But, why did He choose us at that time?  Why not after He observed us play out our lifetime?  In fact that is exactly what He did, because He is God you know.   Was it a choice between you and me or some other person for Heaven while leaving that other someone arbitrarily out?  Or was it choosing those whom He knew would end their lives in Christ and never deny Him under their many tribulations upon this earth, because He saw our end from the very beginning?  Was He choosing us because He was able to stand outside of time and observe the entire lifetime of those who would believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for His offered salvation?  Does a predestination wherein God is directing every man’s steps make Him any bigger than He is; when He is telling us that He is able to observe and remember every man’s life until the end of his days, and then based upon every man’s free will reaction to Him, to because this one has or has not remained in Christ; to then predestine him along with that entire group, all of whom will either remain in Christ for eternal life otherwise they will not see Christ except at the Judgment? 

Our understanding, if not correct, will cause us to blame God and see ourselves as robots (all from God, nothing from us)?  And then just as it can be argued that if it is just up to us; then why do we need a savior; could it not also be argued that if we are given not just the gift of salvation, and of righteousness, but also the gift of a – will to do His will-; then how is it, at least, not up to us to use His gifting wisely?  He certainly held His people in Scripture to that standard. Why else would He only give us the power to become the Sons of God, obviously having already given us this new birth as recorded in John chapter one.  And just, which group for us will He choose for us to be in, out of likely three groups; if one group is chosen arbitrarily for enduring salvation and another group for falling from that faith; and yet another group to never be chosen at all to have any taste of the Masters touch?  And why does He search for men of a contrite heart if He has made only certain ones to have such?   Why would Christ Himself urge us to remain or abide in Him if arbitrarily He has already determined for “us” to be chosen only for salvation, with no possibility of falling away, when in fact, He teaches that there will be this falling away from the faith.  

Though it is true that we can do nothing good without or apart from Him; yet we still must be able  to see that we are able to walk away from or Deny Him and then walk away from salvation itself; otherwise He would not tell us  that if we Deny Him He will deny us before His Father, who is in Heaven.  Why did Saul, whom He had chosen, anointed and granted a new heart fall out of His favor?  Finally, why is James speaking to the brethren in these two verses?   If there is no responsibility upon you or me my fellow believer for the gifting that He has given us?  

James 5:19  My brothers [and sisters,] if anyone among you strays from the truth and someone turns him back,

James 5:20  let him know that the one who has turned a sinner from the error of his way will save his soul from death and cover a multitude of sins. (NASB2020)

If we stray from something (in this case truth, which can imply Christ, or faith, ) then we must have at one point possessed that something.  And whose choice is it to return in these verses?

And why has He even given us this Word of God along with the admonition that we should study it to show ourselves approved workmen who “ourselves” need not be ashamed?  If The Father has not thoughtfully and justly chosen us but instead arbitrarily appointed us to be in Christ and thus has predestined us to Himself for no seemingly just reason, and then choses those who never find Christ because they were predestined to be that way to an end that we certainly do not want.  Where within this are we being allowed to see our God as being the only One Just Judge in our entire universe, which He God alone created, and declared Himself to be. 

Revelation 22:12  “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward [is] with Me, to reward each one as his work deserves. (NASB2020)

Is the free will answer to this then not good enough reason why we would be admonished in Scripture to make our calling and election sure?  Whereas without free will why should we even ever think upon these things?