They just don't get it...

Regarding what the Calvinists say...

“The phrase that is the hardest for me to counter is "chosen before the foundation of the world." 

 

Ephesians 1:4

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:

That does sound like predestination - that we were chosen to be without blame, therefore chosen for salvation.  I know it isn't, but I just can't explain it.”

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Here's my understanding of it and how I’d explain it…since you asked. J   

That's a good, understandable and logical question. And also one that many people have and when they are given a seemingly plausible answer, go their way happy with the 'wisdom of man' because it so clearly seems to say what everybody says about it--that being that 'we were chosen before the foundation of the world.'   Well, what else could somebody say it means?  It's obvious it says what it says!!!  Yes? 

Well, no.  One thing since coming to the 'knowledge of the truth' has taught me is that God's Word is anything by superficial, but that even one word can be backed by a mountain of doctrine (a perfect example of that 10,000-piece puzzle I'm always talking about) that needs to be read/believed/heeded in order for a person to have spiritual eyes so as to not spiritualize verses to say something other than what God would have us get out of the verse.  But, YOU are not one of them...cuz you "know stuff!"   Therefore, I'm betting you might see /get it (that is, if I'm correct) when I say...

As I see it, what Calvinists--and virtually every other average, scripture-illiterate christian, for that matter--will miss is 'focusing in on' the two most important words of that verse.  The two words the make all the difference in the world.  "In Him."    

Ephesians 1:4

According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love

The Grace message is ALL about us IN HIM ...and the Word of God is also all about HIM (...a vertical view)!  Religion says it's all about us (...a very horizontal view).  

There are four 'elects' in the Bible.  [click here for further thoughts on the Elect]

  

Calvinists use that verse as their trump card, do they not?   But they don't know a hill of beans about what in earth God is doing today!   They figure that God is somebody that we have to crawl too and beg forgiveness like a misbehaving child.   They figure that because there is a disastrous hurricane or tidal wave or earthquake that God is showing His displeasure ('wrath' with a small 'w') in that area because of their sinful ways and practices.  They figure God is 'building His Kingdom' albeit a spiritual kingdom.  

They don't realize He is not dispensing to the world today His wrath or displeasure in ANY form (like as in natural disasters or sicknesses), but rather His GRACE (and we know from scripture that His Grace is sufficient).  They also don't know or believe that God IS NOT building a kingdom, today.  What He is doing, rather, is in the business of "Body" building--the Church, the Body of Christ.  He does not treat us nor look at us as children (Israel, in scripture, on the other hand are His children).  Rather, He views us, the members of the BOC as full grown sons and daughters. 

We, in the dispensation of Grace are the sons/daughters of God, with full sonship status, by virtue of the Spirit of adoption and are to live and act as such until the day comes that the adoption process is delivered, (that is, the redemption of our body at the rapture).     

We've already been signed and sealed...we just need to be delivered!!    Praise God!  (Goodness, I'm just typing myself happy, here!!!   ) 

Romans 8:15
For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

Romans 8:23
And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

Just like any full grown son or daughter in the natural world, they are [should be and are expected to] to be out in the world, making decisions on their own....but of course, God would have us 'full grown sons and daughters' make those decisions according to HIS Wisdom, not the wisdom of the world! 

1 Corinthians 2

 ⁷But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: 

[because]  ¹⁰But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God.

 ¹¹For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.

 ¹²Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.

 ¹³Which things also we speak, not in the words which man's wisdom teacheth, but which the Holy Ghost teacheth; comparing spiritual things with spiritual.

 ¹⁴But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.

(Remember Adam and the episode of him naming the animals?   God gave him a job and he [Adam] DID it...God DID NOT tell him what names to give them. 

Genesis 2

¹⁹...and whatsoever Adam called every living creature, that was the name thereof.

God views Israel as children that needed to be told what to do when to do it and were chastised if they didn’t do it.  God views us as adults [that is sonship status—that which was given to children by the father when they come of age and are brought into the father’s business in bible times]  Now, the father (then) and the Father (now) would have us stay with his/His family business, but as an adult, the now adult/child can choose.    The same is now with us in the Dispensation of the grace of God. 

Calvinists, and Christendom doesn’t get it either.