Scripture explicitly states that believers were chosen based solely on grace before the foundation of the world (Eph 1) and not based on foreseen faith. Foreseen faith was taught because there was and is an incessant desire to preserve 'free-will'. Man does have a free-will, but he only exercises that according to his nature, which is rebellion, for all people are considered children of wrath until the Spirit moves upon the hearts of the saints of God (Eph 2:1-3). This work is impossible for man because man would never choose God because He does not desire God. Romans 3 clearly states that none are righteous and none are seeking God. To the carnal mind, we think it is unfair that God would choose some and harden the rest (Rom 11:7), yet who are we, the thing molded, to answer back to the One who molded us (Rom 9:14-24). God sets eternal destinies, and the sinful flesh abhors that because we want control, yet it is God who has overriding authority and not us. "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the LORD; He turns it wherever He wishes." (Prov 21:1)
The critical texts to look at are in 1 Peter 1:20 and Romans 8:29 with the word 'foreknowledge' being the focus of the controversy. 1 Peter 1:20, speaks of Christ being foreknown before the foundation of the world. To say that this is speaking of facts about a decision the Son was going to make about the Father is absurd obviously. Rather, it is speaking of the eternal covenant love that the Father gives to the Son. This is the same word used in Romans 8:29 when speaking of believers in Christ. Foreknowledge is clearly meant to be taken as covenant love and not merely facts about something that will come to pass in the future. Throughout the Old and New Testaments, there are many occasions where God knew Israel or where a man knew his wife. This 'knowing' has do with intimate love and not merely facts.
This is quite humiliating to sinful man because it gives him no room to boast, and especially not in salvation (Eph 2:8-10). Life, especially and including salvation, is all grace. We like to think that we are in control of our destiny, yet it is God who is in absolute control, and apart from His electing grace, none would enter the Kingdom of Heaven. This seems so unfair to us at first, yet the fair thing for God to do is to elect no one and condemn all, yet the fact that He elected anyone is solely by grace alone. In doing that, He receives all the glory. People come into this world dead in trespasses and sins (Eph 2:1) thus spiritually dead. There are none out there trying to find God apart from the Spirit breathing new life into someone, which is how men are 'born again'. Men are born again and then are able to exercise faith in Christ by the will of God and not the will of the flesh (John 3:5-8). It is quite true that God commands all to repentance and whosoever would believe will be saved. However, the hardness of man's heart and his rebellion against the Lord magnifies the need for God's grace to save sinners, of whom I am chief.
Because it is all of grace, why then do we evangelize? That is because God ordains both the ends and the means, and the means is through weak men to spread the good news to all tribes, nations, and tongues, for the elect are from all over the map. Actually, the word Church is derived from the Greek word meaning 'called out ones'. Believers are called sheep, elect, saints, and other such terms. All of these terms carry the meaning of a special love that God has given to believers in Christ by grace alone! This is totally humiliating, and so Christians ought to be the most humble people, for apart from His grace all of us would be bound for Hell! Oh what grace He has shown to us! Amen!
I am first and foremost unworthy to be called a saint of God, yet He has chosen me by His grace to bring His good news to the nations. Oh what joy that is! May we thank Him each day as we meditate upon His goodness upon those who know Him and have been known by Him from before the foundation of the world! Amen!
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