chosen and free

"You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name." - John 15:16 (NIV)

rev gary patchen expounded on our verse of the year (John 15:16) at this morning's service in york baptist church, describing how salvation starts with God's choice. true believers have eternal security because God - who 'works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose' (Romans 8:28, NIV) - does not alter His eternal decree. 'we are more than conquerors through him who loved us' (Romans 8:37, NIV), 'for those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. and those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified' (Romans 8:29-30, NIV).

spiritual blessings in Christ

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will - to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment - to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.

In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession - to the praise of his glory." - Ephesians 1:3-14 (NIV)

Scripture does not say that we believe because we are chosen (preterition), or that we are chosen because we believe (open theism). moreover, it is not necessary for us to establish that we who believe believe because we are chosen, or that we who are chosen are chosen because we believe. it is sufficient for us to know that we who believe also are chosen, and that we who are chosen also believe.

believing and being chosen are neither independent of each other nor based on each other, but simply in accordance with each other, and in accordance with God's good, pleasing and perfect will.