Yes that was the next question I had before you said so.
I understand your perspective I think, but since we're all sinners in need of forgiveness, what criteria does God use to chose His own to salvation? Why not take it to the next level as God omnipotent and save literally everyone?
After all, even those who are saved aren't any better than anyone else; the wages of everyones' sin is death. And does God have favorites? Based on what you're saying, are you pro-unconditional election (sovereign election) or pro-universalism? Anyway, a lot of questions and most of it is just me thinking out loud.
What's your answer to your question?
Before I get into answering your/my question - I must ask, did you read post #213 addressed to you? You gave no response if you did. The new birth must be properly understood because it relates to the next question.
First, let me state that I do believe in Unconditional Election. Unconditional Election is defined as: God, of His own free will and purpose elected some, (In Scripture, sometimes referred to as a God's "remnant"), to Salvation in His Son. Unconditional, because it had nothing to do with what the elect individual would do or not do. Therefore, it is the ultimate expression of God's unmerited favor or mercy upon the recipient of His Elective Grace. Knowing this great Truth, by the believer, humbles that one because that one knows he has done nothing to deserve this mercy. Indeed, he only deserves God's just punishment. Knowing this, it increases the love the believer has for God and His Christ for showing mercy to one such as himself.
Now to the question at hand: Why did God Elect at all?
In short, because if He had not, then no flesh would be saved. Why would this be? Because the "Fall" left mankind with a dead and inoperative spirit. Before the Fall, Adam and Eve walked in the Garden with God. Their operative spirit and upright nature, allowed them to commune with God. However, after their sin, rather than communing with God they feared God.
Gen 3:10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Their sin had destroyed the relationship they had enjoyed with God and brought this "fallen" condition upon all mankind. Now mankind was at enmity with God and his righteousness was as filthy rags before Him. In this condition, as sinners, lovers of self and at war with their God, they will not trust God nor hearken to His Words. This was and is our nature - after the Fall.
The Apostle Paul, in his epistle to the Romans, brings forth the indictments against us all before introducing us to the solution. These are some of the things he wrote under divine inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Indictments brought against mankind from Romans 1:18-3:20:
All of mankind had a knowledge of God through the things created by Him but rejected the truth thereof.
Rom 1:20-22 For the invisible things of him since the creation of the world are clearly seen, being perceived through the things that are made, even his everlasting power and divinity; that they may be without excuse: 21 because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened. 22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
The state of humankind apart from God's unmerited Grace:
Rom 3:10 as it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one;
Rom 3:11 There is none that understands, There is none that seeks after God;
Rom 3:12 They have all turned aside, they are together become unprofitable; There is none that doeth good, no, not so much as one:
Rom 3:23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;
This then is just a taste of the Scriptures that indict mankind and show what Theologians call, spiritual depravity. Left in this "natural" state, none are righteous, none are understanding the things of God and none are actively seeking Him.
John 8:43 Why do ye not understand my speech? Because ye cannot hear my word.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father it is your will to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and standeth not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks of his own: for he is a liar, and the father thereof.
John 8:45 But because I say the truth, ye believe me not.
Instead, they actively seek Philosophy, Humanism, and Myths that lead to a religious life not based on the revealed Word of God. Oh, it looks something like it but is heavily flawed. Most religions will teach that man is general "good" and tries to do the right thing. That you can lift yourself up and change your life by believing on Jesus. Sounding more like a self-help seminar than a true church. These same religions, avoid teaching about sin and the Wrath to come.
2Ti 4:3 For the time will come when they will not endure the sound doctrine; but, having itching ears, will heap to themselves teachers after their own lusts;
2Ti 4:4 and will turn away their ears from the truth, and turn aside unto fables.
Knowing the "natural" man cannot receive or understand the things of the Spirit. (1 Cor. 2:14), God had to save out a remnant unto Himself - either that or destroy the whole world and start again but that would be foolishness because the results would be the same. ( I am not going into that right now ). He chose those whom He would show mercy and compassion upon, Hence, a remnant, just as it is spoken of in Romans:
Rom 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.
Rom 9:16 So then it is not of him that is willing, nor of him that is running, but of God that hath mercy.
Rom 9:18 So then he hath mercy on whom he will, and whom he will is hardening.
Rom_9:27 And Isaiah crieth concerning Israel, If the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, it is the remnant that shall be saved:
Rom_11:5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.
Difficult to hear... yes? But does it give all the glory to God and man gets nothing? YES!
How did God choose from all Eternity - the Elected ones? This is much more difficult to answer because Scripture does not tell us why or what criteria God used, only that it pleased Him to do so. Therefore, it is not safe to speculate. It is tied to God's Eternal Foreknowledge but this still says nothing about how God chose whom He chose. Scripture does say this:
Isa 46:10 declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done; saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure;
Rom 2:11 for there is no respect of persons with God.
Perhaps we should be satisfied with Paul's perceived question from the reader and his warning:
Rom 9:19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he still find fault? For who can stand against his will?
Rom_9:20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that comments against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why didst thou make me thus?
This is a complicated doctrine and each point herein could be turned into a book - please ask me about anything which I have not made clear.