If you believe in predestination, meaning God decided before birth who would believe and who would not, how do you explain all the verses that appeal to reason and free will? Why would Christ command us to go and make disciples of all nations? (Matthew 28:19–20) Why would God say, “Come now, let us reason together?” (Isaiah 1:18) Why are we repeatedly commanded to test what we are taught, examine claims, discern truth from error, and hold fast to what is good? (1 Thessalonians 5:21; 1 John 4:1; Acts 17:11) Why does Scripture tell people to choose whom they will serve? (Joshua 24:15) Why does Jesus say, “You refuse to come to me that you may have life?”(John 5:40) Why does Jesus grieve over Jerusalem and say He wanted to gather them to Himself, “and you were not willing”? (Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34) Why does Stephen accuse people of resisting the Holy Spirit if saving grace cannot ultimately be resisted? (Acts 7:51) Why does Scripture say God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth? (1 Timothy 2:3–4) Why does Peter say God is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance? (2 Peter 3:9) Why does Jesus say, “Whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,” and that God loved the world? (John 3:16) Why does Revelation end with an open invitation: “Let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price”? (Revelation 22:17) Why does Jesus repeatedly say come, follow, ask, seek, knock, repent, and believe? (Matthew 4:17; Matthew 4:19; Matthew 7:7–8; Matthew 11:28; Mark 1:15) Why does Jesus tell the rich young ruler what he must do and then allow him to walk away sorrowful? (Matthew 19:16–22; Mark 10:17–22; Luke 18:18–23) Why does Jesus rebuke entire cities for refusing to repent? (Matthew 11:20–24) Why does Scripture say people can receive Christ or reject Him? (John 1:11–12) Why does Paul say, “We persuade others?” (2 Corinthians 5:11) Why does Paul reason with people from the Scriptures and try to persuade both Jews and Greeks? (Acts 17:2–4; Acts 18:4; Acts 19:8) Why does Paul say, “Knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade others”? (2 Corinthians 5:11) Why are believers told to give a reasoned defense for the hope within them? (1 Peter 3:15) Why are parents commanded to teach their children diligently, speak of God’s commands throughout daily life, and raise them in the instruction of the Lord? (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; Ephesians 6:4) Why does Proverbs say, “Train up a child in the way he should go?” (Proverbs 22:6) Why is Timothy’s childhood instruction in Scripture treated as significant in bringing him to wisdom for salvation? (2 Timothy 3:14–15) Why does Moses tell Israel, “I have set before you life and death… therefore choose life”? (Deuteronomy 30:19) Why does God repeatedly call people to turn from evil and live? (Ezekiel 18:30–32; Ezekiel 33:11) Why would God say, “Turn back, turn back from your evil ways, for why will you die?” (Ezekiel 33:11) Why does Jesus say some people reject the purpose of God for themselves? (Luke 7:30) Why does Hebrews repeatedly warn people not to harden their hearts? (Hebrews 3:7–8; Hebrews 3:12–15; Hebrews 4:7) Why warn believers against falling away, unbelief, and hardening if there is no meaningful human response involved? (Hebrews 3:12; Hebrews 6:4–6; Hebrews 10:26–29) Why does Paul tell people, “Do not receive the grace of God in vain”? (2 Corinthians 6:1) Why does Jesus say the seed of the Word is received differently depending on the hearer’s response? (Matthew 13:3–23; Mark 4:3–20; Luke 8:4–15) And most importantly why did a Christ invite, warn, teach, plead, grieve, rebuke, and praise when he walked among us?