Perhaps, this is the condition ...
In the OT, it says (in several places) that God desires
to dwell with those who have humble and contrite hearts.
So IMO, this is who He chooses for salvation.
Also IMO, He has to give these people a seed of faith
to enable them to believe.
Remember Lydia in Acts 16:14 ...
"The Lord opened her heart to heed the things spoken by Paul."
Is this only in her case, or did the rest of us folks CHOOSE for ourselves?
Nah ... too many NT verses against it.
I believe Prevenient Grace is the best way to harmonize what Scripture says as whole on this topic. Prevenient Grace is the belief that God draws men at certain times to see and understand the gospel so as to choose it or reject it of their own free will. Without this illumination or drawing by God, a person cannot understand the gospel. For in the Parable in the Sower, we learn that the first seed did not even understand the gospel message. The devil stole the seed out of their heart before they could understand it. So there are times where a person can hear the gospel and not understand it because they have not been drawn by God yet. But God will draw all men unto Him in His timing, though.
Prevenient Grace Verses:
John 1:9 says,
“That was the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world.”
John 12:32 says,
“And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.”
John 16:8-11 says,
8 “And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:
9 Of sin, because they believe not on me;
10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more;
11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.”
Romans 2:4 says,
“Or despise you the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance?”
Titus 2:11 says,
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”
1 Timothy 2:3-4 says,
3 “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour;
4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.
John 3:16 says,
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
2 Peter 3:9 which states that God “is not willing that any should perish, but for all to come to repentance.”
1 John 2:2 says,
“[Jesus] is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” (Also see John 1:29 - the Lamb of God takes away the sins of the world).
Hebrews 2:9 essentially says,
"Jesus tasted death for everyone."
Matthew 13:15 says,
"For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.”
Matthew 23:37 (NLT) says,
"O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones God's messengers! How often I have wanted to gather your children together as a hen protects her chicks beneath her wings, but you wouldn't let me.”
Deuteronomy 30:19 says,
“I call heaven and earth as witness this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live”.
Acts of the Apostles 17:27 says, “he be not far from every one of us”
Acts of the Apostles 16:14 says,
“And a certain woman named Lydia, a seller of purple, of the city of Thyatira, which worshipped God, heard us: whose heart the Lord opened, that she attended unto the things which were spoken of Paul.” (Note: This was an opening of the heart to listen and it was not a change of heart to be instantly saved and regenerated).
Good Article on this topic:
What Biblical Evidence Is There For Prevenient Grace?
