Yes — believers can be both chosen by God and freely willing to come, and the Bible holds both truths together.
Les Feldick teaches that this is not an either/or issue: the invitation is open to the whole human race, while believers are also told they were chosen before the foundation of the world. Rather than trying to explain the apparent contradiction, believers are to accept both by faith and let God settle the controversy.
Revelation 22:17 — Shows the open invitation: "whosoever will" may come.
Ephesians 1:4 — Shows believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world.
2 Peter 3:9 — Shows God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
Hebrews 2:9 — Shows Christ tasted death for every man, not just for believers.
The Bible presents an open invitation to every human being. It says, "whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely" (Revelation 22:17), and that Christ "tasted death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). Paul says that "if one died for all, then were all dead" (2 Corinthians 5:14), showing that Christ's death covered the whole human race, not just a small percentage of believers. At the same time, Scripture plainly states that believers were "chosen ... in him before the foundation of the world" (Ephesians 1:4). God also says He is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance" (2 Peter 3:9). Both the universal invitation and God's sovereign choosing are stated in Scripture, and both are to be believed.
Les Feldick teaches that this is not an either/or question. He says, "You have to put the two thoughts into an awareness that it's not either one or the other" (Clip 2). God the Father has sent the Holy Spirit to move among the human race, wooing people and presenting the plan of salvation, yet even though God is sovereign, man still has the prerogative to reject it (Clip 6). Les uses a door analogy: "From the front side, it's whosoever will may come. Nobody is left out. But when we decide to go through that door ... then what can we see? Oh, He chose us before we were ever born" (Clip 3). In other words, the front side is open to everyone, but once a person responds by faith, he discovers that God chose him in eternity past. Les openly admits he cannot explain how both facts fit. He says, "I can in no way explain those two facts of Scripture. But I'm going to let them set in Scripture by faith. This is what God has said, and I'm going to let Him settle the controversy" (Clip 5). His instruction is to hold both truths together without canceling out either one.
Yes. Scripture says "whosoever will" may come, and Christ "tasted death for every man" (Hebrews 2:9). Les says this includes "the whole human race" and that Christ did not die just for those who become believers (Clip 0). He also stresses that "the unbeliever has to understand whosoever will may come" and that God is "not willing that any should perish" (Clip 4).
Yes. Les teaches that "in eternity past, God chose us" (Clip 4) and that Scripture says believers were "chosen before the foundation of the world" (Clip 5). He also explains that in the triune counsel of God, "God put the finger on every one of us and said, 'I have a place waiting for you'" (Clip 1). These statements are not canceled by the open invitation.
Believers should hold both truths together. Les says it is "not either one or the other" (Clip 2). When a person decides to trust Christ, he can look back and see that God chose him before birth (Clip 3). Les also says God has to open a person's eyes and heart, but man has the prerogative to reject it (Clip 6). Rather than trying to resolve every difficulty, believers are to let the two facts "set in Scripture by faith" and let God settle the controversy (Clip 5).
Christ Died for Every Man
Les shows from Romans 8 and 2 Corinthians 5 that Christ's death was for the whole human race, not just the small percentage who believe.
The Great Argument
Les acknowledges the argument between election and free will, but insists that "whosoever will" belongs beside the truth that God chose us.
Not Either/Or
Les teaches that the two truths must be held together; it is not a matter of either God's sovereignty or man's choice.
Front Side and Back Side
Les uses a door analogy: the front side says whosoever will may come, but when a person goes through, he sees that God chose him before he was born.
Believers and Unbelievers
Les explains that believers take election by faith, while unbelievers need to hear that whosoever will may come and that God does not want any to perish.
Let God Settle the Controversy
Les openly says he cannot explain the two facts but accepts them by faith and lets God settle what looks like a contradiction.
God Opens, Man Rejects
Les brings the two extremes to the middle: God must open the heart, but man still has the prerogative to reject salvation.
Full Opportunity to Choose
Les says man is given full opportunity to choose; salvation is free for the asking, but it is not automatic.
Revelation 22:17: And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.
This verse gives the universal invitation that anyone who is willing may come.
Hebrews 2:9: But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
This shows Christ's death was for every person, not just for believers.
2 Corinthians 5:14: For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
Paul says Christ died for all, which Les connects to the whole human race.
Ephesians 1:4: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
This verse states believers were chosen before the foundation of the world.
2 Peter 3:9: The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.
This shows God's desire that no one perish and that all come to repentance.
No. He says you have to put the two thoughts into an awareness that it is not either one or the other. Both truths are taught in Scripture.
Yes. Les says from the front side it is 'whosoever will may come' and nobody is left out. The open invitation is not canceled by God's eternal choice.
He says he can in no way explain the two facts of Scripture, but he lets them set in Scripture by faith and lets God settle the controversy.
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