I think looking at scripture as a whole, you see God had set aside a people for himself throughout history.
He chose Noah,Abraham,Samual,David..the nation of Israel.. each of the apostles, Paul etc
I believe that God predestined those to whom He would give the ability to repent and those to whom He would give faith. Not based on anything that they had done, for this was before the world began..but based on His own will.
Is it necessary for us to individually repent and believe ..YES..but I would argue that it would be impossible for us to do that without an act of Gods grace and the Holy Spirit.
Unregenerate man has no interest in and does not desire to come to Christ in a saving way.
Scripture tells us “I was found by those that did not seek me”(Romans 10:20)... that is because none seek him, until his the Father draws them (John 6)
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Rom 10:13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?
Rom 10:15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!
Rom 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report?
Rom 10:17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world.
Rom 10:19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you.
Rom 10:20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me.
As I see it, the Grace of God which brings salvation is given to everyone, as the scripture says...And, as scripture say, Faith comes by hearing the word of God...
And the word of God was preached to all...But some (or many) chose not to believe what they heard...
And then the scripture says, 'what about Israel'??? It goes on to say that Israel has been blinded (Rom. 11) to the Gospel of Grace to provoke them to jealousy and that 'branch' had been extended to a new nation...The nation of Gentiles...
And then at verse 20, the one you quoted, you apparently take that to apply to individuals, but I see it as applying to all Gentiles in general...The gentiles were not seeking after God but after hearing the Gospel, many sought Him out...
I believe the predestination spoken of in the scriptures pertains to the Gentile adoption (in general) into the Body of Jesus Christ, not the individual...
God gave Noah, Abraham a choice to follow him or not. They sometimes did, but they had the free will to choose.
He chose Noah,Abraham,Samual,David..the nation of Israel.. each of the apostles, Paul etc believe that God predestined those to whom He would give the ability to repent and those to whom He would give faith. Not based on anything that they had done, for this was before the world began..but based on His own will.
Is it necessary for us to individually repent and believe ..YES..but I would argue that it would be impossible for us to do that without an act of Gods grace and the Holy Spirit.
Unregenerate man has no interest in and does not desire to come to Christ in a saving way.
Scripture tells us "I was found by those that did not seek me" (Romans 10:20)... that is because none seek him, until the Father draws them (John 6)
Amen, Mom! That is Christianity.