Argue all you please, but I find your interpretation of scripture (and the others who concur with it) to be mistaken. God intended for all of his creation (mankind) to be given the opportunity to be saved by hearing or reading the Word or to those placed where they could not read or hear the Word, by faith in a creator/God, alone. God did not create mankind in order to condemn most of us to hell; we choose the path we take (free will)...God does not force or withold salvation.
The rejoicing of the angels in heaven over one soul saved is not predetermined; Jesus' command before ascending to the Father was to preach and teach all he had given the apostles to the ends of the earth. All part of God's plan for our salvation. The Word of God reaches almost everyone alive today. Radio, TV, internet, a simple bible. If only a 'select' few are to be saved, all the preaching, teaching and writing is pointless; most are doomed to hell - 'predetermined' as you would have it.
God opens our hearts to receive His Word but not continually. At some point we make a choice, ignore (reject) Him, or turn to Him.
ROMANS 8: 28 - 30
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.
Those verses simply show that mankind was called - as a whole - to be like Christ and were justified and glorified (saved) by that calling but not all respond to the calling as anyone can see. Christ waits at the open door but most sneer at Him and walk by, prefering to be their own 'God', to their coming eternal sorrow.
I dislike trading bible verses and dissecting them in order to make a point, but I'll do so here, in this specific instance.
Romans 11:3
Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life. 11:4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to [the image of] Baal. 11:5Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 11:6And if by grace, then [is it] no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if [it be] of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
If you read the original account in 1 Kings 19:14-18 you see that the seven thousand Israelites who chose not to bow down to Baal (exercising free will) were reserved by God as executioners of those who did bow to Baal. Simply Read the text.
As others have stated here, God gives us the free will to hear, read and accept or reject His gift of salvation and eternal life with Him. God is perfection and perfection does not create beings in order to condemn some and save others. God gives all, through various means, the opportunity to be saved through faith. He chose man to do this but gives us all the tools we need, as He did the original apostles (we're using one right now) and God opens our hearts to receive His word, but again, many will ignore it.
I cannot spare the time to reply to every argument and most of it is futile anyway as these beliefs and readings of scripture are set in stone for most, no internet argument will change that, I'm afraid, but I must at least show the opposing view, as best I can. Do with it as you will.
Honestly, that had to be just about the worst commentary on Romans 8:28-30 that I have ever seen (and I have read some bad ones in the past!). Where, oh where, in that passage do you see the whole world called? Looks like a clear-cut case of eisegesis.
Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles? - Romans 9:18-24
It appears that you have an extra-Biblical notion of God.
Those verses simply show that mankind was called - as a whole - to be like Christ and were justified and glorified (saved) by that calling but not all respond to the calling as anyone can see. Christ waits at the open door but most sneer at Him and walk by, prefering to be their own 'God', to their coming eternal sorrow.
I think you need to read that again my friend.. I do not see any "universal " call there..just the opposite
If you read the original account in 1 Kings 19:14-18 you see that the seven thousand Israelites who chose not to bow down to Baal (exercising free will) were reserved by God as executioners of those who did bow to Baal. Simply Read the text.
The question remains why they chose not to bend the knee. I would argue that they were a remnant saved for Gods purposes..
The question continues to return to the reason we choose what we do..not that we do choose one way or another.
but not all respond to the calling as anyone can see. Christ waits at the open door but most sneer at Him and walk by, prefering to be their own 'God', to their coming eternal sorrow.
In your mind what mades some choose and some not choose, what is the difference in the two groups?