God's choice of believers before the foundation of the world does not cancel free will — it is exercised through His foreknowledge of each person's own decision.
Les explains that God, in His foreknowledge, knew exactly what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will, so His choosing is not arbitrary [Clip 1]. At the same time, the invitation 'whosoever will may come' is real and open, and God never forces anyone [Clip 0]. After a person comes through that doorway of faith, he can look back and see that God had already chosen him before the world began [Clip 4]. Les urges believers to hold both truths together: chosen before the foundation of the world and whosoever will [Clip 5].
Ephesians 1:4 — This is the verse Les points to for God choosing us before the foundation of the world; it directly frames the question.
Revelation 22:17 — This is the 'whosoever will' invitation that Les places on the doorways of escape, showing free will remains open.
2 Timothy 1:9 — Les cites God's holy calling according to His own purpose and grace given in Christ Jesus before the world began.
Ephesians 1:4 says God 'hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.' 2 Timothy 1:9 adds that God 'called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.' In Revelation 22:17, the invitation remains open to anyone: 'And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.' The Bible states both truths — a prior divine choosing and a free, open invitation — without one removing the other.
Les says the apparent contradiction between election and free will is best understood through God's foreknowledge. Before creation, the Godhead could look down through time and know exactly what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will [Clip 1]. Therefore, when God chose believers in Him before the foundation of the world (Ephesians 1:4), He was not arbitrarily skipping people; no one is left without a chance [Clip 1]. In the triune counsel of the Godhead, God put His finger on every believer and said, 'I have a place waiting for you' — that predetermined position was set before anything was created [Clip 2]. Les uses the picture of a slave market with doorways labeled 'Whosoever will may come.' The redemption price has been paid and anyone may take the way out, but the person must agree that he wants to be free — God will not force him [Clip 0]. Once a person becomes a child of God, he can look back and say, 'I was chosen before God ever created Adam' [Clip 4]. Les also addresses the historical Calvinist/Arminian debate. He says the abuse of Calvinism — 'if you're chosen you're in, if you're not, you're out' — is ridiculous [Clip 3]. Instead, he says to accept both truths: 'chosen from before the foundation of the world, but whosoever will may come' [Clip 5]. He also uses Israel as an example: Israel had absolute freedom to accept or reject the kingdom, and it did not throw God a curve because He knew what they would do [Clip 6]. The Godhead's predetermined counsel included man's free will choice to respond to His love or reject it [Clip 7].
No. According to Les, it is not that God arbitrarily puts His finger on certain ones and leaves others without a chance. Rather, God in His foreknowledge knew what every individual would do in the exercise of their own free will [Clip 1]. The invitation 'Whosoever will may come' is constantly available all along the river of life; the redemption price has been paid, and all we have to do is take the way out [Clip 0].
Les says the two concepts are hard to bring together, but both are true. He instructs: 'If this is what God says, you believe it. You don't try to argue with it.' You don't lose sight of 'whosoever will may come,' because if you get too taken by either election or free will, 'you're out in left field.' Every individual has the opportunity of choice, yet they cannot choose unless God calls them and elects them [Clip 5].
Once a person becomes a child of God, by faith they can look back and see, 'I was chosen before God ever created Adam.' God had already positioned them in the body of Christ before the world began [Clip 4]. This does not negate the fact that they had to agree to want to get out of the slave market and accept the open invitation [Clip 0].
Les points out that Calvin held to sovereign choosing, and those who abused his teaching went overboard saying if you're chosen, nothing can change it; if not, you're out — an approach Les calls ridiculous. The opposite Arminian view says it was all of our own free will. Les's response is to say, 'Yes, whosoever will sits over here' [Clip 3], and to take the balanced view that both God's election and human choice are taught in Scripture [Clip 5].
Les uses Israel as an example of the same principle. Israel had absolute freedom to accept Jesus and have the kingdom, but they also had free will to reject it. This did not throw God a curve because He knew in advance what they would do. That is foreknowledge, and with it God could plan for any contingency without taking away mankind's free will [Clip 6].
The Open Door of 'Whosoever Will'
Les pictures the gospel as constant doorways along the river of life with 'Whosoever will may come' written across them — redemption is paid, but each person must be willing to take the way out.
Foreknowledge and Election Reconciled
Les says God's election is not picking some and ignoring others; God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with their free will, so He could choose believers before the foundation of the world.
The Triune Counsel's Predetermined Plan
Les says the triune God put His finger on every believer before anything was created and had a place waiting for them in a predetermined position.
Calvinism, Arminianism, and the Balance
Les explains that the abuse of Calvinism says you're either in or out and nothing can change it, which he calls ridiculous, and he places 'whosoever will' on the other side.
The Believer's Look Back
After salvation, a believer can look back and see he was chosen before God ever created Adam and already positioned in the body of Christ — called not by works but by God's purpose and grace.
Believe Both Election and Free Will
Les says the way to handle the paradox is to believe both truths: chosen before the foundation of the world and 'whosoever will may come'; don't argue with either.
Foreknowledge Never Removes Choice
Les uses Israel to show that God's foreknowledge let Him plan for every contingency while still giving people absolute freedom to accept or reject.
The Godhead's Counsel and Man's Response
Les traces the plan back to the eternal counsel of the Godhead: man was given free will to respond to God's love or reject it, and everything was in fulfillment of that predetermined counsel.
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 foundational verse Les uses for 'chosen before the foundation of the world.'
2 Timothy 1:9: Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
Les points here to the believer's calling as part of God's purpose and grace before the world began.
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 is the 'whosoever will' invitation that Les says is written over the doorways of escape.
No. Les says God in His foreknowledge knew what every individual would do in the exercise of free will, so no one is left without a chance [Clip 1]. The invitation 'whosoever will may come' remains open to everyone [Clip 0].
Les says both are true. The individual has the opportunity of choice, yet cannot choose unless God calls and elects him [Clip 5]. A believer can look back and see that God had already chosen him before the world began [Clip 4].
He said the overboard abuse of Calvinism — if you're chosen you're in and if not you're out — is ridiculous [Clip 3]. He favored holding both God's election and 'whosoever will' together [Clip 5].
Because of His foreknowledge. Les says the Godhead could look down through the eons of time and know exactly what every person would do without taking away free will [Clip 6]. This let God plan for any contingency [Clip 6].
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