Predestination or Free Will?

Election - mysteries of God - can't be clearly stated as to leave no uncertainty
What is predestination? - God chooses our final destination - His pleasure
Why is this topic so often left alone? God's choosing and our free choice appear to butt heads

From the web: The paradox of Predestination and Free Will has bedeviled Jewish and Christian Scholars since the beginning of time. That paradox is here resolved. It is a fact that Predestination and Free Will choice stand against each other only in apparent contradiction. Resolution of paradox is possible because God's selection of the Elect is not arbitrary, it is based upon His foreknowledge of those predestinated
most arguments on this subject end up circular, as does the above
Is it possible that God predestines those He knows will accept Him?
If based on our choice - doesn't that put the ball squarely in our court?
Other views - I believe that … - spiritual concerns - which matters most - your belief or God's word?

Eternal Covenant - John 6:39, 17:9, 24 - God has chosen His children from the beginning of time
Not foreknowledge - God knows - but dependent upon God's sovereign grace

Our Human Condition and it's Result -
Do you think God chooses us because of how good we are?
Ephesians 2:3 - nothing merits salvation
Mark 7:20-23 - our heart is root of sin and full of evil - we may look good on outside, but inside …
Romans 3:10 - none righteous - Do these verses indicate that man would seek God on his own?
How does our depravity affect our understanding of God?1 Corinthians 2:14 - cannot understand
not has trouble, or can if sincere, or can if he chooses God
On our own - we would never desire, understand or want God

Free Will -
Do we have free will? We will make choices of own free will, based upon who we are
Can you will to be something or do something that a human cannot be? Superman (Batman cape)
Human will always chooses according to greatest desire of the moment
Humans (none righteous, none seeking God) will always opt away from God, according to our nature
We are not entirely free - but sinfully free - can only will within our nature
How could any human ever come to God then?  Matthew 19:26 - with God, this is possible

It is man who is deceitful, in darkness, ungodly, dead in sin, and on and on.
It is God who:
John 6:44-45 (draws people to Him),
Psalm 51:10 (creates a clean heart),
Acts 13:48 ( appoints belief),
John 6:28-29 (works faith in believer),
Eph 1:4 (chooses who to be holy and blameless),
2 Thes 2:13-14 (chooses us for salvation),
Phil 1:29 (grants act of believing),
2 Tim 2:24-26 (grants repentance)
1 Peter 1:3 (causes us to be born again)
and on and on …

Grace - To believe - God must reach us - regenerate us - give us a desire for Christ
John 6:44 - God must draw us

God is sovereign
Who does God answer to? We may not understand God - but we cannot question Him

Objections? -
Does this make God a non loving God? Without choosing us - all go to hell
Is it unfair that God doesn't choose all? not why some, but why any
Does God violate your will by calling you? He regenerates first - instills a new nature (2 Cor 5:17)
Even if you wanted to be saved, you couldn't be if not predestined? anybody wanting it has been called
Doesn't God just choose you based upon foreknowledge of your choice? wouldn't that make it your call?
if waiting to see if you'd choose before making a call - no call would ever be made

From the web: To me, the most damaging results of the positions on election are the pastors that believe that God chose certain individuals to be saved, thus negating freewill as applied to salvation. This implies that evangelism is not needed and this is reflected in their sermons and teachings. Their sermons are centered on the Christian life and the attributes of God. This is great for the believers but seldom results in decisions for Christ that evangelistic sermons produce. They do not have a burden for the lost. This is evidenced by the decrease in baptisms and church attendance. Membership is up, but attendance is down. The emphasis is changing from Bible studies to social programs. God's money is being spent on elaborate buildings not outreach to the lost. The churches with these programs and facilities are growing in numbers, but not in spirituality and commitment to God's Word.

Should we quit trying to reach others? If God's called them, they'll come
Are we going to avoid the commandments of Christ? - go teach and make disciples
We should preach to all - God knows who - we don't
We shouldn't take this further than God's word takes us - several churches ruined due to inward 'tending of the elect'

Deut 29:29 - election and human will - mystery
once you hear of election - you see it throughout the Bible - it's everywhere
This should be a doctrine of hope and comfort - not horror and despair
When God has chosen you - you are secure