Yes — some are saved because they accept God's offer of salvation, and God, in His foreknowledge, knew who would do so.
Les Feldick teaches that God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation. God did not take away human choice; He knew what each person would do with that choice. Those who are saved have accepted God's pardon, while those who are not have chosen not to accept it.
2 Timothy 1:9 — This verse shows that God's salvation is not according to works but according to His own purpose and grace, given before the world began.
2 Peter 3:9 — It reveals God's desire that all come to repentance, not that He arbitrarily wills some to perish.
Romans 5:15 — It contrasts the offense of one man that brought death to many with the free gift of grace that abounds through Jesus Christ.
Scripture shows that God's salvation is not based on human merit. 2 Timothy 1:9 says God "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." This means the saved are called according to God's purpose and grace, not their own works. At the same time, 2 Peter 3:9 says the Lord is "not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance," showing God's desire for all to be saved. Romans 5:15 adds that while death entered through one offense, God's free gift through Jesus Christ abounds to many.
Les teaches that this is not an either/or matter — not just God's sovereign choosing alone, and not just human free will alone. He points out that Calvin and Arminius represent two extremes, and the truth is that there must be a willingness in the individual, while God is also sovereignly at work. God, in His foreknowledge, knew what every person who has ever lived or ever will live would do with His offer of salvation. He did not take away their choice; He simply knew what they would do with their choice. Those who are saved have accepted God's pardon, while those who are lost have chosen not to accept it. Scripture makes it plain that all have had their opportunity. Les also emphasizes that salvation is not according to our works. It is a gift that cannot be earned or merited. Believers are saved for God's purpose and were in His mind before the creation of Adam.
Les rejects both extremes: that God alone chooses and human free will has no part, or that God has nothing to do with it and it is all up to the individual. He points out that there has to be a willingness, while God is also working in the situation. God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation. He did not take away their choice; He knew what they were going to do with their choice.
Les says Scripture makes it plain that all have had their opportunity. Those who are lost are lost because they have chosen not to accept God's offer. God's grace and the gift of salvation are not earned or deserved; they are given freely. Even those who are perishing were potentially able to be saved, because the message of Christ is a sweet saver to God in both those who are saved and those who are perishing.
Les says God's foreknowledge means everything comes together according to His plan, but it did not remove the individual's choice. He knew what Israel would do, and He knows what every person will do with the offer of salvation. This is what makes election understandable — election is connected to what God foreknew each person would do. For the believer, this is a truth to be taken by faith; for the unbeliever, the message is 'whosoever will may come.'
The Two Extremes of Calvinism and Arminianism
Les explains that Calvinism's unconditional election and Arminianism's absolute free will are both extremes. He says there must be a willingness in the individual, while God is at work.
God's Foreknowledge and Human Choice
Les states the core answer: God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation. He did not remove their choice; He knew what they would choose.
Saved for God's Purpose
Les teaches that God called and saved believers not because of works but for His own purpose, and believers were in God's mind before Adam was created.
All Have Had Their Opportunity
Les says Scripture is clear that all have had their opportunity; those who are lost have chosen not to be saved. Salvation is a gift, not a reward for works.
Accepting God's Pardon
Les uses the pardoned criminal analogy: all are hell-bound sinners, but those who accept God's pardon escape. The only reason believers escape is the grace of God.
Whosoever Will May Come
Les distinguishes what believers can understand — that God chose them in eternity past — from what the unbeliever is told: whosoever will may come.
Perishing Yet Potentially Saved
Les explains that believers are recipients of God's grace, but those who are perishing were potentially able to be saved as well.
Salvation According to God's Purpose
Les reinforces that salvation is not according to our works but according to God's own purpose, and the Trinity planned salvation before creation.
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,
This verse shows that God's salvation is not based on works but on His own eternal purpose and grace.
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 verse reveals God's desire for all to come to repentance rather than to perish.
Romans 5:15: But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many.
It contrasts the death brought by Adam's offense with the abundant free gift of grace through Jesus Christ.
Les explains that God in His foreknowledge knew what every person would do with His offer of salvation. He did not take away their choice. Those who are saved have accepted God's pardon; those who are lost have chosen not to be saved.
Les teaches that election is connected with God's foreknowledge. God can choose because He already knew what each person would do with his or her free will response to salvation. Believers are also told they were in God's purpose before creation.
No. Les says Scripture puts down works in salvation. It is not according to our works but according to God's own purpose and grace. Salvation is a gift, and you cannot work for or merit a gift.
Watch the Teaching: God’s Foreknowledge vs. Free Will: How Salvation Works