You don't have to apologize to me for being frank. I like I like it when people say what they mean and we can do that without being rude.
faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Rom.10:17
By "the word of God", Paul means the scriptures,
How then shall they call on him in whom they have notbelieved? and how shall they believe in him of whom they havenot heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? Rom.10:14
This is why God inspired men to write,
these are written, that ye might believe Jn.20:21
Your belief that sinners can't know God from the scriptures isn't true. If you disagree, then explain the verses I cited. Don't ignore them. Don't hop over to another passage. Deal with what I just cited. Ok?
Yes, he chose them based on what he said to them in the verses preceding vs.16, which is abiding in him.
And when I showed you how God chooses people rich in faith and looks on the humble, you didnt comment on those passages.
Paul was a man of integrity even before he came to know the Lord. He wasn't chosen arbitrarily. If I heard God audibly and was then stricken blind by him, I'm sure I'd pay close attention to what he said. This is what God gave Paul and for this reason,
For unto whomsoevermuch is given, of him shall be much required Lk.12:48
And Paul didn't disappoint.
You're interpreting Eph.1:4 to mean God arbitrarily chooses people. That's not what Paul means. He's saying God chose those in Christ inother words, believers....people of faith.
And when Paul says "US" and •WE"in vss.3,4,5,7,8,9,11 and 12, he means the Jewish people.
Then he says,
In whom YE also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of yours alvation:[/b] in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed withthat holy Spirit of promise, vs.13
Ye (gentiles) had faith after hearing the gospel.
If you can't see at this time the plain reading of the passages you're citing, there's no point in continuing this subject.