Why would God Predestine some to Heaven, others to Hell, when God gave Adam and Eve “free will” to either obey or disobey His request not to eat the fruit of a given tree?
We all have the opportunity to love God and keep His Commandments. We can be forgiven our sins in Baptism and Confession as God is merciful. God iS love and HE wants us to LOVE Him and our neighbors.
>>His request not to eat the fruit of a given tree?
It was not a request. It was an order. That thinking is the beginning of the dismantling of the sovereignty of God.
I’m not a Calvinist, but I did like Calvin and Hobbs, and I have often wondered about this.
If God is omniscient then he, by definition, knows everything. By extension that means he knows what we are all thinking and what decisions we will make in our lives. So whether he predetermines or not, he knows. If someone, i.e. God, knows what is going to happen with complete certainty isn’t that pretty close to our lives being predetermined?
God hated Esau, even before he was born.
Predestined to hell are those who choose to trust in their works. GOD said plainly that those who faithe (yes, an action word) in the One Whom God sent for our deliverance from our sins are born again, born from above, and thereafter in HIS hands for protection from destruction.