God did not choose men for salvation based on their inherent worth or religious works or even their foreseen faith, but chose them in relation to Christ based on His sheer grace and pleasure, to the glory of His name. His choice is based in Himself, not in man. If God's choice was based in man and what he chose to do, this would be the beginning of salvation by works and merit. This was the main issue with the Reformers against the Roman Catholic Church, Sola Gratia, Grace Alone; it was not primarily (as many suppose) Sola Fide, Faith Alone. Faith Alone simply safe-guarded the more important doctrine, Grace Alone (Michael Haykin). Grace Alone under girds and supports Faith Alone.

The question we must ask ourselves with election is not, "How can a loving God send anyone to hell who has no chance for salvation," but rather, "How can a just and holy God allow anyone into heaven, because all should perish forever because of their inherent sin?" And the Gospel answers, only by the grace of God alone giving them a regenerated spirit which inevitably gives rise to faith in Jesus Christ, His crucified and risen Son, through the preaching of the Gospel, can anyone be justly allowed into heaven. This faith in Christ and the repentance to turn away from sin (namely self-righteousness and self-justification) are gifts granted through the power and blood of Christ. Salvation is all of grace (Grace Alone). And the means to this end are predestined through the preaching of the Gospel to all, for we do not know who God may inwardly call to salvation through this indiscriminate preaching. We cast forth the seed, water it, but God causes it to grow (1 Corinthians 3:6).

God is the Alpha (beginning) and the Omega (end) of our salvation. The mercy of God is 1) the granting of faith and repentance to 2) trust Jesus alone for salvation. The Spirit creates faith and repentance in dead, hard hearts ex nihilo, from nothing, just as Jesus created the world ex nihilo. And the Father chose in eternity past who He would grant this salvation to through the blood of His Son. Christ is our All in All, securing our salvation from beginning to end. As Jonathan Edwards said, "We are dependent on God, not only for redemption itself but for our faith in the Redeemer; not only for the gift of His Son but for the Holy Ghost for our conversion."

"For [God] says to Moses, 'I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.' So then it depends not on human will or exertion, but on God, who has mercy. For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, 'For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I might show my power in you, and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.' So then he has mercy on whomever he wills, and he hardens whomever he wills." - Romans 9:15-18

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ." - Philippians 1:6

"We love because he first loved us." - 1 John 4:19

"But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God." - John 1:12-13

"And I will give them one heart, and a new spirit I will put within them. I will remove the heart of stone from their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my rules and obey them. And they shall be my people, and I will be their God. But as for those whose heart goes after their detestable things and their abominations, I will bring their deeds upon their own heads, declares the Lord GOD." - Ezekiel 11:19-21

"No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day." - John 6:44

"It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is of no avail. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. But there are some of you who do not believe." (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) And he said, "This is why I told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted him by the Father." - John 6:63-65

"I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep." - John 10:11

"He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad." - John 11:51-52

"Jesus answered them, 'I told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness about me, but you do not believe because you are not part of my flock.'" - John 10:25-26

"Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and everyone who loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him." - 1 John 5:1

"I should not take it at all amiss, to be called a Calvinist, for distinction's sake: though I utterly disclaim a dependence on Calvin, or believing the doctrines which I hold, because he believed and taught them; and cannot justly be charged with believing in every thing just as he taught." - Jonathan Edwards