I have a problem with predestination. I have no doubt that God knows who will and will not make the right decisions and take the right actions to gain Salvation, He is after all omniscient. I also do not doubt that Hod has the power to command Salvation, He is after all omnipotent. However, I do believe that God seeks the greatest prize, love freely given. Genuine love cannot be commanded, coerced, or purchased. He is after all infinitely perfect.
I don’t think it’s as simple as saying if predestination is true then humans can’t freely love and are only like robots. Instead, I look it at as God removing the spiritual blinders from some in order for them to be able to freely believe. The hard part is understanding why God doesn’t remove the spiritual blinders from everyone so that all can eventually be drawn to Him.
It seems to go against our human understanding of fairness that God would harden hearts like He did to Pharaoh, but Romans 9:14-23 shows that we can’t argue against God’s designs.
IF God knew who will and will not make the 'right' decisions we would NOT have to go through this flesh age. What some earned and were predestined as the election, took place back when Satan rebelled and drew a third of the sons of God to his camp. Those that loved God and took a stand against that rebellion have already earned this choosing. And some have been set aside for a specific duty yet future, and until that 'time' appointed is now, I do not believe any can literally call themselves the 'very elect'. And it is only these of the 'very elect' that can commit the unpardonable sin by refusing the Holy Spirit to speak through them as a witness to the rest of the 'flesh' inhabitants on this earth. We are not there yet.
Because the topic of 'salvation' to some ears tends to sounding like taking on the authority of judgment I let the Word instruct what is required for that award. But you are most correct that 'genuine love cannot be commanded', and as Paul says those of the election naturally had and were perfect in this love, back *before* the foundation of this world (age). Salvation is a one on one journey with each 'soul/spirit intellect' between the Creator and our Advocate Christ. NOT one 'soul' will without full knowledge choose the path of being forever destroyed.
Predestination means that the TOE is nothing more than a man created fable. Because by the creators of TOE, own admission they cannot 'test' or evaluate the 'soul/spirit intellect'. Predestination means that each and every 'soul/spirit intellect' has its own individual history before ever being placed in a flesh body at conception.