But what about those scriptures in the New Testament that speak of God predestining us, choosing us before the foundation of the world?
Some unfortunately think that God has specifically chosen specific people to be saved and chosen the rest to be damned, basing His decision on nothing those individuals have done. That is, God supposedly chose who would be saved or damned. This idea obviously eliminates the concept of free will and it is certainly not taught in Scripture. Let’s consider what the Bible does teach about predestination.
Indeed, Scripture teaches that God has chosen us, but this fact must be qualified. God has chosen from the foundation of the world to redeem the people whom He foreknew would repent and believe the gospel under the influence of His drawing but by their own choice. Read what the apostle Paul says about the people God chooses:
God has not rejected His people whom He foreknew. Or do you not know what the Scripture says in the passage about Elijah, how he pleads with God against Israel? “Lord, they have killed Thy prophets, they have torn down Thine altars, and I alone am left and they are seeking my life.” But what is the divine response to him? “I have kept for Myself seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal.” In the same way then, there has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice (Rom. 11:2-5, emphasis added).
Notice that God said to Elijah that He had “kept for Himself seven thousand men,” but those seven thousand men had first made a choice not to “bow the knew to Baal.” Paul said that in the same way, there was also a remnant of believing Jews according to God’s choice. So we can say that yes, God has chosen us, but God has chosen those who have first made the right choice themselves. God has chosen to save all who believe in Jesus, and that was His plan even before creation.
