themselves into 2 groups: believers (saved) and unbelievers (lost).
Does God choose only certain people to be saved? (Ro 8:29) (No)
God directs the lives of all cooperating individuals toward salvation and sanctification.
Does God hate certain people before they are born? (Ro 9:11-13) (No)
God is love. (1Jn 4:8)
Jacob represents those who, through wrestling with the Spirit of God, submit and become overcomers of their sinful nature. (Ge 32:24-30)
Esau represents those who willfully choose a life of wickedness. (Heb 12:16)
Profane - "Irreverent to anything sacred; applied to persons. A man is profane when he takes the name of God in vane, or treats sacred things with abuse and irreverence." (Webster's Dictionary 1828)
Esau's name is used to symbolize his wicked descendants, the Edomites, who were enemies of Israel. (Ge 36:1,19, Mal 1:2-4)
Does God create certain people to serve as objects of His wrath? (Ro 9:22) (No)
Note the words "What if". God has the right, but instead He has shown only love and long-suffering.
Does God allow only certain people to believe? (Eph 2:8) (No)
What is "not of yourselves" is salvation. No one is prevented from having personal faith.
Once saved, always saved? (Php 1:6) (Not against human will)
Even after being saved, a person could choose to permanently reject God.
On the contrary, God will continue His covenant work as long as He is allowed to do so.
Does God override our free will? (Php 2:13) (No)
The point here is that God helps us to see the goodness of His ways. (compare Isa 1:18)