Why does God choose some over others?

Question

According to the Bible everyone will not be in heaven, some will be in hell. The Bible says there is no good in us that God saved us. It is not by good works that a person is saved. One who is saved does not have some good work that those who are not saved do not. If one decides to choose and one does not, isn't that a good work in the one and not the other? I believe God choses some and not others based upon grace and not works. i.e. Romans 9

Answer 1

and God is the one that bestowed grace upon them so we are damned if we do and damned if we don't so what's the use I give up

Answer 2

Ah, the bible does not say that it is your choice!

Everything Jesus taught was before the cross. Everything changed then. Belief was made a law, and then Jesus fulfilled the law.

God and Jesus chose to save the world and they did. End of story. That is why we are compared to a bride. In a Jewish wedding, the bride gets no say whatsoever.

Jesus is also compared as the second Adam. The first imputed sin to the whole world, the second imputed righteousness to the whole world.

http://www.gospelrevolution.com This guy has spent years researching grace. Very good teacher. He knows the history and doesn't pop verses out of context.

It is very frustrating that the world is so self righteous and arrogant that they think anything they do or believe can supercede the choice of God.

Answer 3

This is something I have always struggled with. I've heard pastors tell us that if we repent and turn to Jesus, we are saved, yet God's word clearly delineates between those He calls and those He doesn't. I don't know the answer, except that He is God and can do as He chooses. Who are we to question His decisions? I know, we're human and we will always question, whether we have a right to or not. I am an artist and writer. As a "creator" I make choices as to what to do with my"creations" all the time. I have let some people read the current book I'm working on and I get responses like "You can't kill so-and-so!" Sure I can, it's MY story, he's MY creation. Or, "But (insert character's name here) can't turn bad, he always does the right thing!" Umm, No, we ALL do wrong things, he's no more perfect than you or I. Or i get scolded for giving away some artwork because "You could have made a lot of money with that." But I don't need the money, I felt more satisfaction from sharing my talent than I ever would from cashing a big check... Again, it was MINE and I could choose what to do with it! The point I'm trying to make is that nobody can tell me what to do with MY creations, any more than we can tell God what to do with His. Maybe some of us have unique talents or abilities that will better serve His Kingdom. Maybe some of us have a sphere of influence that needs to be reached more than others. Maybe a rapist or murderer who gets saved will hav a greater impact on other sinners than someone who has been "good" their whole lives. we don't know His reasons, we just have to trust that they are there and that it all works together for His will.

Answer 4

First of all, everybody that posted an answer to this question needs to read the Bible before putting in your two cents. It is not by the good works alone that saves you. It is by your belief. If you truly believe with all your heart mind and soul that Jesus Christ died on the cross to save us from sin, then we will be accepted into heaven. it says in John 3:16 " For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." I am ashamed to see that all of you who posted have not remembered this verse, probably the most noted verse in the Bible. Reading the Bible will answer so many of life's questions. Living a true Christian life and believing and putting all your faith into God is the only way to get into heaven. and yes, by living a true Christian life, that does mean that you have to get out of bed every sunday and go to church.

Answer 5

I believe that some chose God over others rather than God chosing some over others. It is only through our believe in his grace that we are saved. The very act of believing is what seperates us from works. It is not by works but by faith in his grace. I don't subscibe to God chosing some over others (for all have sinned and fallen short). It is not an act of good works to chose to believe but rather an act of free will and faith to chose to believe. The two are seperate issues. This is what seperates us from the animals. The ability to make our own choices based on our past experiences and our desires for our future.

One can chose to believe and still struggle with godly behavior, but his believe in God allows him the ability to feel contrite or repentive while the other can chose not to believe and struggle with bad behavior without having any feeling of remorse.

The willingness to accept responsibility for ones own behavior and actions is what demonstates our believe. Faith/Christianity is a mere act of humans chosing to believe that the promises of God are true and acting accordingly. I think people mistakingly believe that as a believer, our lives should be free of pain or trials. It is only through the pain and the trials that his grace is evidenced.

I hope this helped. God Bless You!!!!

Answer 6

You are correct in that we are saved by grace, not of works, lest any man should boast. But the act of "choosing" Jesus as your Savior or not "choosing" Him is not a work. The work was all done by Jesus, by His dying on the cross for our sins and ressurecting three days later. God does not choose one person over another to go to heaven. That choice is left solely to the individual. In fact, God is seeking all people to turn to Him and trust him for salvation. That's why it says "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish, but have everlasting life." John 3:16. Note it says "whosoever believeth" which applies to everyone.

Answer 7

God gave us "free will." Every one has a choice. Some people choose to believe in God others do not. Those who choose not - will not go to Heaven. Thos who choose to believe - will go to Heaven.

It is very simple. If someone gives you a gift you can choose to take it or not. Jesus gave us a free gift. He died on the cross to bare our sins (past, present, and future.) For the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We just have to accept that free gift! Once that gift is accepted - you will live eternally. For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Answer 8

god does not choose some over the other. For god is not respective of persons. the bible say that many or called but few are chosen. Meaning that everyone has been picked for the baseball team, but not everyone can not be the pither,a out fielder, cather, etc. everyone can not be on the same team, but if you make oter teams than everyone can play.

Answer 9

"Many are called , but few are choosen" (Matt.20:16).....yes, you're right, GOD will choose because He sees the whole picture and knows how to judge righteously and man only sees the frame!.....Many people think that their good works are going to win them a spot in Heaven (Eph. 2: 8,9)....and if that were the case then we wouldn't have need of Jesus!... none of us are perfectly fit for Heaven except through GOD'S SON-JESUS.....that was the purpose of His coming!......(John 14:6)- (Acts 4:12).........ps. Those who reject Jesus will go to Hell!...why? Because Jesus is the only way into Heaven!....GOD Bless!

Answer 10

In a way, you're correct. One of the verses in the bible (this is God "speaking") says: "I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will harden the hearts of those also whom I choose.

What is His criteria? I don't know. But I do know we can pray to God to harden not a person's heart, but to have mercy on him. I prayed this for my dad for years and years, and God did have mercy on him. My dad confessed Jesus Christ four days before he died and was saved.

I cannot say why God "chooses" some and not others. But...if we understood all the ways of God, He wouldn't really be God, would He?

Answer 11

How could an ultimately "good" being create imperfect, no-good people?

“Is God willing to prevent evil, but not able? Then he is impotent. Is he able, but not willing? Then he is malevolent. Is he both able and willing? Whence then is evil?” - Epicurus

In other words, the Bible is nonsensical. There is no heaven nor hell. It's all make-believe.