Just... Leave It...Alone....

John 3
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

This passage is about the universality of the Gospel offer and with the expressed unwillingness of God that men should perish.

Romans 9
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.

This passage is associated with the doctrine of election. We may conclude that - maybe - God only chooses some Hebrews and some gentiles for salvation.

The quote following is from a nineteenth century Presbyterian minister from Edinburgh. It is from the concluding paragraph in a chapter on God's decrees in a book titled, "Systematic Theology" by Charles Sperry Chafer:

Rev. Alexander W. Brown
"In attempting to reconcile the doctrine of election with the universality of the Gospel offer and with the expressed unwillingness of God that men should perish; [we find much difficulty]. The fact is, they are hopelessly irreconcilable in our present state, and  those who have made the attempt had much better have left it alone."

This is the best bit of Bible commentary I have ever read.  I want this quote on my tomb stone. Or maybe this shorter paraphrase: Just... Leave It...Alone....