Maybe He doesn’t want You

"Whosoever" in John 3:16 invites everybody, without exception. Even you.

I’ve answered the knock.
I have accepted His invitation.
It would appear that it was all about what I did, ya? I allowed the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to come upon me — rather than me denying Him. But, didn’t God know already, what “my decision” would be? The fact that I chose to accept Him would not necessarily preclude Him from having selected me first. It may be all my doing, with no pre-selection by God. Or, it could be that God chose me first.
You’ll notice that my meme did not declare This Is How It Is. My words, “Have you ever considered…” depict a question, not an answer.
The concept of God choosing people for salvation is a topic of significant theological debate. According to Calvinist Christians, God alone makes it possible for a person to place faith in Christ and be saved. This belief is based on the idea that God has chosen certain people for salvation before the creation of the world, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30. These passages suggest that God’s election is not based on anything the elect did but is part of His sovereign will.
However, there are also verses that indicate that salvation is available to all people and that individuals must choose to accept God’s gift. For example, John 3:16 states that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” and Romans 10:13 says, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These verses emphasize the importance of human response in the process of salvation.
The debate centers around how to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas. Some argue that God’s foreknowledge and predestination do not negate human responsibility, while others believe that God’s sovereignty and human free will can coexist without contradiction. The key is understanding that God’s sovereignty does not mean He forces salvation upon anyone but rather that He has determined the circumstances in which each person will freely choose to accept or reject His grace.
The belief that God has chosen people for salvation is a central tenet of some Christian traditions, particularly Calvinism. However, the broader Christian tradition also emphasizes the role of human choice in accepting God’s gift of salvation.

I’ve got 3 replies to you. The long one at the bottom —in a separate reply— is my first reply.
Numbers two & three are as follows:
2. My meme sets the parameters at the beginning: the invitation has been offered many times.
If one has not accepted the invitation —or is resentful about being invited several times— then this meme is addressed to him. There is no mention —nor implication— of being denied an invitation.
3. If you haven’t noticed…. Everything is psychological. So is this meme. It’s appealing to a person’s perceived acceptability. If a person can have all they want, of a certain thing, or experience, or person, etc… then that commodity is taken for granted. Not much value is placed on it. If something is more exclusive, then it becomes more valuable. Something more attractive, interesting, desirable. And if time is running out, then obtaining acquiring getting that, becomes more preoccupying.
Something along the likes of reverse psychology.

I’ve answered the knock.
I have accepted His invitation.
It would appear that it was all about what I did, ya? I allowed the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to come upon me — rather than me denying Him. But, didn’t God know already, what “my decision” would be? The fact that I chose to accept Him would not necessarily preclude Him from having selected me first. It may be all my doing, with no pre-selection by God. Or, it could be that God chose me first.
You’ll notice that my meme did not declare This Is How It Is. My words, “Have you ever considered…” depict a question, not an answer.
The concept of God choosing people for salvation is a topic of significant theological debate. According to Calvinist Christians, God alone makes it possible for a person to place faith in Christ and be saved. This belief is based on the idea that God has chosen certain people for salvation before the creation of the world, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30. These passages suggest that God’s election is not based on anything the elect did but is part of His sovereign will.
However, there are also verses that indicate that salvation is available to all people and that individuals must choose to accept God’s gift. For example, John 3:16 states that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” and Romans 10:13 says, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These verses emphasize the importance of human response in the process of salvation.
The debate centers around how to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas. Some argue that God’s foreknowledge and predestination do not negate human responsibility, while others believe that God’s sovereignty and human free will can coexist without contradiction. The key is understanding that God’s sovereignty does not mean He forces salvation upon anyone but rather that He has determined the circumstances in which each person will freely choose to accept or reject His grace.
The belief that God has chosen people for salvation is a central tenet of some Christian traditions, particularly Calvinism. However, the broader Christian tradition also emphasizes the role of human choice in accepting God’s gift of salvation.

I’ve got 3 replies to you. The long one at the bottom —in a separate reply— is my first reply.
Numbers two & three are as follows:
2. My meme sets the parameters at the beginning: the invitation has been offered many times.
If one has not accepted the invitation —or is resentful about being invited several times— then this meme is addressed to him. There is no mention —nor implication— of being denied an invitation.
3. If you haven’t noticed…. Everything is psychological. So is this meme. It’s appealing to a person’s perceived acceptability. If a person can have all they want, of a certain thing, or experience, or person, etc… then that commodity is taken for granted. Not much value is placed on it. If something is more exclusive, then it becomes more valuable. Something more attractive, interesting, desirable. And if time is running out, then obtaining acquiring getting that, becomes more preoccupying.
Something along the likes of reverse psychology.

James 2:5
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?

How do you know that you are chosen if you don’t have a choice?

That doesn’t make sense

To clarify- some more extreme versions of Calvinism teach that
1. God is sovereign
2. Man cannot overcome God’s will
3. God has foreknowledge
Then…
1. God’s foreknowledge becomes a decree (because if God already knows it, it has to happen.
2. Therefore everything that God knows must be what he wants to happen or man thwarts God’s plan.
3. Everything that anyone does has been before hand ordained by God to happen.
***(At this point I find it hard to believe that anyone could think for themselves)***
But…
The problem with this logic is that it is all man’s logic.
Jesus said he would have gathered Jerusalem many times but they would not be gathered. Either Jesus was lying or people have their own choice to make. The reality is that we all have a say. God gets the final say.
I don’t know what you believe entirely, I just answered what I read in the meme. Sorry if I misunderstood your intentions. I hope all the clarifications are profitable for someone.
(If anyone hasn’t figured it out yet, I am not a Calvinist. I prefer to get my beliefs from the Bible instead of a man like Augustine who was steeped in Gnosticism and Stoicism or like John Calvin who relied on baptism for salvation.) but now I am starting to really extend the conversation.

Circular — Strawman

I guess it would make sense if I were on your plane

Unrelated-ad hominem

Who doesn’t have a choice?
Is that ehat my meme says?

How blind can you be??
You can’t even remove the choice without making it a choice!!
If you don’t have the ability to choose, you don’t have the ability to have a preference. Someone else prefers it for you. It would also have to be considered for you not by you since you aren’t capable of considering without being forced to.
God loves “the world” in entirety. So that whoever, without any other limitations than that they believe in Him, can be.
If you are so grateful for God’s grace, show some to the people who you don’t believe can accept your advice.
(If you’re capable of doing anything)

Perhaps my vision is wider than yours.
I never said, nor implied that any choice is removed.
I never said, nor implied that you don’t have the ability to choose.
I never said nor implied anyone is forced to do
—or not do— anything.
God loves “the world” in its entirety. I agree.
Does that automatically mean that we are forced to love Him back? Or that everyone must follow Him to heaven?
You assume that I am not showing grace to people? And that I am claiming what people can’t accept or deny? Where do you get that?
Finally, you throw another fiery dart (after, how blind can you be?), by spewing some backhanded insult at me, as your final words.
NOW do you feel all righteous and strong, standing up on that moral high ground?!
Take a breath and step back, big boy.
Read what I am SAYING. Not what you are PROJECTING.
MY words say: “HAVE YOU EVER CONSIDERED” and “PERHAPS.”
Does that sound dogmatic to you? Apparently so, since your huffy retorts are sandwiched in with some put downs of me. Check your own eye, there, bruh. Looks like a plank, to me.
Speaking of BLINDNESS… why can’t you see that I’m throwing up possibilities to CONSIDER, in an area that is up for debate.
You also fail to see the psychological aspect of my evangelism.
I won’t slam you for being ignorant, or anything else. But, before you start slinging mud on others… you may want to consider that there are angles that you have not yet perceived. Debate is fine. It’s welcomed. But, mud throwing? Back off Jack.
Here are a couple of followups, that may help you discover those angles that I’m talking about…
(Next replies below)

I’ve answered the knock.
I have accepted His invitation.
It would appear that it was all about what I did, ya? I allowed the indwelling of His Holy Spirit to come upon me — rather than me denying Him. But, didn’t God know already, what “my decision” would be? The fact that I chose to accept Him would not necessarily preclude Him from having selected me first. It may be all my doing, with no pre-selection by God. Or, it could be that God chose me first.
You’ll notice that my meme did not declare This Is How It Is. My words, “Have you ever considered…” depict a question, not an answer.
The concept of God choosing people for salvation is a topic of significant theological debate. According to Calvinist Christians, God alone makes it possible for a person to place faith in Christ and be saved. This belief is based on the idea that God has chosen certain people for salvation before the creation of the world, as mentioned in Ephesians 1:4-5 and Romans 8:29-30. These passages suggest that God’s election is not based on anything the elect did but is part of His sovereign will.
However, there are also verses that indicate that salvation is available to all people and that individuals must choose to accept God’s gift. For example, John 3:16 states that “whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” and Romans 10:13 says, “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” These verses emphasize the importance of human response in the process of salvation.
The debate centers around how to reconcile these seemingly contradictory ideas. Some argue that God’s foreknowledge and predestination do not negate human responsibility, while others believe that God’s sovereignty and human free will can coexist without contradiction. The key is understanding that God’s sovereignty does not mean He forces salvation upon anyone but rather that He has determined the circumstances in which each person will freely choose to accept or reject His grace.
The belief that God has chosen people for salvation is a central tenet of some Christian traditions, particularly Calvinism. However, the broader Christian tradition also emphasizes the role of human choice in accepting God’s gift of salvation.

I’ve got 3 replies to you. The long one at the bottom —in a separate reply— is my first reply.
Numbers two & three are as follows:
2. My meme sets the parameters at the beginning: the invitation has been offered many times.
If one has not accepted the invitation —or is resentful about being invited several times— then this meme is addressed to him. There is no mention —nor implication— of being denied an invitation.
3. If you haven’t noticed…. Everything is psychological. So is this meme. It’s appealing to a person’s perceived acceptability. If a person can have all they want, of a certain thing, or experience, or person, etc… then that commodity is taken for granted. Not much value is placed on it. If something is more exclusive, then it becomes more valuable. Something more attractive, interesting, desirable. And if time is running out, then obtaining acquiring getting that, becomes more preoccupying.
Something along the likes of reverse psychology.

Thanks for the clarification. I don’t think much of psychology. I prefer to just be upfront with my conversations. Don’t take it too personally, you’re not the only person that I discuss this with. I might have picked up with you where I left off with someone else. I’m not telling you to take it down either. I’m sure the discussion will be helpful for someone. I just don’t like the idea of having the gospel perceived as being out of reach. If your gospel is hid, it is hid to them that are lost. I am sorry if it seemed like mud slinging, I just sincerely disagree with the position it appeared to me that you were making.
Gal. 5:15