Does the Bible support election or free will? Romans seems to argue pro-Calvanism. My thoughts inside:
We know that we do not earn our salvation by works, but by grace. How do we get that grace? Another question to consider: Why would God chose people's fate and not let them decide for themselves?
If there are two beggars, and you only give cash to one, are you being unjust? Of course not! You're showing mercy to one person to whom you owed nothing. Or, what if two people owed you something and you only gave one person something? Are you being unjust? No! You're showing one person mercy to whom you owe nothing.
Why would God use election instead of free will?
Romans 11 presents another argument: some might think because of what is written in Romans 9 - 11 that God has completely given up on the Israelites. In fact, God has chosen a number of Israelites by grace. Paul argues that the process of choosing is not by works, but by grace, otherwise it would not be grace. In fact, he uses this hardening to bring salvation to the Gentiles! They were not set up to stumble to fall, but to bring more people to their Creator God. If a few stumbling brought the Gentiles to salvation, what more will their full number do? We can only imagine. The selection decision isn't made to be unjust, but it is to bring Him full glory.
Paul brings up the example of the Pharaoh back in Exodus.
Romans 9:17: For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: I raised you up for this reason so that I may display My power in you and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
We know from Romans 13 that God selects government and puts them in power for one reason or another. We don't know the reason - we do know that government is God ordained. God raised the Pharaoh to display His power amongst the Israelites so that he could free them and let them go out and worship Him in their Promised Land. (We know how that ended, but that's not the point.) Because He decided that the Pharaoh was going to have a hard heart, He was able to use him to give Himself glory by using His immense power to free the Israelites from Him. Who are we to talk against God and His decision?
Romans argues that God picks by grace, not by our works or anything that we have done. Romans 9 says that he selected Jacob, the younger, before their birth, before they had done anything good or bad so that His grace was the only reason that one was selected over the other.
If God decided who was and who was not to be saved, what is that to us? Can we argue with Him? I feel like if you cared that you were chosen or not, God would have plans for you about your salvation. What does someone who doesn't care about God care about the decision process?
Romans 9:16: So then it does not depend on human will or effort but on God who shows mercy.
We know that we do not earn our salvation by works, but by grace. How do we get that grace? Another question to consider: Why would God chose people's fate and not let them decide for themselves?
If there are two beggars, and you only give cash to one, are you being unjust? Of course not! You're showing mercy to one person to whom you owed nothing. Or, what if two people owed you something and you only gave one person something? Are you being unjust? No! You're showing one person mercy to whom you owe nothing.
Why would God use election instead of free will?
Romans 11 presents another argument: some might think because of what is written in Romans 9 - 11 that God has completely given up on the Israelites. In fact, God has chosen a number of Israelites by grace. Paul argues that the process of choosing is not by works, but by grace, otherwise it would not be grace. In fact, he uses this hardening to bring salvation to the Gentiles! They were not set up to stumble to fall, but to bring more people to their Creator God. If a few stumbling brought the Gentiles to salvation, what more will their full number do? We can only imagine. The selection decision isn't made to be unjust, but it is to bring Him full glory.
Paul brings up the example of the Pharaoh back in Exodus.
Romans 9:17: For the Scripture tells Pharaoh: I raised you up for this reason so that I may display My power in you and that My name may be proclaimed in all the earth.
We know from Romans 13 that God selects government and puts them in power for one reason or another. We don't know the reason - we do know that government is God ordained. God raised the Pharaoh to display His power amongst the Israelites so that he could free them and let them go out and worship Him in their Promised Land. (We know how that ended, but that's not the point.) Because He decided that the Pharaoh was going to have a hard heart, He was able to use him to give Himself glory by using His immense power to free the Israelites from Him. Who are we to talk against God and His decision?
Romans argues that God picks by grace, not by our works or anything that we have done. Romans 9 says that he selected Jacob, the younger, before their birth, before they had done anything good or bad so that His grace was the only reason that one was selected over the other.
Conclusion
Romans 9:23-24: And what if He did this to make known the riches of His glory on objects of mercy that He prepared beforehand for glory— on us, the ones He also called, not only from the Jews but also from the Gentiles?
If God decided who was and who was not to be saved, what is that to us? Can we argue with Him? I feel like if you cared that you were chosen or not, God would have plans for you about your salvation. What does someone who doesn't care about God care about the decision process?
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