Yes — God's eternal choice and the universal offer of salvation are two sides of the same door.
On the front side, the invitation reads "whosoever will may come," so no one is left out. When a person responds and steps through that door, he discovers that he was chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world. Les says we cannot fully reconcile the two because it is beyond us, but both are clearly taught in Scripture.
Ephesians 1:4 — This verse states that believers were chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world — the "back side" of the door.
Romans 9:11 — It shows God's elective purpose standing on God's call rather than on human works.
Hebrews 2:9 — It says Christ tasted death for every man, supporting the universal offer of salvation.
The Bible sets side by side two facts. Romans 9:11 says that before the twins were born, and before doing anything good or evil, God's purpose according to election stood — not on works but on Him who calls. Ephesians 1:4 says believers were chosen in Christ before the world's foundation. At the same time, Hebrews 2:9 says Jesus tasted death for every man, and 2 Corinthians 5:14 draws the consequence that if one died for all, then all died. Scripture therefore presents both a specific electing work and a universal death of Christ.
Les Feldick does not try to dissolve the tension. He says the two facets of Scripture — the universal offer and the pre-creation election — cannot be fully reconciled because it is beyond us. Instead, he pictures life as a river with doors of opportunity along both banks. On the front of each door is written "Whosoever will may come." This means nobody is left out on the front side. As soon as a person responds to that invitation and steps through the door, he looks back and sees on the other side of the door "Chosen in Him before the world was created."
Les pictures human history as a river. Along both banks are doors of opportunity. On the front of each door is "Whosoever will may come." No one is left out on the front side. When a person decides to go through that door and accept God's remedy for sin, he steps inside and looks back. On the other side of the top of the door he sees "Chosen in Him before the world was ever created." In other words, the universal invitation is the first thing a person sees; the believer's election is what he sees after responding.
Les says God's choosing is not based on human merit. In his explanation, God's foreknowledge sees what an individual will do with the offer of salvation. This is why Rebekah was at the well at the right time — she was willing, and God knew she would be willing. Similarly, believers are not saved because they are better or special, but because God in His foreknowledge knew their response. Les also says he cannot see God electing someone who, somewhere down the road, would reject Him.
Les acknowledges the controversy between how much human will is exercised in salvation and how much belongs to election. He brings the two extremes together: God must open the eyes and heart, but man still has the prerogative to reject the offer. The tragedy of lost people, as Les puts it, will be that they go through all eternity regretting their opportunity and rejected it. The front-side invitation remains genuine while the back-side reality is God's choosing.
The Door of Invitation
Les sets up the visual: as mankind moves down the river of life, every door of opportunity has "Whosoever will may come" written on the front.
Two Bible Truths We Cannot Reconcile
Les acknowledges both the universal verses (Christ tasted death for every man) and the election verses (chosen before the foundation of the world), and says their reconciliation is beyond us.
Front Side and Back Side
After responding to "whosoever will," the believer can look back and see that God chose him before he was ever born; the invitation includes nobody being left out.
Foreknowledge and Willingness
God's foreknowledge sees what each person will do with the offer of salvation; this is why people like Rebekah were willing.
The Triune Counsel
Before anything was created, the triune God had a place waiting for every believer; this predetermined position came from the counsel of God.
Chosen on the Other Side of the Door
Once the whosoever goes through the door of opportunity, he looks back and sees "Chosen in Him before the world was created."
Election and Rejection
Les says he cannot picture God electing someone who would later reject Him.
Man's Prerogative to Reject
Les balances election and free will: God opens eyes and heart, but man has the prerogative to reject the offer.
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 is the verse Les points to when he says believers were chosen in Christ before the world was created.
Romans 9:11: (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)
Les uses this verse to show God's elective purpose is not based on human merit or works.
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.
Les mentions "Christ tasted death for every man" as part of the universal side of salvation.
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:
Les cites this to show that Christ's death covers all, because if one died for all, then all died.
No, not according to Les. He says the front of the door says "whosoever will may come," so nobody is left out. Only after a person responds does he discover that he was chosen in Christ before creation.
Les explains it through God's foreknowledge. God sees what each person will do with His offer of salvation, and Les says he can't see God electing someone who would later reject Him. At the same time, man has the prerogative to reject the opportunity.
Yes, in Les's teaching. God has to open the eyes and heart, but man still has the prerogative to reject it. The tragedy of lost people, as Les puts it, will be that they rejected their opportunity.
Watch the Teaching: Does God Choose Who Gets Saved? Romans 9 & Election Explained