Augustine wrote,
"Are all those who are called justified? Many are called, but few are chosen. But since the elect have certainly been called, it is obvious that they have not been justified without being called. But not everyone is called to justification; only those who are called according to his purpose...God elected believers in order that they might believe, not because they are already believed." (Bray and Oden, Ancient Christian Commentary On Scripture, New Testament VI, Romans, pg. 237).
We must understand that every who is called will be justified. Everyone who is justified will be sanctified. Everyone who is sanctified will be glorified. Everyone who is glorified will be perfected. This is the essence of free grace, free mercy, free compassion, free love. God does not look ahead and chose based on if we have faith from our free will. God chooses us freely by His foreordaination and predestination of all things. God freely chooses whom He wills based on His sovereign good pleasure. The evidence of His election is seen in the fruits of being born again; that is, faith and repentance is the fruits of regeneration. We must make our calling and election sure by working out our salvation with reverential fear and trembling in love and grace by being faithful to His matchless and holy Word.
