“The difference is that in true Christianity God elects according to His good pleasure alone (Ephesians 1) and in all other pagan philosophies some entity other than God supposedly elects or men elect themselves.”
Ephesians 1:
“In love 5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.”
” 11In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 12so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 13In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.”
Predestine refers to a destination, not the means.
“[God] predestined us [believers] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will”
Got it!
And note verse 14: In him you also, In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit...
Still God’s work, we don’t do it by ourselves, but “when you heard the word of truth...and believed”, we “were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit”.
Is THAT irresistible grace? At a minimum, it must be assumed to be so, for the passage does NOT teach it thus.
Our God is a sovereign God. Think about that. No one lives as "free men" under a sovereign, the King's will is all that matters. And so we pray, in all matters, "Thy will, not ours, be done".
Isaiah 46
Remember this, fix it in mind, take it to heart, you rebels. Remember the former things, those of long ago; I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me. I make known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come. I say: My purpose will stand, and I will do all that I please.
1 Peter 1:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:
2 Timothy 1:8
So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9who has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time