"See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the LORD your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the LORD your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess. But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them, I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live" (Deuteronomy 30:15-19)

""Now fear the LORD and serve him with all faithfulness. Throw away the gods your ancestors worshiped beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt, and serve the LORD. But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD." Then the people answered, "Far be it from us to forsake the LORD to serve other gods! It was the LORD our God himself who brought us and our parents up out of Egypt, from that land of slavery, and performed those great signs before our eyes. He protected us on our entire journey and among all the nations through which we traveled. And the LORD drove out before us all the nations, including the Amorites, who lived in the land. We too will serve the LORD, because he is our God." Joshua said to the people, "You are not able to serve the LORD. He is a holy God; he is a jealous God. He will not forgive your rebellion and your sins. If you forsake the LORD and serve foreign gods, he will turn and bring disaster on you and make an end of you, after he has been good to you." But the people said to Joshua, "No! We will serve the LORD." Then Joshua said, "You are witnesses against yourselves that you have chosen to serve the LORD." "Yes, we are witnesses," they replied. "Now then," said Joshua, "throw away the foreign gods that are among you and yield your hearts to the LORD, the God of Israel." And the people said to Joshua, "We will serve the LORD our God and obey him." On that day Joshua made a covenant for the people, and there at Shechem he reaffirmed for them decrees and laws." (Joshua 24:14-25)

"David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD, "I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, LORD, I beg you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." Before David got up the next morning, the word of the LORD had come to Gad the prophet, David's seer: "Go and tell David, 'This is what the LORD says: I am giving you three options. Choose one of them for me to carry out against you.'" So Gad went to David and said to him, "Shall there come on you three years of famine in your land? Or three months of fleeing from your enemies while they pursue you? Or three days of plague in your land? Now then, think it over and decide how I should answer the one who sent me." David said to Gad, "I am in deep distress. Let us fall into the hands of the LORD, for his mercy is great; but do not let me fall into human hands." So the LORD sent a plague on Israel from that morning until the end of the time designated, and seventy thousand of the people from Dan to Beersheba died. When the angel stretched out his hand to destroy Jerusalem, the LORD relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was afflicting the people, "Enough! Withdraw your hand." The angel of the LORD was then at the threshing floor of Araunah the Jebusite." (2 Samuel 24:10-16)

"I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity. All these things I have given willingly and with honest intent. And now I have seen with joy how willingly your people who are here have given to you." (1 Chronicles 29:17)

"Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in his ways. He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way. All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful toward those who keep the demands of his covenant. For the sake of your name, LORD, forgive my iniquity, though it is great. Who, then, are those who fear the LORD? He will instruct them in the ways they should choose. They will spend their days in prosperity, and their descendants will inherit the land. The LORD confides in those who fear him; he makes his covenant known to them. My eyes are ever on the LORD, for only he will release my feet from the snare." (Psalm 25:8-15)

[God's wisdom is being personified in this proverb] "Repent at my rebuke! Then I will pour out my thoughts to you, I will make known to you my teachings. But since you refuse to listen when I call and no one pays attention when I stretch out my hand, since you disregard all my advice and do not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh when disaster strikes you; I will mock when calamity overtakes you - when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you. Then they will call to me but I will not answer; they will look for me but will not find me, since they hated knowledge and did not choose to fear the LORD." (Proverbs 1:23-29)

"Seek good, not evil, that you may live. Then the LORD God Almighty will be with you, just as you say he is." (Amos 5:14)

"This is what the LORD says: "Maintain justice and do what is right, for my salvation is close at hand and my righteousness will soon be revealed. Blessed is the one who does this - the person who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps their hands from doing any evil."" (Isaiah 56:1-2)

"For this is what the LORD says: "To the eunuchs who keep my Sabbaths, who choose what pleases me and hold fast to my covenant - to them I will give within my temple and its walls a memorial and a name better than sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name that will endure forever."" (Isaiah 56:4-5)

""I will destine you for the sword, and all of you will fall in the slaughter; for I called but you did not answer, I spoke but you did not listen. You did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." Therefore this is what the Sovereign LORD says: "My servants will eat, but you will go hungry; my servants will drink, but you will go thirsty; my servants will rejoice, but you will be put to shame."" (Isaiah 65:12-13)

"so I also will choose harsh treatment for them and will bring on them what they dread. For when I called, no one answered, when I spoke, no one listened. They did evil in my sight and chose what displeases me." (Isaiah 66:4)

"In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."" (Matthew 3:1-2)

"From that time on Jesus began to preach, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."" (Matthew 4:17)

"Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." (Matthew 11:20)

"They went out and preached that people should repent." (Mark 6:12)

"Jesus answered them, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance."" (Luke 5:31-32)

"I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent." (Luke 15:7)

"He told them, "This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem."" (Luke 24:46-47)

""Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation."" (Acts 2:36-40)

"Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord" (Acts 3:19)

"When they heard this, they had no further objections and praised God, saying, "So then, even to Gentiles God has granted repentance that leads to life."" (Acts 11:18)

"In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." (Acts 17:30-31)

"I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus." (Acts 20:21)

"First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds." (Acts 26:20)

"Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will repay each person according to what they have done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life. But for those who are self-seeking and who reject the truth and follow evil, there will be wrath and anger. There will be trouble and distress for every human being who does evil: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile" (Romans 2:4-9)

"Even if I caused you sorrow by my letter, I do not regret it. Though I did regret it - I see that my letter hurt you, but only for a little while - yet now I am happy, not because you were made sorry, but because your sorrow led you to repentance. For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:8-10)

"Opponents must be gently instructed, in the hope that God will grant them repentance leading them to a knowledge of the truth, and that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will." (2 Timothy 2:25-26)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

"Nevertheless, I have this against you: You tolerate that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophet. By her teaching she misleads my servants into sexual immorality and the eating of food sacrificed to idols. I have given her time to repent of her immorality, but she is unwilling. So I will cast her on a bed of suffering, and I will make those who commit adultery with her suffer intensely, unless they repent of her ways." (Revelation 2:20-22)

metanoeo:

"To repent, change the mind, relent." (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, metanoeo)

metanoia:

"A change of mind, repentance" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, metanoia)

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth." (Genesis 1:1)

"Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God." (Psalm 90:2)

"The LORD possessed me [wisdom] at the beginning of His way, Before His works of old. I have been established from everlasting, From the beginning, before there was ever an earth. When there were no depths I was brought forth, When there were no fountains abounding with water. Before the mountains were settled, Before the hills, I was brought forth; While as yet He had not made the earth or the fields, Or the primal dust of the world. When He prepared the heavens, I was there..." (Proverbs 8:22-27)

"Who has done this and carried it through, calling forth the generations from the beginning? I, the LORD - with the first of them and with the last - I am he." (Isaiah 41:4)

"Who foretold this long ago, who declared it from the distant past? Was it not I, the LORD?" (Isaiah 45:21)

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.'" (Matthew 25:31-34)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God." (John 1:1)

"Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world." (John 17:24)

"The words of the prophets are in agreement with this, as it is written: "'After this I will return and rebuild David's fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things' - things known from long ago."" (Acts 15:15-18)

"No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began ["literally from the ages," according to The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates]." (1 Corinthians 2:7)

"For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight." (Ephesians 1:4)

"The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together." (Colossians 1:15-17)

"But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NKJV)

"He also says, "In the beginning, Lord, you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands."" (Hebrews 1:10)

"Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8)

"but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake." (1 Peter 1:19-20)

""I am the Alpha and the Omega," says the Lord God, "who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty."" (Revelation 1:8)

"All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast - all whose names have not been written in the Lamb's book of life, the Lamb who was slain from the creation of the world." (Revelation 13:8)

"Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come."" (Revelation 17:7-8)

"He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life."" (Revelation 21:6)

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End." (Revelation 22:13)

"The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!"" (John 1:29)

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." (John 3:16-17)

""You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one." (John 11:50-52)

"You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:6-8)

"For Christ's love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died. And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again." (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people's sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation." (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)

"As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved." (Ephesians 2:1-5)

"Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands) - remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household" (Ephesians 2:11-19)

"In reading this, then, you will be able to understand my insight into the mystery of Christ, which was not made known to people in other generations as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to God's holy apostles and prophets. This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus." (Ephesians 3:4-6)

"This is good, and pleases God our Savior, who wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time." (1 Timothy 2:3-6)

"That is why we labor and strive, because we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all people, and especially of those who believe." (1 Timothy 4:10)

"But we do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone." (Hebrews 2:9)

"The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." (2 Peter 3:9)

"My dear children, I write this to you so that you will not sin. But if anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father - Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world." (1 John 2:1-2)

"And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent his Son to be the Savior of the world." (1 John 4:14)

pistis:

"Faith. Subjectively meaning firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness (though rare). Objectively meaning that which is believed, doctrine, the received articles of faith" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, pistis)

pisteuo:

"To believe, have faith in, trust" (The Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old and New Testaments, Dr. Spiros Zodhiates, pisteuo)

"If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about - but not before God. What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed [pisteuo] God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith [pistis] is credited as righteousness. David says the same thing when he speaks of the blessedness of the one to whom God credits righteousness apart from works: "Blessed are those whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered. Blessed is the one whose sin the Lord will never count against them." Is this blessedness only for the circumcised, or also for the uncircumcised? We have been saying that Abraham's faith [pistis] was credited to him as righteousness." (Romans 4:2-9)

"So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:5-6)

"We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith [pistis] in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith [pisteuo] in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith [pistis] in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified." (Galatians 2:15-16)

"I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing [pistis] what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh? Have you experienced so much in vain - if it really was in vain? So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing [pistis] what you heard? So also Abraham "believed [pisteuo] God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." Understand, then, that those who have faith [pistis] are children of Abraham. Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith [pistis], and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who rely on faith [pistis] are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."" (Galatians 3:2-10)

"Therefore, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision, but declared first to those in Damascus and in Jerusalem, and throughout all the region of Judea, and then to the Gentiles, that they should repent, turn to God, and do works befitting repentance." (Acts 26:19-20 NKJV)

"For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:10)

"So Christ himself gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip his people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith [pistis] and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Ephesians 4:11-13)

"What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith [pistis] but does not have works? Can faith [pistis] save him?" (James 2:14 NKJV)

"If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, "Depart in peace, be warmed and filled," but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith [pistis] by itself, if it does not have works, is dead." (James 2:15-17 NKJV)

"But someone will say, "You have faith [pistis], and I have works." Show me your faith [pistis] without your works, and I will show you my faith [pistis] by my works." (James 2:18 NKJV)

"But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith [pistis] without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith [pistis] was working together with his works, and by works faith [pistis] was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed [pisteuo] God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith [pistis] only." (James 2:20-24 NKJV)

"Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith [pistis] without works is dead also." (James 2:25-26 NKJV)

1. "If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about - but not before God. What does Scripture say? "Abraham believed [pisteuo] God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."...to the one who does not work but trusts [pisteuo] God who justifies the ungodly, their faith [pistis] is credited as righteousness..." (Romans 4:2-9, above)

2. "Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith [pistis] was working together with his works, and by works faith [pistis] was made perfect?...You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith [pistis] only." (James 2:20-24, above)

"If you declare with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe [pisteuo] in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe [pisteuo] and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved." (Romans 10:9-10)

"Then they asked him, "What must we do to do the works God requires?" Jesus answered, "The work of God is this: to believe [pisteuo] in the one he has sent."" (John 6:28-29)

"Then Peter stood up with the Eleven, raised his voice and addressed the crowd:..."Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him...But he [David] was a prophet and knew that God had promised him on oath that he would place one of his descendants on his throne. Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay. God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear...Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah." When the people heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and the other apostles, "Brothers, what shall we do?" Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off - for all whom the Lord our God will call." With many other words he warned them; and he pleaded with them, "Save yourselves from this corrupt generation." Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand were added to their number that day." (Acts 2:14-41)

"Now, fellow Israelites, I [Peter] know that you acted in ignorance, as did your leaders. But this is how God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, saying that his Messiah would suffer. Repent, then, and turn to God, so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the Lord, and that he may send the Messiah, who has been appointed for you - even Jesus. Heaven must receive him until the time comes for God to restore everything, as he promised long ago through his holy prophets. For Moses said, 'The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you must listen to everything he tells you. Anyone who does not listen to him will be completely cut off from their people.'" (Acts 3:17-23)

"The apostles were brought in and made to appear before the Sanhedrin to be questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles replied: "We must obey God rather than human beings! The God of our ancestors raised Jesus from the dead - whom you killed by hanging him on a cross. God exalted him to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might bring Israel to repentance and forgive their sins. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."" (Acts 5:27-32)

"The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah." (Acts 5:41-42)

"After they had further proclaimed the word of the Lord and testified about Jesus, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem, preaching the gospel in many Samaritan villages." (Acts 8:25)

"At once he [Saul of Tarsus, later to be known as the apostle Paul - Acts 13:9] began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God." (Acts 9:20)

"As Peter entered the house, Cornelius met him and fell at his feet in reverence. But Peter made him get up. "Stand up," he said, "I am only a man myself."...Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right. You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, announcing the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. You know what has happened throughout the province of Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached - how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him. We are witnesses of everything he did in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They killed him by hanging him on a cross, but God raised him from the dead on the third day and caused him to be seen. He was not seen by all the people, but by witnesses whom God had already chosen - by us who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one whom God appointed as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name." While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, "Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have." So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. Then they asked Peter to stay with them for a few days." (Acts 10:25-48)

"Now those who had been scattered by the persecution that broke out when Stephen was killed traveled as far as Phoenicia, Cyprus and Antioch, spreading the word only among Jews. Some of them, however, men from Cyprus and Cyrene, went to Antioch and began to speak to Greeks also, telling them the good news about the Lord Jesus. The Lord's hand was with them, and a great number of people believed and turned to the Lord." (Acts 11:19-21)

"Standing up, Paul motioned with his hand and said:..."Fellow children of Abraham and you God-fearing Gentiles, it is to us that this message of salvation has been sent. The people of Jerusalem and their rulers did not recognize Jesus, yet in condemning him they fulfilled the words of the prophets that are read every Sabbath. Though they found no proper ground for a death sentence, they asked Pilate to have him executed. When they had carried out all that was written about him, they took him down from the cross and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he was seen by those who had traveled with him from Galilee to Jerusalem. They are now his witnesses to our people. We tell you the good news: What God promised our ancestors he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: 'You are my son; today I have become your father.' God raised him from the dead so that he will never be subject to decay...But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is set free from every sin, a justification you were not able to obtain under the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: 'Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.'"" (Acts 13:16-41)

"But when the apostles Barnabas and Paul heard of this, they tore their clothes and rushed out into the crowd, shouting: "Friends, why are you doing this? We too are only human, like you. We are bringing you good news, telling you to turn from these worthless things to the living God, who made the heavens and the earth and the sea and everything in them. In the past, he let all nations go their own way. Yet he has not left himself without testimony: He has shown kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons; he provides you with plenty of food and fills your hearts with joy."" (Acts 14:14-17)

"About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone's chains came loose. The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, "Don't harm yourself! We are all here!" The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved - you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized." (Acts 16:25-33)

"When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah," he said. Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women." (Acts 17:1-4)

"Paul then stood up in the meeting of the Areopagus and said: "...[God] himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else. From one man he made all the nations, that they should inhabit the whole earth; and he marked out their appointed times in history and the boundaries of their lands. God did this so that they would seek him and perhaps reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from any one of us. 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring.' Therefore since we are God's offspring, we should not think that the divine being is like gold or silver or stone - an image made by human design and skill. In the past God overlooked such ignorance, but now he commands all people everywhere to repent. For he has set a day when he will judge the world with justice by the man he has appointed. He has given proof of this to everyone by raising him from the dead." When they heard about the resurrection of the dead, some of them sneered, but others said, "We want to hear you again on this subject." At that, Paul left the Council. Some of the people became followers of Paul and believed. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others." (Acts 17:22-34)

"After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla, because Claudius had ordered all Jews to leave Rome. Paul went to see them, and because he was a tentmaker as they were, he stayed and worked with them. Every Sabbath he reasoned in the synagogue, trying to persuade Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul devoted himself exclusively to preaching, testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Messiah." (Acts 18:1-5)

"When Apollos wanted to go to Achaia, the brothers and sisters encouraged him and wrote to the disciples there to welcome him. When he arrived, he was a great help to those who by grace had believed. For he vigorously refuted his Jewish opponents in public debate, proving from the Scriptures that Jesus was the Messiah." (Acts 18:27-28)

"From Miletus, Paul sent to Ephesus for the elders of the church. When they arrived, he said to them: "You know how I lived the whole time I was with you, from the first day I came into the province of Asia. I served the Lord with great humility and with tears and in the midst of severe testing by the plots of my Jewish opponents. You know that I have not hesitated to preach anything that would be helpful to you but have taught you publicly and from house to house. I have declared to both Jews and Greeks that they must turn to God in repentance and have faith in our Lord Jesus."" (Acts 20:17-21)

""'Now get up and stand on your feet. I [Jesus] have appeared to you [Paul] to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven. First to those in Damascus, then to those in Jerusalem and in all Judea, and then to the Gentiles, I preached that they should repent and turn to God and demonstrate their repentance by their deeds...I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen - that the Messiah would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would bring the message of light to his own people and to the Gentiles."...Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" Paul replied, "Short time or long - I pray to God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."" (Acts 26:16-29)

"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since we have now been justified by his blood, how much more shall we be saved from God's wrath through him! For if, while we were God's enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! Not only is this so, but we also boast in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation." (Romans 5:8-11)

"Now, brothers and sisters, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain. For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born. For I am the least of the apostles and do not even deserve to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them - yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me. Whether, then, it is I or they, this is what we preach, and this is what you believed." (1 Corinthians 15:1-11)

Wikipedia

1. One scenario is that they would say nothing about Jesus to the unsaved friend. This is partly because most Christians don't do any evangelism, and partly because from a Calvinist perspective the unsaved friend has no choice in the matter of salvation.

2. The other scenario is that they would tell the unsaved friend that if he or she has been predestined for salvation then at some point God will cause them to receive salvation. From a Calvinist perspective, the unsaved friend has no choice in the matter, so it makes no sense to plead with or try to persuade the friend to choose to repent and have faith in Jesus for salvation.

Westminster Confession of Faith

"III. By the decree of God, for the manifestation of his glory, some men and angels are predestinated unto everlasting life, and others fore-ordained to everlasting death."

"V. Those of mankind that are predestinated unto life, God, before the foundation of the world was laid, according to his eternal and immutable purpose, and the secret counsel and good pleasure of his will, hath chosen in Christ, unto everlasting glory, out of his mere free grace and love, without any foresight of faith or good works, or perseverance in either of them, or any other thing in the creature, as conditions, or causes moving him thereunto; and all to the praise of his glorious grace."

Institutes of the Christian Religion

"we hold that God is the disposer and ruler of all things,-that from the remotest eternity, according to his own wisdom, he decreed what he was to do, and now by his power executes what he decreed. Hence we maintain, that by his providence, not heaven and earth and inanimate creatures only, but also the counsels and wills of men are so governed as to move exactly in the course which he has destined...We ought also to be moved by the words of Augustine (Retract. lib. 1 cap. 1) [that] there cannot be a greater absurdity than to hold that anything is done without the ordination of God; because it would happen at random. For which reason, he [Augustine] also excludes the contingency which depends on human will, maintaining a little further on, in clearer terms, that no cause must be sought for but the will of God. When he uses the term permission, the meaning which he attaches to it will best appear from a single passage (De Trinity. lib. 3 cap. 4), where he proves that the will of God is the supreme and primary cause of all things, because nothing happens without his order or permission." (Book First, Chapter 16, Paragraph 8, clarifications added in square brackets)

"All future events being uncertain to us, seem in suspense as if ready to take either direction. Still, however, the impression remains seated in our hearts, that nothing will happen which the Lord has not provided...The reason is not always equally apparent, but we ought undoubtedly to hold that all the changes which take place in the world are produced by the secret agency of the hand of God." (Book First, Chapter 16, Paragraph 9)

"By predestination we mean the eternal decree of God, by which he determined with himself whatever he wished to happen with regard to every man. All are not created on equal terms, but some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death." (Book Third, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5)

"Many professing a desire to defend the Deity from an invidious charge admit the doctrine of election, but deny that any one is reprobated (Bernard. in Die Ascensionis, Serm. 2). This they do ignorantly and childishly since there could be no election without its opposite reprobation. God is said to set apart those whom he adopts for salvation. It were most absurd to say, that he admits others fortuitously, or that they by their industry acquire what election alone confers on a few. Those, therefore, whom God passes by he reprobates, and that for no other cause but because he is pleased to exclude them from the inheritance which he predestines to his children." (Book Third, Chapter 23, Paragraph 1)

"Now, since the arrangement of all things is in the hand of God, since to him belongs the disposal of life and death, he arranges all things by his sovereign counsel, in such a way that individuals are born, who are doomed from the womb to certain death, and are to glorify him by their destruction...life and death are acts of the divine will rather than of prescience. If God merely foresaw human events, and did not also arrange and dispose of them at his pleasure, there might be room for agitating the question, how far his foreknowledge amounts to necessity; but since he foresees the things which are to happen, simply because he has decreed that they are so to happen, it is vain to debate about prescience, while it is clear that all events take place by his sovereign appointment." (Book Third, Chapter 23, Paragraph 6)

"The decree, I admit, is, dreadful; and yet it is impossible to deny that God foreknew what the end of man was to be before he made him, and foreknew, because he had so ordained by his decree." (Book Third, Chapter 23, Paragraph 7)

"Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13)

• John 10:27-29

  "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand." (John 10:27-29)

  Jesus said that no one can snatch Christians out of God's hand, so on the surface it sounds like Christians can never lose their salvation. But Jesus also said this:

  "At that time many will turn away from the faith and will betray and hate each other, and many false prophets will appear and deceive many people. Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved." (Matthew 24:10-13)

  Jesus said that many will turn away from the faith, and the love of most will grow cold. This describes Christians turning away from the faith or losing the love they had for the Lord (e.g., Revelation 2:4-5) because then Jesus said that those who stand firm to the end will be saved (notice that non-Christians will not be saved no matter how firm they stand). So as long as we have the proper faith in Jesus and we stand firm in our faith to the end, then no other person or entity can snatch us out of His hand. But we're able to remove ourselves from His hand by rejecting our faith in Him and turning away from the faith as we'll see.

• Romans 8:38-39

  "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:38-39)

  This passage is similar to John 10:27-29 (above) because it says that nothing external to us can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus. So as long as we're in Christ (remember, all Christians are "in Christ" - Romans 16:7, 2 Corinthians 5:17, Ephesians 1:13-14, Philippians 1:1), we have the assurance of our salvation. But a moment ago we saw that Jesus described Christians turning away from the faith or losing the love they had for the Lord, and we'll see that we're given numerous warnings against rejecting our faith in Jesus. Nothing external to us can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus, as the above passage says, but we'll see that we can separate ourselves from God by rejecting our faith in Jesus.

• 1 Peter 1:3-5

  "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5)

  On the surface, this passage seems to say that Christians are shielded by God's power and therefore we can't lose our salvation. However, notice that this passage specifically says that we are shielded by God's power through faith. Therefore, as long as we remain "in Christ," as long as we have the proper faith in Jesus, and we stand firm in our faith to the end, then we're shielded by God's power and we have the assurance of our salvation. But this would no longer apply to us if we choose to reject our faith in Jesus.

• Jude 1:24

  "Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy" (Jude 1:24 NKJV)

  On the surface, the above passage appears to say that Jesus keeps us from stumbling, which might imply that we can never lose our salvation. However, that interpretation contradicts passages such as these:

  "For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body." (James 3:2 NKJV)
  
  "Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble" (2 Peter 1:10 NKJV)

  Notice that Jude 1:24 (above) says that Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling, not that He constantly keeps us from stumbling. We have to do our part, as 2 Peter 1:10 (above) points out, otherwise we will stumble into sin. Jesus is able to keep us from stumbling by prompting or nudging us in the right direction, for example, which is one reason why we need to learn how to discern His guidance within us (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance).

"whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven" (Matthew 10:33)

"if we endure, we will also reign with him. If we disown him, he will also disown us" (2 Timothy 2:12)

• Psalm 139:16

  "Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be." (Psalm 139:16)

  Calvinists sometimes quote this verse as an example of God's foreordination, meaning that He foreordained everything in our lives before any of us were born. The irony is that the Calvinist interpretation of this verse completely contradicts their belief in Unconditional Election, which says that God chose people for salvation "without any foresight of faith or good works." Notice that if God had foreordained everything in our lives before any of us were born, then He absolutely had foresight of our faith and good works because He foreordained them.
  
  However, Psalm 139 (written by David) does not actually say that God foreordained or predestined everything that David would do in his life. Instead, it says that the number of his days was ordained, and that the contents of his days were written in God's book before he was born because of God's omniscience. For example, here's another psalm written by David, plus a verse in Job:

  "Show me, LORD, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting my life is. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Everyone is but a breath, even those who seem secure." (Psalm 39:4-5)
  
  "A person's days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed." (Job 14:5)

  The number of our days has been ordained and determined and decreed. Again, Psalm 139:16 (above) does not actually say that God foreordained or predestined everything that David would do in his life. For further confirmation, here's the beginning of Psalm 139 (above):

  "For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. You have searched me, LORD, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely." (Psalm 139:1-4)

  Look closely at the above passage and notice the highlighted words. For example, David was not saying, "You foreordained or predestined when I will sit and when I will rise," but instead he said, "You know when I sit and when I rise." The highlighted words in the above passage make it clear that David was poetically describing God's omniscience, not foreordination or predestination.

• 1 Peter 1:1-2

  "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen 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." (1 Peter 1:1-2 NIV)
  
  "Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied." (1 Peter 1:1-2 NKJV)

  Here we see 1 Peter 1:1-2 in the NIV and the NKJV. The NIV uses the word "chosen" and the NKJV uses the word "elect." Since these people are described in terms of being sanctified by the Spirit and being obedient to Jesus and being sprinkled with His blood, it's clear that these chosen or elect people have received salvation. This passage specifically says that they are chosen or elect according to God's foreknowledge, directly contradicting the Calvinist belief in Unconditional Election, which says that God chose people for salvation "without any foresight of faith or good works" or "before they did good or bad." In a moment we'll see why they're referred to as the chosen or the elect.

• Matthew 20:1-16, 21:28-32, and 22:1-14

  "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. Now when he had agreed with the laborers for a denarius a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And he went out about the third hour and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, and said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right I will give you.' So they went. Again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did likewise. And about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing idle, and said to them, 'Why have you been standing here idle all day?' They said to him, 'Because no one hired us.' He said to them, 'You also go into the vineyard, and whatever is right you will receive.' So when evening had come, the owner of the vineyard said to his steward, 'Call the laborers and give them their wages, beginning with the last to the first.' And when those came who were hired about the eleventh hour, they each received a denarius. But when the first came, they supposed that they would receive more; and they likewise received each a denarius. And when they had received it, they complained against the landowner, saying, 'These last men have worked only one hour, and you made them equal to us who have borne the burden and the heat of the day.' But he answered one of them and said, 'Friend, I am doing you no wrong. Did you not agree with me for a denarius? Take what is yours and go your way. I wish to give to this last man the same as to you. Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?' So the last will be first, and the first last. For many are called, but few chosen." (Matthew 20:1-16 NKJV)
  
  ""What do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 'I will not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will, sir,' but he did not go. Which of the two did what his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to them, "Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not repent and believe him."" (Matthew 21:28-32)
  
  "And Jesus answered and spoke to them again by parables and said: "The kingdom of heaven is like a certain king who arranged a marriage for his son, and sent out his servants to call those who were invited to the wedding; and they were not willing to come. Again, he sent out other servants, saying, 'Tell those who are invited, "See, I have prepared my dinner; my oxen and fatted cattle are killed, and all things are ready. Come to the wedding."' But they made light of it and went their ways, one to his own farm, another to his business. And the rest seized his servants, treated them spitefully, and killed them. But when the king heard about it, he was furious. And he sent out his armies, destroyed those murderers, and burned up their city. Then he said to his servants, 'The wedding is ready, but those who were invited were not worthy. Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding.' So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, 'Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?' And he was speechless. Then the king said to the servants, 'Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' For many are called, but few are chosen." (Matthew 22:1-14)

  Here we have three parables concerning the kingdom of heaven (the kingdom of God). As Bible commentaries sometimes point out, the Greek word for "called" has the meaning of "invited" here. The idea is that many people are invited through the preaching of the Gospel, but the chosen are the ones who make the choice to accept the invitation.
  
  In the first parable, the "chosen" are people who made the choice to accept the landowner's invitation to be laborers in the vineyard. In the second parable, a father had decided beforehand what he wanted his sons to do that day. One son initially refused, but then made the choice to change his mind (which is the meaning of the word "repentance" as we've seen) and do what his father wanted. Jesus explained this parable by saying that tax collectors and prostitutes had believed John the Baptist's preaching and were entering the kingdom of God but the Jewish leaders had refused to repent and believe John's message. In the third parable, servants were sent out to call and invite people to a wedding, but those people were not willing to come and instead they went their own ways. Then the servants were sent out to gather everyone they found, both bad and good, meaning that whether we would be considered bad people or good people before we hear the invitation of the Gospel message, we can still receive salvation and go to heaven. But one of the guests in the parable did not have on a wedding garment, so he was mingling with the wedding guests but did not actually belong at the wedding. As Bible commentaries sometimes point out, the implication is that the wedding guests who accepted the invitation were given some kind of wedding garment (representing the white robes of salvation in Revelation 6:9-11, 7:9, 13-16), so this man without a wedding garment had not accepted the invitation. In modern terms, the man without the wedding garment who was thrown out of the wedding represents people who go to church and might be active in church ministries, but who never had the proper faith in Jesus and therefore will end up being cast into hell.
  
  In all three parables about heaven, we consistently see that all kinds of people are called or invited, but many will reject the invitation. The only ones who did what the landowner or the father or the king wanted are those who agreed to accept the invitation and do what was requested. When Jesus said that many are called but few are chosen, notice that the "chosen" are those who made the choice to accept the invitation and do what was requested. These parables about heaven completely contradict the views of 5 Point Calvinism because there's absolutely no indication here that the "chosen" were predestined or foreordained to accept the invitation. Jesus specifically described people having the freedom and the ability to choose to reject the invitation and not do what was requested, which directly contradicts the Calvinist concept that God's grace cannot be resisted ("Irresistible Grace" as they refer to it).
  
  In the first parable, those who received a denarius are the "chosen." In the second parable, tax collectors and prostitutes are examples of the "chosen" (because they were entering the kingdom of God). In the third parable, those who received wedding garments are the "chosen." In each case, notice that those people are the chosen because they made the choice to accept the invitation and do what was requested.

• Matthew 24:30-31

  "Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other." (Matthew 24:30-31)

  In the Bible, Jesus is called "elect" (Isaiah 42:1-2 NKJV, 1 Peter 2:6-7 NKJV), and the holy angels are called "elect" (1 Timothy 5:21), and Israel is called "elect" (e.g., Isaiah 45:4 NKJV), and the Church (the body of Christ) is called "elect" (e.g., Colossians 3:12-13 NKJV). So when we see the word "elect," it's important to discern the context in order to understand who is being referred to.
  
  In Matthew 24, the entire context of Jesus' statements is Jewish in nature, which indicates that Israel is "his elect" in Matthew 24:30-31 (above). This passage has nothing to do with predestination or election for salvation, but instead it refers to the Jews being gathered back to Israel after the Second Coming (see my article called The Rapture of the Church - Part Four).

• John 6:35-44

  "Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. All those the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all those he has given me, but raise them up at the last day. For my Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day." At this the Jews there began to grumble about him because he said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They said, "Is this not Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, 'I came down from heaven'?" "Stop grumbling among yourselves," Jesus answered. "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them, and I will raise them up at the last day."" (John 6:35-44)

  Here Jesus said that "all those the Father gives me will come to me," and He explained this statement by saying that "no one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws them." As we've seen, God has always known who will make the choice to receive salvation, and at the appropriate times He calls or invites or draws them to Jesus. For example, notice that Jesus chastised the crowd of Jews by saying "you have seen me and still you do not believe." If 5 Point Calvinism were true then there would never be any reason for Jesus to chastise anyone for their lack of faith in Him because Calvinism teaches that everyone who is supposed to receive salvation will receive salvation; they can't resist it ("Irresistible Grace" as they refer to it). A little further in this chapter, Jesus then said this:

  ""The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you - they are full of the Spirit and life. Yet there are some of you who do not believe." For Jesus had known from the beginning which of them did not believe and who would betray him. He went on to say, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled them."" (John 6:63-65)

  Once again, Jesus chastised people for not believing in Him, which demonstrates that we can and must make our own choice to place our faith in Him. Then we're told that Jesus had known from the beginning who would and would not believe in Him, which directly contradicts the Calvinist view that God predestined people for salvation "without any foresight of faith or good works." God absolutely had foresight of people's faith because He is omniscient (all-knowing). Then Jesus repeated the fact that God enables people to come to Him by drawing them to Him. We know that "enabling" and "drawing" are the same thing because in John 6:65 (above) Jesus specifically said that He was referring back to His earlier statement along the same lines, which is in John 6:44 (above).

• Ephesians 1:4-5

  "For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will" (Ephesians 1:4-5)

  On the surface, it would be easy to assume that this passage says that God chose specific people to give salvation to as Calvinists claim. But what it actually says is that before the creation of the world (remember, that's from our perspective in this physical universe) God chose and predestined that those of us who are in Christ ("us in him") will be considered holy and blameless in His sight (i.e., justified, declared righteous), and that He loves us, and that He will adopt us as His children.
  
  So those who are in Christ are chosen and elected and predestined for adoption as God's children, but in order to be in Christ (i.e., to receive salvation) we must make the choice to have the proper faith in Jesus as we have seen. God does not force us to make this choice, and He does not make this choice for us.
  
  Without going into all the details, here's a summary of how we receive salvation (the details can be found in my article called How to Receive Salvation):

  1. In His omniscience, God has always known who will receive salvation.

  2. At the appropriate times, He calls and invites and draws us to Jesus, opening our hearts to Him and providing the faith that we need as we'll see.

  3. We have the freedom and the ability to choose to place our faith in Jesus.

  4. When we choose to repent (change our mind about Jesus) and have the proper faith in Jesus (the type of inward faith that's willing to do outward works of obedience) then we immediately and automatically receive salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit (who comes to live in our hearts). We are now justified (declared righteous), and we are now in Christ as members of His body on earth. This makes us members of the "chosen" and the "elect" because God chose and elected and predestined that those who are in Christ will be adopted as His children (Ephesians 1:4-5, above).

• John 15:16

  "You did not choose me, but I chose you..." (John 15:16)

  I frequently see this partial quote in Calvinist articles as an example of Unconditional Election, as if Jesus had chosen the disciples and they had no choice in the matter. If we look on the surface of this partial quote, Calvinist articles seem to be using it to show that the disciples did not (and in fact could not) choose to place their faith in Jesus for salvation, but instead Jesus chose them for salvation from before the world was created, which exactly fits the Unconditional Election concept of Calvinism.
  
  But if we look at the full verse, as well as a couple of other passages, it's clear that these passages are not talking about salvation:

  "You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you." (John 15:16)
  
  "But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel."" (Acts 9:15)
  
  "Then Jesus replied, "Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!" (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.)" (John 6:70-71)

  In the first two passages above, Jesus did not say that He had chosen those people for salvation, but instead He said that He had chosen them to be appointed for certain assignments. These and any similar passages have no bearing on the Calvinist concept of Unconditional Election for salvation, or being predestined for salvation, because they're not talking about salvation. For example, John 6:70-71 (above) says that Judas Iscariot was one of the Twelve and was chosen by Jesus, yet Judas betrayed Him and did not receive salvation. Notice that Jesus referred to Judas as "a devil" (John 6:70-71, above), and the apostle John referred to him as "Judas the traitor" (John 18:5), and Jesus referred to him as "the one doomed to destruction" (John 17:12). When Calvinists say that Jesus chose the twelve apostles for salvation and they had no choice in the matter, the Calvinist view is clearly wrong because Jesus chose Judas Iscariot as one of the twelve apostles and yet Judas did not receive salvation.

• Acts 4:27-28

  "Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen." (Acts 4:27-28)

  This passage says that God decided beforehand (before the creation of the world - 1 Peter 1:19-20, Revelation 13:8) that Jesus would be put to death to atone for our sins. However, God did not foreordain or force any specific people to put Jesus to death; those people did it by their own choice as Bible commentaries sometimes point out:

  "It is not said that God decreed that Pilate, Herod and the rulers should do what they did, but that they did what God had decreed should be done. It was God's will that Christ should die, but they chose, of their own malignity, to slay him. Their will was free." (The People's New Testament commentary, Acts 4:28)

  Recall that in the second parable of the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 21:28-32, above), Jesus showed that people will not always do what a father had decided beforehand that they should do. In exactly the same way, the people in Acts 4:27-28 (above) could have chosen not to participate in executing Jesus, in which case Jesus would have been executed by someone else. It was Jesus' death that was decided beforehand by God, not the actions of individual people.

• Acts 13:48

  "When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed [tasso] for eternal life believed." (Acts 13:48)

  On the surface, it would be easy to assume that this verse supports the Calvinist view that specific people were predestined for salvation before the creation of the world, but we've seen that 5 Point Calvinism has been thoroughly refuted in all respects. We've also seen that in order to understand any individual passage, we need to fit it into the full picture in a way that there are no contradictions, so the above verse must be interpreted in a way that there are no contradictions in Scripture. This is how that verse is described by various Bible scholars:

  "As many as were ordained to eternal life - St. Luke does not say fore-ordained. He is not speaking of what was done from eternity, but of what was then done, through the preaching of the Gospel. He is describing that ordination, and that only, which was at the very time of hearing it. During this sermon those believed, says the apostle, to whom God then gave power to believe. It is as if he had said, "They believed, whose hearts the Lord opened;" as he expresses it in a clearly parallel place, speaking of the same kind of ordination, Act 16:14, etc. It is observable, the original word is not once used in Scripture to express eternal predestination of any kind. The sum is, all those and those only, who were now ordained, now believed. Not that God rejected the rest: it was his will that they also should have been saved: but they thrust salvation from them. Nor were they who then believed constrained to believe. But grace was then first copiously offered them. And they did not thrust it away, so that a great multitude even of Gentiles were converted. In a word, the expression properly implies, a present operation of Divine grace working faith in the hearers." (John Wesley's Notes on the Bible, Acts 13:48)
  
  "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed - This text has been most pitifully misunderstood. Many suppose that it simply means that those in that assembly who were fore-ordained; or predestinated by God's decree, to eternal life, believed under the influence of that decree. Now, we should be careful to examine what a word means, before we attempt to fix its meaning. Whatever τεταγμενοι may mean, which is the word we translate ordained, it is neither προτεταγμενοι nor προορισμενοι which the apostle uses, but simply τεταγμενοι, which includes no idea of pre-ordination or pre-destination of any kind. And if it even did, it would be rather hazardous to say that all those who believed at this time were such as actually persevered unto the end, and were saved unto eternal life. But, leaving all these precarious matters, what does the word τεταγμενος mean? The verb ταττω or τασσω signifies to place, set, order, appoint, dispose; hence it has been considered here as implying the disposition or readiness of mind of several persons in the congregation, such as the religious proselytes mentioned Act 13:43, who possessed the reverse of the disposition of those Jews who spake against those things, contradicting and blaspheming, Act 13:45. Though the word in this place has been variously translated, yet, of all the meanings ever put on it, none agrees worse with its nature and known signification than that which represents it as intending those who were predestinated to eternal life: this is no meaning of the term, and should never be applied to it." (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, Acts 13:48)
  
  "As many as were ordained to eternal life believed ... As Milligan said, this means that "As many as were disposed to accept God's plan, according to which they had been chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world, believed."[29] Before the world was, God ordained that people who would hear his word and submit their will to his would receive eternal life, and that those who would not do this could not receive eternal life. There is nothing in this place that suggests any "immutable decree" regarding specific individuals, the ordination in this place having reference, not to individuals at all, but to classes of people. Furthermore, every individual ever born has the right of decision with regard to which class of persons will be his own." (Coffman's Commentaries on the Bible, Acts 13:48)
  
  "There is no evidence in this verse or any other verse to indicate the doctrine of predestination or election as espoused by Calvin and embraced by many in the denominational world. This false doctrine of predestination holds that certain ones are preordained (elected) to salvation while others are irrevocably preordained to be lost eternally. This doctrine, if true, would eliminate the need to preach the gospel as those who are ordained to be saved would be saved while those ordained to be lost would be lost and neither group could change their eternal destiny!
  The inescapable conclusion to this false doctrine is that those who are lost would be lost due to no fault of their own; but because God did not "ordain" (elect) them to salvation, it would be God's will that they be lost! Dear reader, you need not lose any sleep over such a heresy. There is no specificity in God's plan in respect to individuals. It is God's ordained plan to save ALL those who will believe and obey His word (Matthew 7:21; Titus 2:11; Hebrews 5:8-9; 1 John 2:3-4)." (Contending for the Faith, Acts 13:48)

  Consider that if the president of the United States appoints people to be the American ambassadors to foreign countries, they must make a choice whether or not to accept their assignment. Being "appointed" for eternal life does not automatically imply that people have no choice in the matter. An appointment or assignment comes with a choice. We've seen that people must make the choice to believe in Jesus, and in the above verse we can see that certain people made the choice to believe in Him.
  
  Before Saul of Tarsus received salvation and became the apostle Paul (Acts 13:9), he was a Pharisee who persecuted Christians to their death (Acts 9:1-2, 22:3-5, 26:4-11). On his way to Damascus, he had a supernatural encounter with Christ which is described in three parallel passages:

  ""Who are you, Lord?" Saul [Paul] asked. "I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."" (Acts 9:5-6)
  
  "'Who are you, Lord?' I [Paul] asked. 'I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,' he replied. My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me. 'What shall I do, Lord?' I asked. 'Get up,' the Lord said, 'and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned [tasso] to do.'" (Acts 22:8-10)
  
  "Then I [Paul] asked, 'Who are you, Lord?' 'I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,' the Lord replied. 'Now get up and stand on your feet. I have appeared to you to appoint you as a servant and as a witness of what you have seen and will see of me. I will rescue you from your own people and from the Gentiles. I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.' So then, King Agrippa, I was not disobedient to the vision from heaven." (Acts 26:15-19)

  In Acts 22:8-10 (above) we see the same Greek word that's used in Acts 13:48 (above), meaning "appointed" or "assigned." In the other two parallel passages above (Acts 9:5-6 and Acts 26:15-19), the wording shows that being appointed or assigned comes with a choice because Saul/Paul was told what he "must do." In other words, he was not forced to carry out his assignment; he had a choice. We know for a fact that he had the choice whether to be obedient or disobedient to his appointment or assignment because he specifically said that he "was not disobedient to the vision from heaven" (Acts 26:15-19, above).
  
  Remember, we saw that salvation is a transaction. At the appropriate times, God calls people by opening their hearts and drawing them to Jesus. When we respond to this call by choosing to have the proper faith in Jesus, then we have done our part in the transaction. When God calls people, at that point in time they're being appointed or assigned to receive eternal life by choosing to have the proper faith in Jesus. In Acts 13:48 (above) we're specifically told that the Gentiles were not disobedient to their appointment or assignment because they chose to believe in Jesus for salvation.

• 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 sisters. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified." (Romans 8:28-30)

  Once again we can see that God foreknew who would believe in His Son so He absolutely had foresight of people's faith, which completely contradicts 5 Point Calvinism. Notice that this passage does not say that anyone was predestined to receive salvation. It specifically says that those whom He foreknew were predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, which will take place when Jesus returns for us and transforms us from mortality to immortality (1 Corinthians 15:50-53, Philippians 3:20-21, 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18). At the proper time He calls them, and their justification and glorification are mentioned in the past tense because God foreknew that those things would happen. Remember, every time the Bible uses time-based terms such as "foreknew" or "predestined," these are from our perspective in this physical universe. From God's perspective, He always knows all things about the past, present, and future because of His omniscience.

• Romans 8:33

  "Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies." (Romans 8:33 NIV)
  
  "Who shall bring a charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies." (Romans 8:33 NKJV)

  Here we see Romans 8:33 in the NIV and the NKJV. The NIV uses the word "chosen" and the NKJV uses the word "elect." Again, Christians are sometimes referred to as the "elect" or the "chosen," but we've seen over and over that they're only the elect and the chosen because of their choice to receive salvation. Remember, those who are in Christ are chosen and elected and predestined for adoption as God's children, which is why we're called the "chosen" and the "elect," but in order to be in Christ (i.e., to receive salvation) we must make the choice to have the proper faith in Jesus. God does not force us to make this choice, and He does not make this choice for us.

• Romans 9:10-13

  "Not only that, but Rebekah's children were conceived at the same time by our father Isaac. Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad - in order that God's purpose in election might stand: not by works but by him who calls - she was told, "The older will serve the younger." Just as it is written: "Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated."" (Romans 9:10-13)

  In Calvinist articles online, this passage is frequently used in support of Unconditional Election for reasons that seem obvious on the surface, because the idea of Unconditional Election is that God chose people "without any foresight of faith or good works." This passage is the reason why Calvinists often say that God chose people "before they did good or bad." But Calvinists have overlooked or ignored what God specifically said before Jacob and Esau were born:

  "Isaac prayed to the LORD on behalf of his wife, because she was childless. The LORD answered his prayer, and his wife Rebekah became pregnant. The babies jostled each other within her, and she said, "Why is this happening to me?" So she went to inquire of the LORD. The LORD said to her, "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger." When the time came for her to give birth, there were twin boys in her womb. The first to come out was red, and his whole body was like a hairy garment; so they named him Esau. After this, his brother came out, with his hand grasping Esau's heel; so he was named Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when Rebekah gave birth to them." (Genesis 25:21-26)

  So God absolutely used His foresight before the twins were born, and He knew exactly what their futures would be because of His omniscience. This is the complete opposite of the Calvinist view of Jacob's and Esau's birth because Calvinists say that God chose people "without any foresight of faith or good works" or "before they did good or bad."
  
  Remember, when Romans 9:10-13 (above) says "before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad," time-based statements such as this are from our perspective in this physical universe. God always knows the past, present, and future of the world, and He elected (chose) Jacob to be the father of the Jews, His chosen people, even though Jacob and the Jews didn't do anything to earn or merit or deserve this distinction ("not by works").
  
  The essence of Romans 9:10-13 (above) is that God has an individual plan for each person (and for nations), and He always knows what each person and nation will do in the future.

• Romans 9:14-24

  "What then shall we say? Is God unjust? Not at all! For he says to Moses, "I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion." It does not, therefore, depend on human desire or effort, but on God's mercy. For Scripture says to Pharaoh: "I raised you up for this very purpose, that I might display my power in you and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth." Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden. One of you will say to me: "Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?" But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? "Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, 'Why did you make me like this?'" Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use? What if God, although choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy, whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?" (Romans 9:14-24)

  Here again the essence of this passage is that God has an individual plan for each person (and for nations), and He always knows what each person and nation will do in the future. In His sovereignty He chooses whom to have mercy and compassion on and whom to harden.
  
  We see that God raised Pharaoh to his position of power, and Exodus 9:12 says that God hardened Pharaoh's heart against Moses and Aaron. But God did not do this arbitrarily or unjustly because He always knew that Pharaoh would harden his heart against them. For example, we see Pharaoh hardening his own heart five times (Exodus 7:13-14, 22, 8:15, 32, 9:7) before God hardened his heart further (Exodus 9:12).
  
  In Romans 9:19 (above) the NIV says "who is able to resist his will," which is a misleading paraphrase from the original Greek, implying that no one can resist God's will. Other English translations consistently translate that verse in the following way, showing that the NIV's implication is not in the original Greek:

  "You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?"" (Romans 9:19 NKJV)
  
  "You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?" (Romans 9:19 NASB)
  
  "Thou wilt say, then, to me, 'Why yet doth He find fault? for His counsel who hath resisted?'" (Romans 9:19 YLT)
  
  "You will say to me then, "Why does He still blame me [for sinning]? For who [including myself] has [ever] resisted His will and purpose?" (Romans 9:19 AMP)
  
  "But you will say to me, "Then why does he still find fault with us? After all, who resists his will?" (Romans 9:19 Complete Jewish Bible)

  The analogy of the potter and the clay (Romans 9:20-24, above) is another example in which God has an individual plan for each person. We've already seen that those "whom he prepared in advance for glory - even us, whom he also called" are the elect and the chosen because of their choice to receive salvation. Similarly, "the objects of his wrath - prepared for destruction" are those who will never make the choice to obey Him and receive salvation as in these passages:

  "The wrath of God is being revealed from heaven against all the godlessness and wickedness of people, who suppress the truth by their wickedness, since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them. For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities - his eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse." (Romans 1:18-20)
  
  "But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed." (Romans 2:5)
  
  "All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath." (Ephesians 2:3)

  Calvinists say that God chose who will receive salvation and who won't, and people have no choice in the matter. Recall that in his book, "Institutes of the Christian Religion," Calvin said that "some are preordained to eternal life, others to eternal damnation; and, accordingly, as each has been created for one or other of these ends, we say that he has been predestinated to life or to death" (Book Third, Chapter 21, Paragraph 5).
  
  But if the Calvinists are right then God would have no reason to feel wrath toward people who don't receive salvation (as in the above passages) because it was His choice not to give them salvation. Think about it for a moment. The fact that the above passages describe God's wrath against people's stubbornness and unrepentant hearts (e.g., Romans 2:5, above) indicates that people have the ability to choose or to reject salvation.

• 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

  "We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. No, we declare God's wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." (1 Corinthians 2:6-8)

  This passage doesn't say anything about anyone being predestined for salvation. It says that God's wisdom was destined for those who choose to receive salvation.

• Ephesians 1:11-13

  "In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit" (Ephesians 1:11-13)

  Bible commentaries tend to point out that when Paul said "we were also chosen, having been predestined" and "we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ," he was referring to Jewish Christians (himself included) because the Gospel message was first proclaimed to the Jews. Then Paul said "And you also were included in Christ," which refers to the Gentile Christians in Ephesus. So Paul was saying that the Jews are the chosen and predestined people for receiving salvation (because the New Covenant is specifically for the Jews according to Jeremiah 31:31-32, which is explained in detail in my article called Covenants, Dispensations, and the Ten Commandments - Part One), and he said that Gentiles are also saved by believing in Him.
  
  As we've seen over and over, in order to be included in Christ (i.e., to receive salvation) we must make the choice to have the proper faith in Jesus. God does not force us to make this choice, and He does not make this choice for us. We must do the believing, and then we receive salvation and the indwelling Holy Spirit.

• Ephesians 2:8-10

  "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." (Ephesians 2:8-10)

  Grace and faith are given to us by God, as these passages also tell us:

  "For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you." (Romans 12:3)
  
  "He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel." (2 Timothy 1:9-10)

  God gives us the grace and faith that we need (not based on any works we do to earn or merit or deserve them), and as we've seen, we're the ones who must use that faith in order to believe in Jesus for salvation. Ephesians 2:8-10 (above) goes on to say that God does His good works through us, as Paul said in this passage:

  "Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed - not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence - continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill his good purpose." (Philippians 2:12-13)

  As we've seen in other passages, God has an individual plan for each Christian, and He has prepared in advance the good works that He wants to do through us.

• 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14

  "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." (2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 NKJV)

  If we only look at this one passage by itself, it would be easy to assume that God predestined certain people for salvation before the creation of the world. But that assumption would contradict the vast weight of evidence that we've examined in this article.
  
  In fact, there's more here than meets the eye, which has caused Bible scholars to have difficulty understanding this passage as we can see in these quotes from Bible commentaries:

  "God hath from the beginning - Of your hearing the gospel. Chosen you to salvation - Taken you out of the world, and placed you in the way to glory." (John Wesley's Notes on the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "Hath chosen (haireomai) - The only case in N.T. in which this word is used of God's election. lxx, Deu 26:18, of God's choosing Israel to be his peculiar people. Comp. Php 1:22; Heb 11:25.
  From the beginning (ap' arches) - Not elsewhere in Paul. His usual expressions are pro ho aion before the ages (1Co 2:7): pro katabole kosmos before the foundation of the world (Eph 1:4): apo ho aion from the ages (Eph 3:9). Before eternal times (pro chronos aionios) is found 2Ti 1:9; Tit 1:2." (Vincent's Word Studies in the New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "From the beginning (ap' arches). Probably the correct text (Aleph D L) and not aparchen (first fruits, B G P), though here alone in Paul's writings and a hard reading, the eternal choice or purpose of God" (Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "He was thankful for their salvation, which was based on God's choice of them, His work in them through the Spirit and the Word, and their ultimate glorification. chose: The Greek tense of this word indicates that in the past God had chosen the Thessalonians to be His people, set apart as holy to Him." (Nelson's New Illustrated Bible Commentary, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "From the beginning. From the beginning God had determined on the salvation of the Gentiles, and arranged the plans by which they were saved." (The People's New Testament commentary, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "from the beginning - "before the foundation of the world" (Eph 1:4; compare 1Co 2:7; 2Ti 1:9); in contrast to those that shall "worship the beast, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world" (Rev 13:8). Some of the oldest manuscripts read as English Version, but other oldest manuscripts and Vulgate read, "as first-fruits." The Thessalonians were among the first converts in Europe (compare Rom 16:5; 1Co 16:15). In a more general sense, it occurs in Jas 1:18; Rev 14:4; so I understand it here including the more restricted sense.
  chosen you - The Greek, is not the ordinary word for "elected," implying His eternal selection; but taken for Himself, implying His having adopted them in His eternal purpose. It is found in the Septuagint (Deu 7:7; Deu 10:15)." (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown Commentary, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)
  
  "God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation, etc. - In your calling, God has shown the purpose that he had formed from the beginning, to call the Gentiles to the same privileges with the Jews" (Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible, 2 Thessalonians 2:13)

  In the above quotes we can see that Bible scholars don't agree on what "from the beginning" means, or what "chose you for salvation" means, or who "you" refers to. Some of them point out that in this passage, Paul did not use his usual Greek words for concepts such as election or predestination, making it difficult to discern his intended meaning. To further complicate matters, some Bible scholars (as in the above quotes) point out that some of the oldest Greek manuscripts use the Greek word for "firstfruits," which is how the NIV has translated this verse:

  "But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers and sisters loved by the Lord, because God chose you as firstfruits to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth." (2 Thessalonians 2:13 NIV)

  One commentary (above) says that "The Thessalonians were among the first converts in Europe." According to a number of Bible scholars (see my article called Who Wrote the New Testament?), the book of James was the first New Testament book to be written (AD 45-48), which was addressed to the twelve tribes of Jews scattered among the nations (James 1:1). The second New Testament book was Paul's letter to the Galatians (AD 48), who were Christian converts in Asia Minor (Epistle to the Galatians ). The third New Testament book was Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians (AD 50-54), who were Christian converts in southeast Europe in modern-day Greece (First Epistle to the Thessalonians ). This further confirms that the Thessalonians were some of the first Europeans to receive salvation because they were the first Europeans that Paul wrote to in order to check on their progress.
  
  So based on the Greek words that Paul used in the above passage, his meaning was that God chose to call and invite and draw the Thessalonians to Jesus as the first Christians in their region ("God chose you as firstfruits to be saved"). This would also explain why Paul did not use his usual Greek words for concepts such as before the creation of the world, and election or predestination, because Paul did not have those concepts in mind here. This is also consistent with the fact that other people are described as "firstfruits" as well:

  "and salute the church that is in their house. Salute Epaenetus my beloved, who is the first-fruits of Asia unto Christ." (Romans 16:5 ASV)
  
  "But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." (1 Corinthians 15:20 NKJV)
  
  "I urge you, brethren - you know the household of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have devoted themselves to the ministry of the saints" (1 Corinthians 16:15 NKJV)
  
  "Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures." (James 1:18 NKJV)
  
  "These are the ones who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins. These are the ones who follow the Lamb wherever He goes. These were redeemed from among men, being firstfruits to God and to the Lamb." (Revelation 14:4 NKJV)

  So according to Bible scholars, there's no clear evidence in 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 (above) that Paul was saying that God predestined certain people for salvation before the creation of the world. Instead, based on all of the evidence, Paul was saying that God had chosen to call and invite and draw the Thessalonians to Jesus as the first Christians in their region.

• Salvation is available to every human.

• God foreknew from the beginning of time who would or would not make the choice to receive salvation. In His omniscience, He always sees all of the past, present, and future of the world.

• God does not choose or predestine or force anyone to receive salvation (or not to receive salvation).

• Christians are referred to as the "elect" or the "chosen," but they're only the elect and the chosen because of their choice to receive salvation. As we saw, God chose (elected) that everyone who is in Christ (saved) will be adopted as His children, which is why we're called the "elect" or the "chosen."

• God knows in advance who will choose to receive salvation and at the appropriate times He calls and invites and draws them to Jesus. He opens their heart and provides the faith they need, but they must make the choice whether or not to receive salvation through proper faith in Jesus.

• God prompts people to go in a certain direction or do certain things (see my article called How to Discern God's Guidance), but it's up to them to make the decision to go in that direction or do those things.

• 04/21/2024 - Added some quotes by Calvin and made some slight modifications in the section called "Calvinism Refuted." Added a quote by Calvin under "Romans 9:14-24."

• 09/28/2023 - Slightly modified my comments under "Psalm 139:16." Added more information under "2 Thessalonians 2:13-14."

• 01/27/2023 - Modified the section called "Calvinism Refuted." Modified my comments under "John 15:16." Modified my comments under "Acts 13:48." Added a link to my article called "How to Discern God's Guidance" in the Conclusion section.

• 12/20/2022 - Slightly modified the section called "Our Perspective vs. God's Perspective."

• 12/05/2022 - Added a comment in the Conclusion section that God does foreordain certain things in our lives.

• 10/03/2022 - Modified the section called "Calvinism Refuted." Modified my description of Acts 13:48. Modified my description of 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.

• 08/24/2022 - Added some passages concerning the Preservation of the Saints (the fifth point in 5 Point Calvinism).

• 07/23/2022 - Modified my closing statement.

• 05/04/2022 - Changed the title to "Our Lives Are Not Predestined" (previously it was called "Predestination"). Modified my description of Acts 4:27-28. Modified my description of Ephesians 1:11-13.

• 04/24/2022 - Modified my comments on the Preservation of the Saints (the fifth point in 5 Point Calvinism).

• 04/14/2022 - Changed the title of my book because I discovered a couple of existing books with "Healing Is for Today" in their names.

• 12/06/2021 - Modified the section called "Faith Needs to Be Accompanied by Works." Modified the last bullet point under Ephesians 1:4-5 in the section called "Predestination Passages."

• 11/11/2021 - Modified my comments on John 15:16, Acts 13:48, and 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14 in the section called "Predestination Passages."

• 11/03/2021 - Made the font size a bit bigger and added a fish symbol as a favicon (which is displayed in the browser tab).

• 10/20/2021 - Added some comments in the first few sections to indicate that they are useful background information. Changed the formatting in the section called "Predestination Passages."

• 10/15/2021 - Extensively modified this article.

• 09/19/2021 - Moved 1 Peter 1:1-2 to the top of the list in the section called "Predestination Passages."

• 08/27/2021 - Added a new section called "God Wants All People to Receive Salvation." Modified the comments under Matthew 24:30-31. Added Genesis 25:21-23 under Romans 9:10-18. Added 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14.

• 04/09/2021 - Added 1 Peter 1:1-2.

• 01/26/2021 - New article.