The Mechanics of the Co-Existence of Free Will and Predestination

As I had mentioned before I believe that there is both free will and predestination. Most, of the responses, question how both can be possible and how a just God could pick one person to be saved while allowing another to perish when all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Because the number of responses expressing these two concerns are so overwhelming that I am forced to address them.

To answer both concerns, we would have to examine the mechanics of God's predestination and how it interacts with our free will. I broke it down in the the following three principles.

1. Although God commands us to repent and receive Christ, it does not necessary mean that we are capable to do so in our fallen state. Calvin's argument is that without God's intervention, we do not have the ability to see the choices. Without the ability to see the choices, one can not exercise free will.
   
   The power of sin is like when a strung out junkie needs a fix. He needs to be brought down to a state in which the interventionist can converse rationally with him before the junkie can see that there are choices available to him. It is at that point in which he can choose rehab or to go back on drugs. While in the strung out state, he is unable to exercise free will.
   
   Thus, without God's intervention via the Holy Spirit, we, in our fallen state, do not have free will.


2. When God intervenes to save the sinner, He does not overpower the sinner and force the sinner to submit unwillingly nor does he eliminate the sinner's choices. All of the sinner's choices are still there. The difference is that the Holy Spirit would demonstrate how much better is the choice, of salvation through Jesus Christ, than any of the other choices.
   
   It's like if you've been eating two week old stale bread for all you life and is presented with freshly baked cheese Danish rolls topped with strawberry jam. Would you have to be forced to take the cheese Danish rolls?
   
   Calvin argues that even if the sinner initially refuses, God would continue to entice the sinner until the sinner finds it desirable enough the accept.


3. Why would God entice some sinners into the Kingdom and allow others to perish? Contrary to popular belief, there are things that God is incapable of doing! (I can hear the gasps.) That's true. God can not do anything that is counter to His good and perfect character. Here are some examples:
   
   
   • God can not do evil.
   
   
   • God can not love evil.
   
   
   • God can not contradict Himself.
   
   
   • God can not break any of his promises.
   
   There are more, of course; but you get the idea.
   
   Since we know that God does not desire for anyone to perish, we can conclude that the only ones, that God would allow to perish, are those whom He is incapable of saving. Since the only things, that God is incapable of doing, are those which would violate his character, we can conclude that in order for God to entice the sinner, that is not predestined, into accepting Christ, God would have to do things that would require God to violate his character.