In Romans 9:15,16 Paul points out that God "will have mercy on who he will have mercy and compassion on whomever he will have compassion, so it is not of will or effort, but God who shows mercy". If this is the case, then how can rebellious man escape God's compassion? If this is possible, then aren't we saying that we can defeat God's plans and providence?
Paul's argument seems to be saying that just as those vessels fitted for destruction can in no way escape God's wrath, so too those who are fitted for God's mercy cannot escape it as well.
When God says, "predestinate", could he mean foreknowledge instead? Not likely, given that his argument is pointing out that God can't have foreknowledge in the first place without what he foreknows being predestined. It isn't clear to me that this predestined foreknowledge is predestind by God, but even if this were the case, Paul would just simply point out that there can be no unrighteousness with God.
What better way is there to guarantee God's promises than by predestination? How could God guarantee "all things work for good" without predestined foreknowledge?
How can one foreknow what isn't predestined? It if isn't predestined, it can't be foreknown, right?
If we can't work our way into salvation, how can we work our
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