[fungoking]

Our will is under bondage to sin until God sets it free, until then we are totally unable to choose for Christ. Indeed at that point we cannot choose otherwise.
Christ died for the elect. This is plainly taught in scripture. Indeed the entire modern concept of “free will” is a relatively recent construct. To think that we can foil the plan of God through exercise of our own will flies in the face of God's character. Jesus did not just make salvation possible, He secured it completely on the cross, and since he accomplished it the plan is complete. There is nothing more that needs to be done in order to secure salvation.

*shaking my head at the thought of someone saying that Jesus died for them and not me because I wasn't “predestined”*. Wow.

This comes from a lack of understanding of the subject of predestination. All who are, have been, or ever will be saved have been predestined to it. If you are a Christian, you have been too, you just have been taught that you had to do something (walk an aisle, say a prayer, etc....) to earn it. Nothing is further from the truth.

I would have a problem with someone saying that Jesus died for them and not me because I wasn't “predestined” too, because they have no way of knowing that I wasn't predestined to salvation. Some come to faith earlier than others, all in God's timing.

I've never met a 5 pointer, or a 7, who didn't think they were part of the elect as were their wife and kids. Easier to believe that there was a heavenly salvation lottery before time and that's just the way it is if you think you are one of the winners of that lottery.

[P8riot]

No lottery, God predetermined our destiny, whether for good or evil. We each know in our heart how we relate to God, those that follow Christ and adhere to the scriptures can say with reasonable certainty that they are part of the elect.

I can't understand the need that some Christians have for feeding their own egos by somehow saying that they overcame their sin nature on their own, and chose Christ. Scripture is clear that we are hopelessly lost, and cannot approach God, except through his work of regeneration in our hearts. We bring absolutely nothing to the table but our sin. It is God who saves, not us.