Much of the nature of predestination is a mystery. We know some things for certain, however.
God has elected us before the foundation of the world for the purpose of glorifying him (Ephesians 1). We also know that Christ chooses us, not the other way around (John 15:16). We know that no one is able to come to Christ without the Father drawing that person:
John 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
John 6:65 And he said, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father.”
We know that we are dead in our trespasses and sins before Christ converts us (Ephesians 2). We know that we are spiritually unable to discern truth prior to conversion:
1Corinthians 2:14 The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
God must quicken us unto life (Ephesians 2), and then we can see his glory and majesty, and come to him.
However, the truth of predestination does not undo any other truth of the Scriptures; it is not in conflict with any other truth. We are predestined, and we also work out our salvation with fear and trembling, because it is God who works in us (Phil. 2:12-13).
All the warnings and promises of Scripture stand in their full truth and glory, and can only be true because predestination is true. God works all things to our good because he is working all things truly and sovereignly (Romans 8:28-30).
God does not just bait us with good news and hope that we come, he sovereignly calls us into his grace. If he didn't, there would be no hope in prayer, because God could do nothing more than we can do to save a soul. This is not a theological argument, but a logical argument. I've provided the theological basis above.
It is also true that we do not accept Christ because we hate the truth; predestination does not eliminate full responsibility:
Romans 9:6 But it is not as though the word of God has failed. For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel, 7 and not all are children of Abraham because they are his offspring, but “Through Isaac shall your offspring be named.” 8 This means that it is not the children of the flesh who are the children of God, but the children of the promise are counted as offspring. 9 For this is what the promise said: “About this time next year I will return and Sarah shall have a son.” 10 And not only so, but also when Rebecca had conceived children by one man, our forefather Isaac, 11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of his call— 12 she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 As it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”
Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there injustice on God’s part? By no means! 15 For he says to Moses, “I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.” 16 So then it depends not on human will or exertion,* but on God, who has mercy. 17 For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 18
So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills.
No one can restrain God's hand, because he does what he wills; he is the decisive factor in our salvation, not us. Can we blame God for our damnation? Indeed we cannot!
Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, “Why does he still find fault? For who can resist his will?” 20 But who are you, O man, to answer back to God? Will what is molded say to its molder, “Why have you made me like this?” 21 Has the potter no right over the clay, to make out of the same lump one vessel for honored use and another for dishonorable use? 22 What if God, desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power, has endured with much patience vessels of wrath prepared for destruction, 23 in order to make known the riches of his glory for vessels of mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for glory—
I urge you to love this truth of predestination, seek to know it more. Do not pursue this truth by visiting sites that are contrary to it, or hate it; they will almost always present a false version of this truth and then easily knock it down. Pursue this truth by visiting websites that will give you an accurate portrayal of how it is viewed by those who believe it.
Recommended site:
http://www.desiringgod.org/Resource...e_Believe_About_the_Five_Points_of_Calvinism/
I hope you learn to love it as God's truth!
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us* for adoption through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 9 making known* to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
AMEN!
