I will ask this here because there is such a varied selection of knowledge and opinion.
I had a very similar discussion with a friend about this. Are some people actually denied salvation from the onset? Specifically, we were discussing Judas. Although Judas was the ultimate betrayer...his betrayal resulted in what was a predestined event and led to our salvation.
So did God deny Judas forgiveness? Did Judas have a choice in his decision if God chose him for this?
“So did God deny Judas forgiveness? Did Judas have a choice in his decision if God chose him for this?”
Pontius Pilot asks from the perspective of man “what is Truth?”
That is our problem. We are Man.
If we throw out the Bible God we are left with a random grinding of our souls by trouble and time. I just don’t know how to answer that but the lives of man, much ink and parchment have been spent trying to answer that question.
The best answer as a human is “I don’t know?” The “higher” churches, Orthodox and Catholic accept these things as mysteries. Many will tell you they have the answer to this question and quote a few bible verses. Then you are supposed to be happy and move along to a nice song and pot luck.
Seek the LORD while he may be found; call on him while he is near. Let the wicked forsake their ways 7 and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, 8 neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, 9 so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.(Isaiah 55)