God never picks anyone on a "whim". There is a reason and a plan for everything. God would be perfectly righteous to toss the lot of us into the burning, tormenting flames of hell. And don't feel sorry. I am totally convinced as C.S. Lewis stated, that mankind would rather reign in hell than serve in heaven. Like Lazarus looking at the feast of Abraham, he never begged forgiveness or repented even as he looked on that wonderful feast. He only asked for a drop of water. That is our nature unless God replaces it. We are rebellious, stubborn and evil.
Saying we are "winners" and the unbelievers as "losers" is simply the wrong terminology. Christians have too high opinions of themselves to think they won anything. We haven't. We are promised trials and tribulations. And unbelievers haven't lost anything because they never had it in the first place. Frankly, they don't care about salvation. Just ask any atheist.
The real mystery isn't why God would cast anyone into hell. The real mystery is why God would bother to save any of us.
I believe the Westminster Confession makes it clear that salvation of the elect is most certainly not based on anything we would recognize as 'just'. Would you agree?
Frankly, they don't care about salvation.
But that is irrelevant in terms of election, yes? God decides that before we are born.
And unbelievers haven't lost anything because they never had it in the first place.
Why didn't they have it and why do the elect?
The non-elect gain eternal torment; the elect gain everlasting life. Why?How is your answer different than: "Fate." ?
Christian scripture and teaching is salvation by grace through faith, not salvation by election.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
Can you choose to believe in Him? Are you only posting what you have no choice but to say? Could you change your mind and your theology?
And, finally:
If it could be demonstrated to you that you had free will choice, would you believe it is true?
Because He chose to love us first, before we loved Him.
That’s why gratitude is our proper attitude.
As usual, great post,Harley, which gives all glory to God and to Christ, our Savior.
God is omnipotent and omniscient, He could, and would be perfectly righteous in doing anything......and yet He doesn't. Mankind is unique among the mortal creatures because of the knowledge of the fruit of the tree of knowledge and the accompanying free will.