Acts 10:34-35 .. this refers to Peter and Cornelius ... Peter did not think the Gentiles were in God's plan of salvation and then he 'see the light' so to speak and comes to the conclusion that God salvation is for the Gentiles also.
Ephesians 1:11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been
predestined according to the
purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will [salvation, while occurring in the temporal order, is a result of a pre-temporal choice of the Father] [Such a statement could not be made in truthfulness if the execution of His purpose depended upon a cooperation with others which was in their power to withhold.]
Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things [divine undertakings-divine foreknowledge, divine predestination, divine calling, divine justification and glorification] work together for good, for those who are
called [
effectual call]
according to his purpose [God’s purpose CANNOT be thwarted]. 29 For
those whom he foreknew [foreknown in the Bible always refers to a person/people and NOT the actions of a man/people]
he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And
those whom he predestined he also called [an efficacious call that cannot be rejected]
, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.
Romans 10:9-17
The verses do not address the question at hand ... whether God selects the individual or the individual does the work of righteousness to believe on his own.
My turn
Theis: God did predestine/chose which individuals would come to him and predestined the plan. Read again.
Ephesians 1:11 In Him also we have [received an inheritance [a destiny—we were claimed by God as His own], having been predestined (chosen, appointed beforehand) according to the purpose of Him who works everything in agreement with the counsel
and design of His will, (Note: it doesn't say according to His will and our will; just His will)
John 1:13 who were born, not of blood [natural conception],
nor of the will of the flesh [physical impulse],
nor of the will of man [that of a natural father],
but of God [that is, a divine and supernatural birth—they are born of God—spiritually transformed, renewed, sanctified].
John 6:29 Jesus answered,
“This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent.” Clearly this verse defines faith as a work. Thus faith must originate from God since God’s
grace does not include man works (
Galatians 5:2).
Romans 12:3b as God has apportioned to each a degree of faith [and a purpose designed for service]. Note: It is God doing the apportioning
1 Corinthians 2:5 So that
your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men (human philosophy), but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 12:3b And no one can [really] say, Jesus is [my] Lord, except by and under the power and influence of the Holy Spirit. [The confession of the Lordship of Christ in saving faith is a gift of the Holy Spirit. Tom Constable: no one would sincerely acknowledge that Jesus is Lord, Savior and or Sovereign, unless the Holy Spirit had some influence over him or her
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace you have been
saved through faith. And this [referring to salvation through faith]
is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works (not founded upon anything in the believer himself), so that
no one may boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.
“And this is not your own doing.” The word “this” must have an antecedent, which would normally be the closest preceding noun. In this case, “this” would refer back to “faith.” Paul is not saying that grace is not our own doing. That would be redundant, because if it were our own doing, it would not be gracious at all. Rather, he says that faith is not our own doing. That does not mean that faith is not found in us; it is found in us. It does not mean that it is someone else’s faith by which we are justified. It is, properly speaking, our faith, for we are the ones who have it, the ones who are exercising it. But it is not our own doing, meaning that we are not the origin of it. It is not something that we have generated by our own power, nor does it originate in our flesh. R.C. Sproul Truths We Confess
Furthermore, if synergism is embraced, then there is the very real but subtle danger that men could boast that they
made use of God's grace or
had more wisdom than the man who rejected Christ. They could boast that they are different for, unlike others, they responded to Christ. The autonomous natural man would, then, ultimately determine His own salvation, not God. Since a work is a purpose achieved by physical or mental exertion. To believe is a difficult task; the Bible says it is foolishness to the unsaved and no one seeks God. Finally, the context of the verse (2:1-10) forbids the idea that man has any positive role in his own salvation. The verses include expressions like, "by grace you have been saved," "this not from yourselves," "it is the gift of God," "not by works," "so that no one can boast," "we are God's work," "created in Christ Jesus to do good works," "which God prepared in advance for us to do."
This is the short list
