Amen!
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." — 2 Thess. 2:13-14"But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
And Quix, God didn't just "know" the end from the beginning -- He "declared" it. It's all of and by and for Him, one way or another.
No Calvinist believes an understanding of predestination is required for salvation. But most Calvinists do believe that every jot and tittle of this life is by His will for His glory...in some mysterious, incomprehensible way.
But the truth of it seems to be overwhelming if God is who He says He is in Scripture.
"Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee" -- Psalm 65:4
It's said that Calvin was moved to believe in Predestination after reading Augustine's "Predestination of the Saints" and Ephesians 1. Who can read Ephesians 1 and not believe it all true?
Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved...
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all." -- Ephesians 1:4-6,17-21. "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
Quix, if you ever have just a moment to spare, read Warfield's short essay...
I have honestly known dozens and dozens of Christians who have come to embrace this gracious truth. I have yet to meet anyone who has gone the opposite direction. Calvinists wish that same blessed assurance for you and all Christians...
"I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them which thou hast given me; for they are thine. And all mine are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them." -- John 17:9-10 "For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth" -- Romans 9:11
I would also recommend Luther’s Bondage of the Will.
Will try and get to your Warfield link.
Have a shortcut to it.
Of course I believe all the Scripture cover to cover.
I don’t make the same inferences Calvinists seem to make from many of them.
Thanks for your ping.