Deutero Q

The following words of the master exegete John Calvin are worthy of careful consideration:

"Moreover, we gather from these words that God chooses out of the world those whom He sees fit to be heirs of life, and that this distinction is not made according to men's merits, but depends on His mere good pleasure. For those who place the cause of election in men must begin with faith. But Christ expressly declares that they who are given to Him belong to the Father. It is certain that they are given that they may believe, and that faith flows from this giving...."

Calvin concludes by admonishing those who oppose God's sovereign initiative in salvation (e.g., our "Arminian" brethren) and those who mishandle and distort the doctrine of election (I think here of "hyper-Calvinists"):

"Those, therefore, who try to blot out the knowledge of election from the hearts of believers do them a grievous injury, for they deprive them of the support of Christ. These words also serve to expose the perverse stupidity of those who under the excuse of election surrender to laziness, whereas it should rather sharpen us to earnestness in prayer, as Christ teaches us by His example."