Visitor: Can someone who is not of the elect be saved if they choose Jesus as their savior?
Response: The summons to believe the gospel and the offer of Christ is not restricted. The gospel call goes out to all and any who hear it. If men do not believe, it is only because they don't want to. But left to ourselves there is no one who fits your description. All people turn aside from God (Rom 3:12; Isa. 53:1, 6). Left to themselves, not one man on earth will choose Jesus as their Savior. People have something akin to Stockholm syndrome.. they love their captors and have gotten so used to the darkness that they cannot understand the light... blinded and captive to sin men want God like a thief wants a policeman (M. Horton). Like a greedy person who runs into oncoming traffic because he sees a dollar bill in the street. He will hear no other voice calling to warn him. Yet even though all people are in active rebellion against God and love darkness, and reject his merciful call to come to him for life... God still has mercy on many ...He gives them new eyes to see, ears to hear and turns their heart of stone to soft flesh... it is these who, because of God's grace, trust Jesus as their Savior because they behold the beauty truth and excellency of Jesus Christ and what He has done for them. So in the end some get justice... others mercy but no one gets injustice. In Jesus some are pardoned for their sins.. they are not getting what they justly deserve... because, in love, Jesus took the punishment in their stead. Believe this day in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved
God did not coerce anyone to reject him. Their decision to reject God is completely voluntary. He is not holding them back. I am giving you the summons right here to believe in Jesus Christ and be saved. If you reject this merciful offer, it is your own unwise choice. God is not stopping you. It is not that people cannot believe, but that they WILL NOT.
Next you speak as if God were somehow obligated to further help people who hated him. He is simply giving them over what they want.
Lastly, It would be just if all people were swept into eternal punishment. If he saves anyone it is not justice they are getting but mercy... not getting what we justly deserve.
