How Could A Loving God “Choose” Who Will And Won’t Be Saved?

This question has stirred debate for centuries. How could a loving God choose some to be saved and not others?

Doesn’t that sound unfair? Doesn’t it make Him seem cold or distant?

I heard a great preacher somewhat avoid “predestination and election”. Why? It’s in the Bible. So here’s the truth as I know it.

Here’s what I know about God. He is both perfectly loving and perfectly just. We cannot separate the two. If God did not deal with sin, He would not be holy. If God did not offer salvation, He would not be loving. He does both.

The Bible says, “Even before the world was made, God had already chosen us to be his through our union with Christ so that we would be holy and without fault before him” (Ephesians 1:4 NCV).

His choosing was never random. It was never about playing favorites. It was always about His plan through Christ.

Now here’s the part many miss. God’s love is open to every person.

The offer of salvation is real and genuine. “God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son so that whoever believes in him may not be lost, but have eternal life” (John 3:16 NCV). Did you catch that? Whoever believes. Anyone. Everyone.

So then, why do people get left out? Because they refuse the gift. God is not forcing anyone to love Him, because love that is forced is not love at all.

“The Lord is not slow in doing what he promised… But God is being patient with you. He does not want anyone to be lost but wants all people to change their hearts and lives” (2 Peter 3:9 NCV).

Romans puts it this way: “So God will choose the one to whom he will show mercy; he will also choose the one he wants to make stubborn” (Romans 9:18 NCV).

Paul even reminds us that God’s choices were made before we were born:

“But before the two boys were born, God told Rebekah, ‘The older son will serve the younger.’ God said this before the boys were born, before they had done anything good or bad. God said this so that the one chosen would be chosen because of God’s own plan. He was chosen because he was the one God wanted to call, not because of anything the boys did” (Romans 9:11–12 NCV).

So which is it? Does God allow us to choose? Yes. Does God choose? Yes. Is it a mystery? Yes. And it is a mystery that keeps us humble before Him.

Predestination and election do not cancel the offer. They remind us that God is sovereign, that salvation is His idea and not ours. But the choice for you and me is real.

Here’s the bottom line: If someone doesn’t like the thought of God’s choosing, all they have to do is respond to His invitation. Accept Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. That door is still wide open.

At the end of the day, it’s not about trying to figure out every mystery of God’s mind. It’s about bowing before His love and saying yes to the Savior who died in our place.

Yes, it seems mysterious - God’s ways are not our ways. God choosing seems mysterious, you choosing doesn’t have be … Why not say yes to Jesus Christ who forgives our sins?

Why not say yes to the Holy Spirit that helps us in life? Why not say yes to God who loves, saves, shows mercy, gives grace and has our best interest in mind - for all eternity? Why not?

LORD - you are God, we are not. You are creator. We are the creation. We bow to you - not the other way around. You are life, love, and the ultimate decision maker. I don’t understand it all, but I want to give it all to you. IJNIP amen ♥️