There was a time in my life (long ago) when I thought God just made salvation possible for anyone who wanted to believe and anyone who wanted to believe could just do so. I figured the people who actually did believe must just be more “open” or humble than the people who didn’t. The twelve basic verses that follow started me thinking that maybe there was more to all this than I had thought. What if the reality was no one wanted to believe and no one would believe if left to themselves? What if God had to actually choose to save some and then worked powerfully, mysteriously and effectively to bring those chosen people to saving faith. When I got tired of trying to explain away the implications of these verses (and many more like them that I was continually coming across) I started to think that maybe, as Isaiah said, in Isaiah 55:9, God’s ways and thoughts really are above ours and past finding out. The result was an open-mindedness toward what the Bible actually taught about predestination and election and what is today called “Reformed Theology”. At any rate, the best I can remember, here are an even dozen verses that first led me down the path to a larger view of grace and a deep acceptance of the sovereignty of God. I believe human responsibility and divine sovereignty are compatable. The way in which it all works out is mysterious but part of the music of the gospel for me is believing the words of the poet:

Tis not I that did choose Thee, For Lord that could not be;
This heart would still refuse Thee, Hadst Thou not chosen me.
– Quoted by Edwin Palmer, The Five Points of Calvinism, p 28

Here are the twelve passages:

1. John 6:35-39 Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty. 36 But as I told you, you have seen me and still you do not believe. 37 All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I will never drive away. John 38 For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. 39 And this is the will of him who sent me, that I shall lose none of all that he has given me, but raise them up at the last day.

John 6:43-45 “Stop grumbling among yourselves,” Jesus answered. 44 “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day. 45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me.

John 6:65 He went on to say, “This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless the Father has enabled him.”

2. John 10:25-29 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father’s name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me .28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

3. Acts 13:48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and honored the word of the Lord; and all who were appointed for eternal life believed.

4. Acts 16:14 One of those listening was a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth from the city of Thyatira, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.

5. Romans 8:28-30 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. 29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

6. Romans 9:11-13 Yet, before the twins were born or had done anything good or bad–in order that God’s purpose in election might stand: 12 not by works but by him who calls–she was told, “The older will serve the younger.” 13 Just as it is written: “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”

7. Romans 11:7 What then? What Israel sought so earnestly it did not obtain, but the elect did. The others were hardened,

8. Ephesians 1:4-6 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

9. Ephesians 1:11-12 In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

10. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

11. 2 Thessalonians 2:13 But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth.

12. 2 Timothy 1:9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life–not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, ….

Thou dids’t seek us when we sought thee not;
didst seek us indeed that we might seek Thee.
God chooses us not because we believe but that we may believe
– Augustine, quoted by John Blanchard in Gathered Gold, pp. 74 & 75