Replies

With a response like you gave to me, I am inclined to believe that we are using different definitions of the word "predestination," with correspondingly different viewpoints on how we are approaching this discussion. If we are to discuss this intelligently, we need to know exactly how you are defining "predestination," without using other words which may have different meanings to you and me.

I have been using the word as "God created me, specifically, to go to hell" or "God created me, specifically, for heaven." I have no choice in the matter. Yet here you are saying that God is commanding men everywhere (which I read as all men) to repent. I agree with that statement. That statement, BTW, implies the choice, and ability, to repent. I have been suspicious for quite some time (through several threads) that we are talking at cross purposes here. Statements like the one you made to me imply (to me) that we have different definitions for this word, and we really should get our terms straight before we discuss this issue any further.

The fact that you posed this question as an objection against the Calvinistic interpretation of Romans 9 is an independent witness that we Calvinists are reading Romans 9 correctly.

Mere disagreement does not prove a point in your favor.