On the contrary, I think it is entirely that simple. What does it mean to be "elect or choosen" by God? Doesn't the meaning of this then relate back to how God looks at your sin?
This is part of John Calvin's statement on Eph 2:8-9 in regards to man's free will...
For by grace are ye saved. This is an inference from the former statements. Having treated of election and of effectual calling, he arrives at this general conclusion, that they had obtained salvation by faith alone. First, he asserts, that the salvation of the Ephesians was entirely the work, the gracious work of God. But then they had obtained this grace by faith. On one side, we must look at God; and, on the other, at man. God declares, that he owes us nothing; so that salvation is not a reward or recompense, but unmixed grace. The next question is, in what way do men receive that salvation which is offered to them by the hand of God? The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own. If, on the part of God, it is grace alone, and if we bring nothing but faith, which strips us of all commendation, it follows that salvation does not come from us.
Ought we not then to be silent about free-will, and good intentions, and fancied preparations, and merits, and satisfactions? There is none of these which does not claim a share of praise in the salvation of men; so that the praise of grace would not, as Paul shews, remain diminished. When, on the part of man, the act of receiving salvation is made to consist in faith alone, all other means, on which men are accustomed to rely, are discarded. Faith, then, brings a man empty to God, that he may be filled with the blessings of Christ. And so he adds, not of yourselves; that claiming nothing for themselves, they may acknowledge God alone as the author of their salvation.
If God took the trouble to save you, will He not also keep you? That is what election is all about.
"On the contrary, I think it is entirely that simple. What does it mean to be "elect or choosen" by God? Doesn't the meaning of this then relate back to how God looks at your sin?"
This is a difficult subject, because we are dealing with God, who does not exist within time, but sees all time now. I suppose God is able to see our response to His love, and we would be considered elect if we showed our faith in Him. The interaction of free will and grace is such that I don't think you can separate the two. I know that grace does not overpower nature (Aquinas), so we have our free will intact.
Of course, the question then is...How do you know you are of the elect? I believe we know when we analyze the fruits of our works and our faith in Christ, although we never know the final result, we can know with good certainty what our current state is.
I don't agree with Calvin's stating that we are saved by faith alone - as even the devil has faith that God exists. I note that Calvin forgets about Eph 2:10, the next verse. I think we also have to include obedience to God. It is clear from the Gospels that we are to obey God. If your definition of faith includes obedience, then we are probably on the same page in this matter.
"The answer is, by faith; and hence he concludes that nothing connected with it is our own" from Calvin
True. But when we are in Christ, we are NOT alone nor doing anything on our own. If Christ is abiding in us, our works are also His works. Paul is clear about this. See esp. Phil 2:12,13.
Regards