Let the scriptures speak-
Romans 9-
“ For when the children were not yet born, nor had done any good or evil (that the purpose of God according to election might stand):
12. Not of works, but of him that calleth, it was said to her: The elder shall serve the younger.
13. As it is written: Jacob I have loved: but Esau I have hated.
14. What shall we say then? Is there injustice with God? God forbid!
15. For he saith to Moses: I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy. And I will shew mercy to whom I will shew mercy.
16. So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.
17. For the scripture saith to Pharao: To this purpose have I raised thee, that I may shew my power in thee and that my name may be declared throughout all the earth.
18. Therefore he hath mercy on whom he will. And whom he will, he hardeneth.
19. Thou wilt say therefore to me: Why doth he then find fault? For who resisteth his will?
20. O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it: Why hast thou made me thus?
21. Or hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump, to make one vessel unto honour and another unto dishonour?
22. What if God, willing to shew his wrath and to make his power known, endured with much patience vessels of wrath, fitted for destruction,
23. That he might shew the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy which he hath prepared unto glory?”
What God wants most is to glorify himself. And that means that both his mercy and his justice are glorified. Now this also means some are objects of mercy, other objects of Justice.
But those to whom he shows mercy receive what they do not deserve, and those who receive justice receive what they do deserve.
For ALL, from the moment of conception, deserve Hell and justly.
But the misunderstanding of Catholic dogma is that Christ wants to save everyone, but darn it our free will keeps screwing it up.
Nope.
There is a difference between Gods disposition and his choices.
God is well disposed to all men. And from this good disposition flows sufficient graces to men to be saved. But God does not choose to make this grace effective in the lives of all, but only some, the faithful. These infallibly choose him and are justified. And to even fewer does he grant the grace of final perseverance.
This is the meaning of our Lords words, “many are called, but few are chosen.”
Many in the world (not all) are called to salvation, but only the chosen persevere.
Now, we do NOT KNOW who the elect are! So we don’t sit back and wait for God to do all the work, we preach the gospel promiscuously and choose to be instruments of Gods grace, by whom he will gather together the elect sheep of his flock. The elect are known to God alone, and they are the ones “gathered FROM every tribe, tongue and nation.” This is the second meaning of “God wills all men to be saved” men of every tribe, tongue nation and condition, but not absolutely every individual.
