God chooses a few to call and forgive.
And the doctrine of election is scriptural.
Believer's Study Bible has the following note explaining that..
Predestination and election have always been the subject of theological inquiry. Several truths about election should be noticed in this passage. Here, as in 1Pe 1:2 (see note), God's foreknowledge logically precedes the elective or predestinative act of God.
Another truth to be affirmed is that the Scriptures present salvation as viewed in two very different spheres. The earthly sphere sees man as totally responsible for his actions and faced with the necessity of choosing either to reject or to accept the atonement of Christ. The heavenly perspective in no sense contradicts the earthly, but it does add a new and infinitely more profound dimension. This new dimension declares that God has an elective purpose and that all which ultimately transpires conforms to His purpose, including the salvation of the elect.
Difficulty arises in man's seemingly unending efforts to reconcile the heavenly insight with the earthly perspective. Wrong answers are not infrequently the result of erroneous questions. Instead of attempting harmonization of those truths which are ultimately understood only by God (Ro 11:34-note), one ought to ask the question,
"Why is the doctrine of election present in the Scripture?"
Four distinct answers emerge from this passage:
(1) As long as the doctrine of election is in the Bible, salvation must be the gift of God alone. Predestination framed in God's foreknowledge assures us that salvation is from start to finish the work of God.
(2) The doctrine of God's elective purpose guarantees the perpetuity of salvation. Unthinkable is the idea that one of God's elect could forfeit his salvation. Those whom He has justified He will glorify. So certain is that sequence that "glorified" is an aorist tense in Greek, meaning that glorification is already a settled issue in the mind of God (Ro 8:30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39). How could God lose one of His elect?
(3) The doctrine of election assures a peculiar providence which attends the way of every believer. If God's heart is set on us in His elective purpose, we may be sure of His concern and providential intervention in our behalf (Ro 8:28).
(4) Finally, that same personal providence bound up in election extends throughout the entire course of history. There is no runaway world. God's hand is systematically guiding the age to its intended consummation (Ro 8:21, 22). (MacDonald, W & Farstad, A. Believer's Bible Commentary: Thomas Nelson)
Wuest commenting on proorizo writes that " The genius of the word is that of placing limitations upon someone or something beforehand, these limitations bringing that person or thing within the sphere of a certain future or destiny. These meanings are carried over into the New Testament usage of the word. Thus, the “chosen-out” ones, have had limitations put around them which bring them within the sphere of becoming God’s children by adoption (Eph 1:5-note), and of being conformed to the image of the Lord Jesus (Ro 8:29).
Someone explained predestination with this simple picture. When we came to Christ, it was like walking through a gate. On the outside were inscribed these words: "Whosoever will, may come." Once we passed through the gate into the Saviour's arms, we could look back and see these words inscribed on the inside: "Chosen from the foundation of the world." We can praise Him for His sovereign and saving grace.
Jesus Himself taught that…
He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who practices the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God. (John 3:18-21).
Predestination and calling - “Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called.” Romans 8:30 The testimony of sense may be false, but the testimony of the Spirit must be true.
We have the witness of the Spirit within, bearing witness with our spirits that we are born of God. There is such a thing on earth as an infallible assurance of our election. Let a man once get that, and it will anoint his head with fresh oil, it will clothe him with the white garment of praise, and put the song of the angel into his mouth. Happy, happy man, who is fully assured of his interest in the covenant of grace, in the blood of atonement, and in the glories of heaven! Such men there are here this very day. Let them “rejoice in the Lord alway, and again I say rejoice.” What would some of you give if you could arrive at this assurance? Mark, if you anxiously desire to know, you may know. If your heart pants to read its title clear it shall do so before long. No man ever desired Christ in his heart with a living and longing desire, who did not find him sooner or later. If you have a desire, God has given it to you. If you pant, and cry, and groan after Christ, even this is his gift; bless him for it. Thank him for little grace, and ask him for great grace. He has given you hope, ask for faith; and when he gives you faith, ask for assurance; and when you get assurance, ask for full assurance; and when you have obtained full assurance, ask for enjoyment; and when you have enjoyment, ask for glory itself; and he shall surely give it to you in his own appointed season.
Like Him
Whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son. — Romans 8:29
Today's Scripture: Romans 8:28-39
God is not interested in just saving us from hell and taking us to heaven. He wants to conform us “to the image of His Son” (Romans 8:29). Someone has said that the Father was so pleased with His Son that He has determined to fill all of heaven with others just like Him.
When Jesus returns, “we shall be like Him” (1 John 3:2), but the process of becoming like Him begins here and now. How does that happen? It is explained by the “all things” of “all things work together for good to those who love God” (Romans 8:28). This includes testings and trials, chastenings and purifications, denials and suffering. To become like Him, we must follow Him, and that is the path of sacrifice and trial (Hebrews 2:10).
Following Jesus means we must be willing to go with Him to the Garden of Gethsemane and the hill of Calvary.
We must be willing to endure suffering and rejection by those who reject Him (John 15:18-21). But following Him also leads us to the empty tomb and the place at the right hand of God. The apostle Paul said that those who follow Him will also share in His resurrection (Romans 6:5). And “if we endure, we shall also reign with Him” (2 Timothy 2:12).
Yes, God uses “all things” to make us like Christ. By: M.R. DeHaan
If you walk every day with the Savior,
Use His Word as your unfailing guide,
Then you surely will grow to be like Him,
And with Him you'll forever abide.
—Hess
The road to Christlikeness will take you through the valley of suffering.
www.preceptaustin.org
I keep on giving you one link that is absolutely scriptural, and you may learn from to help you think critically and analytically, to compare spiritual with spiritual, to help develop your discernment in the sphere of the Holy Spirit, but all you do is "drive away" those who want to draw near to you.
Have it your way friend.
Please allow the other members to give their input in an amicable dialogue.
Johann
