Unlike some half-soused coach on steroids and antacids, God is God, omnipotent creator of heaven and earth. He knows the players because He created the players and the stadium and the Astroturf and the Burger King concessions and the goal posts and the weather and the air every player breaths.
God knows that since time began every player on the field will fumble the ball from birth onward because all men are dead in trespass and guilty of sin through Adam's fall.
But God knows, too, that He picked a team from before the foundation of the world whom He would regenerate into righteous Rudys. This team, chosen before time from all races and nations would fight on, over tremendous odds, overcoming the abuse of men and circumstance, because they are on His team.
As God told Ananias about Saul...
For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name's sake." -- Acts 9:15-16."But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he (Saul) is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel:
So God's team is made up of a million Sauls, the most fallen murdering creature on earth, who becomes a "chosen vessel," regenerated by God, redeemed by Jesus Christ to "bear His name" before the world. For this, His team will "suffer great things" -- soda bottles thrown from the stands, rain delays, abusive fans, lying umpires, all for His glory.
But the team doesn't falter because they know the game has already been won, and has been won from before the foundation of the world. They read this truth in the Play book. The Trainer, the Holy Spirit, encourages them. The scoreboard eternally flashes "Christ Risen."
"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." -- John 16:33
Unlike some half-soused coach on steroids and antacids, God is God, omnipotent creator of heaven and earth. He knows the players because He created the players and the stadium and the Astroturf and the Burger King concessions and the goal posts and the weather and the air every player breaths.
I think the fundamental difference that arises from our competing views is one of relationship. As we caught the floater that God laid up there for us, we are motivated by the fact that He has taken a personal interest in our condition. And as He lays out the pathway toward choosing Him, we are blessed more so because we see how His hand was guiding us.
We can faithfully tell unbelievers of the personal interest He has toward them, without worrying if we are outside of His will in our wholehearted sharing of the Gospel to people. The caution that is naturally presented in the Calvinistic Gospel, shines through clearly. "Oh, and by the way you may not be one of the elect. Maybe you are waisting your time being curious about Christianity?"
The Bible is clear that all men are created in the image of God because they have descended from Adam. That image has value and meaning despite unbelievers sinful natures. However, that value is not realized, from our perspective, until we are in Christ, as we become capable of communing with God, discerning His will for our lives. The Lake of Fire was created for the unforgivable Devil and his angels, not those created in God's image, who because of Christ are worthy of an inheritance that marvels the Holy Angels.
The Holy Spiritual communion with God is what we lost in the fall. Regeneration is as simple as accepting Jesus' death and resurrection to reestablish that personal relationship with the Father. The new creature is only new because God can have Holy Communion with the person, based on Jesus' work. For this reason we do not become sinless "new creatures", which is what one would expect with the term "new creature". The newness of life is based on what Jesus did, and how we now have fellowship with God.
Our continued sinning does not alter our position with God, rather the fellowship with God alters our sinning. He who begins a good work in you is faithful to complete it. From a practical perspective, after having been saved, we realize that God is working on all of mankind to win souls. This motivates us to share His love to all we come in contact with. He desires that none created in His image are cast into the eternal fire.