One of the biggest problems I see people have with the doctrine of election in the Bible is not only that in the large scale of things, WE are not responsible for our salvation despite what we EXPERIENCE through it (in this life) but also that GOD DOESN'T CHOOSE FOR SALVATION THOSE WHO WON'T BE SAVED.
That's a really big stumbling block for some people.
But consider this:
#1- We know for a fact that there will be those who will end up in Hell.
#2- We know that The Word of God says, "All those who have ears, let them hear"; "All those who will come...", "If you hear God calling, do not harden your hearts"... etc., etc.
The Bible is complete with verses calling everyone to come.
"Many are called but few are chosen".
All of those are INVITATIONS to come and believe, and repent, etc., and re more than enough reason for people to DESIRE to come - but not all do.
As it turns out, it's un-realistic to suggest that those people who will end up in Hell are BANGING ON HEAVEN'S GATES during their life on earth to try and come in.
It's actually inconsistent with scripture and it's dishonest to speak in defense of those who weren't elect and yet ended up in Hell.
The Bible says that "No one seeks for God...";
The Gospel is "foolishness" to those who are perishing", etc.
And so if you can't indict the one who ends up in Hell and who isn't truly seeking for God then how can we indict God for not choosing them?
We tend to want to come to the defense of fallen man and that's perhaps because we're intimately attached to that fallen-ness as we ourselves are biased as fallen humans ourselves.
This is especially true of the world of unbelievers who want to indict God (as unfair), and often times, Christians themselves take on worldly perspectives.
When we read heavy-hitting doctrine in scripture, we may be susceptible to the temptation of rejecting God's sovereignty since one of the biggest issues in fallen humanity is that of PRIDE and self autonomy.
But this is why scripture must come first.
And we must remember:
Isaiah Chapt. 55:6-9
"Seek the LORD while He may be found;
Call upon Him while He is near.
Let the wicked abandon his way,
And the unrighteous person his thoughts;
And let him return to the LORD,
And He will have compassion on him,
And to our God,
For He will abundantly pardon.
“For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the LORD.
“For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways
And My thoughts than your thoughts."
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