And there you have it folks, the difference between Calvinism and non-Calvinism.
Calvinism believes that God chose persons OUTSIDE Jesus before the foundation of the world and then GAVE them to Jesus.
The scriptures teach a very different story, the scriptures say we are chosen IN HIM before the foundation of the world.
Eph 1:4 According as he hath chosen us
in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love:
This is a subtle, but very important difference in doctrine. Non-Cals believe we are elect only because we are IN CHRIST. Jesus is the Elect One, we are only elect because we are IN HIM. We are baptized into his body and so enjoy and share in his blessings. It is not because there is anything special in us, it is because Jesus is special, we simply are blessed because we are part of his body.
Calvinists believe VERY DIFFERENTLY here. Calvinists believe they were chosen OUTSIDE of Jesus by the Father in eternity past, and then given to Jesus.
http://www.gty.org/resources/print/sermons/80-46
Calvinists often claim the non-Cal theology is "man-centered", but this is as man centered as you can get. John MacArthur does not believe he is elect because he is IN CHRIST, he believes God chose him, John MacArthur TO BELONG to him. Now, that is as self centered as you can get.
No, the scriptures say we were "made accepted
in the beloved". Jesus is "the beloved" one.
Mat 3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying,
This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Eph 1:6 To the praise of the glory of his grace,
wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.
God did not pick or choose US for some unknown reason and then decide to give US to Jesus as John MacArthur falsely teaches. God chose Jesus Christ, Jesus is the one and only ELECT ONE. We are only elect because when we believe on Jesus we are baptized into his body and share in his blessings. We become the elect only IN HIM.
This is why Reformed theology is so wrong. This is a very, very serious error.