There are a number of verses that seem to Contradict the whole concept of Predestination. I will attempt to deal with some of them here. However, even if I cannot deal with them to your satisfaction, we are still stuck with the huge volume of verses that talk specifically about the Elect and Predestination. Therefore the weight of the proof really falls on the Arminian to dispute those verses. You always want to view each passage of the Bible through the screen of ALL the Bible never taking any passage out of context.

In regard to the above Ezek passages:

All scripture must be interpreted in light of other scripture. On the surface one would view these statements to mean that God wants all mankind to be saved. But the reality of it is if God wanted all mankind to be saved, could he not do it? Of course he could. He is God after all and he can do anything he wants. The issue then is, in light of the concept that all men are doomed and God thru his mercy saves some, these 2 passages then make perfect sense.

Who are the wicked? Is it men who are evil incarnate only? Or is it the people of Israel who sin against God?

Who are the wicked, is it only the people of Israel or is it us too? Are we not wicked too?

Who are the wicked is it not me and you? Did we not hate God before we were Christians?

Yet are we not chosen by him for His glory to repent? Thus the Lord is happy when we who are wicked turn from our evil ways. It is also important to note that both prior to this and after this Ezekiel declares that it is God who takes out our wicked heart and puts in a heart after him.

Secondly we have to understand that God does NOT rejoice in the death of the wicked. However He does not avoid it either. Just because God does not enjoy it or take pleasure in it, does not mean He does not do it. God is just and justice will be served. The wicked will be punished. And God will mourn when that happens. (Of course we have trouble understanding how an Omnipotent God could mourn at something He could prevent if He so desired. But that is OUR limitation, not His).

This seems to imply that every one will be saved. But we have to ask: Who is Peter writing to?

He is obviously writing to believers.

(It is interesting also to look at 1Pet 1:1

1Pet. 1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance. )

Secondly who is that specific verse addressed to: He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.

He is patient with YOU. The saved, i.e. the elect. In my humble opinion he is saying that the Lord will not return until all the elect have come to repentance. Read it as follows "He is patient with you, not wanting any of you to perish but everyone of you to come to repentance."

Secondly, this passage is talking about the return of Christ. How would delaying the return of Christ, avoid people from perishing? Because if they are going to die without Christ, they are going to perish. To avoid people from perishing you need to do something drastic, like having them experience Christ in such a way that like Paul they have no choice but to accept Christ. Delaying Christ's return makes things worse, because more people are born and the more that are born, the more that go to Hell. (In fact if you subscribe to the fact that a soul not born, is in heaven waiting to be born which is a Mormon doctrine - then this is even worse). Had Christ returned a year after his resurrection the population of the world would not be over 5 Billion. Of which close to 4 Billion may not be saved. This situation is getting worse. Obviously this cannot be want Peter is talking about. Could it instead mean that God intends that all the ELECT be born and saved. Because if they are elect, and their election and calling are of God, then giving them time to be born, gives them the opportunity to be saved.

Note that in all cases the very same verse that seems to contradict predestination immediately prior to it or after it reaffirms it.

1. It couldn't be the Sovereign Will, because if it were the Sovereign Will and this was referring to ALL mankind. Then who would be saved? Obviously ALL mankind would be saved (because by definition the Sovereign Will of God is what ALWAYS happens). And we know all mankind is not going to be saved from the Bible.

2. It couldn't be the Moral Will because then it sounds that God made a Promise that He won't be able to keep.

Let me submit that if you assume the passage means really all mankind and not just the elect, it then refers instead to an Attitude that God has, similar to the attitude expressed in Ezekial above. I.e. God does not want anyone to perish, but He will allow them to perish.

Again in light of scripture the only way to comprehend this verse is to comprehend "all men" as how we would say "all nations of men".

(Calvin's Institutes, pg 984).

And again in the same book Paul reaffirms the doctrine that God is the one who leads them to the truth and grants repentance.

****

The Wedding Feast.

All these verses reemphasize that many are invited by few are chosen.

This doctrine may sound harsh. But it isn’t, please remember that

When God sends a man to Hell, that's justice, because we all deserve Hell.

When God saves one of those men who deserve Hell, that's Grace, because none of us deserve to be saved.

When we understand that we can do no less than to fall flat on our face and worship Him. That's Glory.

And most importantly, if you aren’t a Christian today, and you want to become one, that’s an indication that the Holy Spirit is working in your life.