"How I Learned the Doctrine of Election"

Of course, God knows what is going to happen beforehand. God ordains all things.

 

John 1:12-13 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name: which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (emphasis mine)

"which were born". "Were" is past tense. It precedes believing.

 

No. All of Adam's descendants come into existence dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1)

 

I don't trust in my fallen, natural, fleshly nature at all for my salvation. I think we may have reached the crux of the matter. You evidently believe that man is born pristine when it comes to his will, with the ability to choose something outside of his fallen, natural, fleshly nature. He does not.

Romans 3:9-18 What then? are we better than they? No, in no wise: for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin; as it is written,
There is none righteous, no, not one:
There is none that understandeth,
There is none that seeketh after God.
They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable;
There is none that doeth good, no, not one.
Their throat is an open sepulchre;
With their tongues they have used deceit;
The poison of asps is under their lips:
Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:
Their feet are swift to shed blood:
Destruction and misery are in their ways:
And the way of peace have they not known:
There is no fear of God before their eyes.

Ephesians 1:1-5 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by grace ye are saved; )

Evidently you don't believe that when God said "dead" that He meant "dead". You must think that when Adam fell that man's nature did not become corrupt. Reminds of what I grew up being taught in the Church of Christ.

Evidently, you think this skeleton can do something to put flesh on itself and participate in bringing itself to life.

 

Absolutely. @Silverhair or anyone espousing such is certainly in error about that.

Romans 10:14-15 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things!

 

Romans 9:20-24 Nay but, 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? Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour? What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction: and that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory, even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?

 

"Were born" precedes believing. The Biblical order is the new birth(regeneration), then come repentance from dead works and faith in Christ as the first responses granted by God to the newborn babe in Christ.

 

Christ finished all that the Father sent Him to do as the Surety for all of the Elect that God had given to Him. He perfectly fulfilled the law on their behalf and His perfect righteousness was imputed to them so that they stand in His righteousness before God.

 

Is there some kind of topical ointment you can put on that rash of yours? Maybe consult your doctor.