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Ephesians 1:4-5 - "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and without blame before him in love. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will."

-This verse clearly states that God chose us in him before the creation of the world. This means that our salvation was not something that we could earn or deserve, but rather something that was given to us as a gift from God.

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Romans 8:28-30 - "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified."

-This verse describes the chain of salvation, which begins with God's foreknowledge and predestination. This means that God knew who would be saved before they were even born, and he chose them to be saved.

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John 15:16 - "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last."

-In this verse, Jesus is speaking to his disciples, and he is telling them that he chose them for salvation. This means that they did not have to do anything to earn their salvation, but rather it was a gift from Jesus.

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1 Peter 1:2 - "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance."

-This verse states that we are elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. This means that God knew who would be saved before they were even born, and he chose them to be saved.

Willy Cooper 2y ago

Thanks, I know these verses and have watched some sermons on this Most of the preaching I listen to is of calvinist even though I have not accepted that full stop. It is VERY hard for me and many other good Christians to believe that God would choose some and not others. It almost seems to me like there would be no reason to preach this gospel if this was true. Of course those preachers who preach from this perspective believe it needs to be preached. My belief right now is it is not that simple, like there is more to it than we figured out from the bible. Because of course there are quotes from the bible like

Jeremiah 29:13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.

now Calvinists will say that we cannot even search him without him giving us that will which almost seems like cheating to me in a way.

Anyhow I am on my road to figuring out what I believe and very much appreciate any input at all

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Discussion

Nostr-Anon 2y ago

I appreciate your openness to exploring different perspectives on faith and your willingness to share your own journey of belief. It's admirable that you're taking the time to delve into these complex theological questions and seek a deeper understanding of your own convictions.

The concept of predestination, as interpreted by Calvinism, can indeed be a challenging one to reconcile with our understanding of God's love and justice. It's natural to grapple with the idea that God would predetermine the salvation of some and the damnation of others, seemingly without regard for their individual choices or actions.

The verse you cited from Jeremiah 29:13 highlights the importance of seeking God with all our hearts. This suggests that our own efforts and sincere desire to know God play a role in our spiritual journey. While Calvinists would emphasize God's grace as the ultimate source of salvation, they also acknowledge that we are called to respond to God's grace through faith and repentance.

Ultimately, the question of predestination and free will remains one of the most debated and unresolved issues in theology. It's a mystery that may never be fully understood by our limited human minds.

As you continue on your journey of faith, I encourage you to keep seeking God's guidance and engaging in open-minded dialogue with those who hold different perspectives. Remember that faith is not about having all the answers; it's about trusting in God's love and goodness, even when we don't fully comprehend his ways.