Lol--I thought it was the most fascinating thing I've ever read! For the first time ever the Bible was explained to me where there are no loose ends whatsoever.
I'm a Calvinist too and I know most Christians are not favorable to this way of understanding the Bible. It is plain that God calls all to come to him and he sets salvation before all as a free choice. And as I explained before--I was no puppet on a string when I turned to Jesus to be saved. It was entirely me on my own that did that (God did not drive me or force me to turn to Him; he simply enabled me to behold a fraction of his holiness and to see Jesus in the word and hear--by reading--the words of life). Those who do turn to God to be saved are the elect and God has sovereignly ordained them to have been saved, as he has revealed in Ephesians, before the foundations of the world.
Yes, God chooses to pass people over and not give them spiritual life. Why? I don't know. You'll have to ask him. It is his choice (He does give an answer in his word: I will show mercy to whom I will show mercy. To get anything more you'll have to wait until you're done with this life). I think the better question however is why would he save anyone at all? Please name one thing, anyone, that would make it obligatory for God to have saved anyone of you. I am interested in the replies.
I'm not a Calvinist but I have much respect for John Calvin. I read his commentary quite often and have learned many things from him. Actually he is one of my favorite theologians.
I agree with him on many things but not predestination. I can only go as far as total depravity of man, and that's when I jump ship.
The Scripture says that God is no respecter of persons, Jesus said it is the Father's will that all men be saved, Peter said the Lord is not willing that any perish, but that all come to repentance.
This is one area where I believe Calvin missed the mark! Predestination is not God choosing the individual for salvation, or not choosing individuals for salvation, it is God's plan of redemption that is predestined for the individual.
We, (mankind) were predestined before the foundation of the world to be redeemed by God's plan of redemption.
When Christ said, "you have not chosen me but I have chosen you..." He is speaking of what Calvin taught us of total depravity of man. Man cannot and will not choose Christ unless he is called by the Holy Spirit through the hearing of the Gospel. This is the calling for all men, and man will accept or reject that calling. This is why it is so vital for us to spread this Gospel.
The same holds true when Christ said, "No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day." All initiative toward salvation is on the part of God toward man, and not man toward God. This initiative is the hearing of the Gospel that is the only way man can be saved.