[guitarplayer1953]

In this absolute predestination concept where does the Holy Spirit fit into the mix as in conviction of sin and repentance? Second with the law of averages what percentage of Calvinist raised children will not come to salvation due to the predestination concept and the law of averages?

[Lee N. Field]

In this absolute predestination concept where does the Holy Spirit fit into the mix as in conviction of sin and repentance?

Uh, yeah.

You think Reformed folks don't think conviction of sin and repentance is part of the process?

[PastorJimCM]

I am not sure how “All who call on the Name of the Lord will be saved” and “He chose us before the foundation of the world.”

I do see the ‘free will’ of man and the sovereign chose of the Almighty as two sides of the same coin. My mind is finite and if I know 1% of all knowledge - I probably doing well. God is infinite and I leave this centuries old debate to Him.

“Jacob I love and Esau I hated.”

[PastorJimCM]

Without the Holy Spirit even ‘elect ones’ would not comprehend the Gospel. They also would not realize they were sinners and the gravity of sin, the justice of God (maybe, in human thinking, the Menendez brothers should get off free for murdering their parents - because they are orphans now), and without the HS I also would not understand the absolute purity/holiness of God.

[PAR35]

Second with the law of averages what percentage of Calvinist raised children will not come to salvation due to the predestination concept and the law of averages?

The law of averages don't apply here. Causing a child to be born into (or adopted into) the Covenant family is one of the ordinary means that God uses to bring His own to Himself. While there is no guarantee that a child who is baptized into the covenant, and who is brought up in the church is, in fact, one of the elect (and we all know of tragic cases to the contrary) there is a strong basis for hope that the child will be of the elect.