If God chose some and did not choose others when they had no say - he chose some for damnation. That is inescapable.
That's what Calvinism says. But Scripture says that God chose and predestined us in Christ to salvation. Predestination is real and effectual, but it only applies to our election in Christ. Because at the same time we read that God has chosen us (we did not choose Him) out of His free election of grace, He also wills and desires the salvation of all, as Christ died for all, and has objectively rendered all justified.
Scripture says both. But it never says God has predestined any to damnation, that is human contrivance.
This apparent paradox is part of what Lutheran theologians have historically described as the Crux Theologorum, or "The Theologian's Cross". It is a cross in the sense of a burden; the faithful theologian of the cross must, even against reason, confess the paradox and embrace it and allow this burden to remain a burden. As we remain, as the Apostle says in 1 Corinthians 13, seeing through a glass dimly. We don't have all the answers, we can only confess what God has revealed. And there remains many things that are known only as divinely revealed mysteries, and many other things about which we know nothing--and that remains perfectly acceptable.
The Christian faith isn't a reasonable proposition, it is, in fact, a proposition that is offensive to reason (1 Corinthians 1:18-31), for the soulish person cannot understand the things of God for they are Spiritually discerned (1 Corinthians 2:14).
Which is precisely why beginning with philosophy ("God is sovereign") rather than with theology ("Christ suffered for the sins of the world") will almost always result in theology of glory instead of true theology, the theology of the cross.
To quote Dr. Luther from his 1518 Heidelberg Disputation,
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19. That person does not deserve to be called a theologian who looks upon the »invisible« things of God as though they were clearly »perceptible in those things which have actually happened« (Rom. 1:20; cf. 1 Cor 1:21-25).
This is apparent in the example of those who were »theologians« and still were called »fools« by the Apostle in Rom. 1:22. Furthermore, the invisible things of God are virtue, godliness, wisdom, justice, goodness, and so forth. The recognition of all these things does not make one worthy or wise.
20. He deserves to be called a theologian, however, who comprehends the visible and manifest things of God seen through suffering and the cross.
The manifest and visible things of God are placed in opposition to the invisible, namely, his human nature, weakness, foolishness. The Apostle in 1 Cor. 1:25 calls them the weakness and folly of God. Because men misused the knowledge of God through works, God wished again to be recognized in suffering, and to condemn »wisdom concerning invisible things« by means of »wisdom concerning visible things«, so that those who did not honor God as manifested in his works should honor him as he is hidden in his suffering ( absconditum in passionibus). As the Apostle says in 1 Cor. 1:21, »For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe.« Now it is not sufficient for anyone, and it does him no good to recognize God in his glory and majesty, unless he recognizes him in the humility and shame of the cross. Thus God destroys the wisdom of the wise, as Isa. 45:15 says, »Truly, thou art a God who hidest thyself.«
So, also, in John 14:8, where Philip spoke according to the theology of glory: »Show us the Father.« Christ forthwith set aside his flighty thought about seeing God elsewhere and led him to himself, saying, »Philip, he who has seen me has seen the Father« (John 14:9). For this reason true theology and recognition of God are in the crucified Christ, as it is also stated in John 10 (John 14:6) »No one comes to the Father, but by me.«»I am the door« (John 10:9), and so forth." - Heidelberg Disputation, Theses 19-20
Beginning with the proposition of God's sovereignty is engaging in a theology of glory, by speaking of God's invisible power and wisdom and so forth, and comprehending God in His
Hiddenness rather than comprehending God in His
Revelation, namely Jesus Christ and His suffering and death.
Even the Greek philosophers could say that the Divine was all powerful and sovereign, so also say the Jews and the Muslims and many others. Nothing of importance is said in saying this. But what the Christian believes, as handed down to us from the beginning, is God beheld in the weakness and foolishness of the cross. Jesus Christ shows us God and we only comprehend God in and through Him, for He alone makes the Father known (John 1:18, John 14:6-9, etc).
And in and through Christ we behold God's gracious affection toward sinners in that He, before the foundation of the world, chose and elected us in Jesus Christ to salvation. Not out of His "sovereignty" but out of His unconditional love and kindness toward this whole world of sinners and His enduring and invincible faithfulness toward the whole of creation; for He intends to set all things right so that He is all in all. And He does this through His Son, who came in the likeness of sinful flesh, born of the Virgin Mary, born under the Law.
-CryptoLutheran
