Modern men very smugly assert that they make their own choices. Many ministers confidently assure people that they make the final choices about their salvation. In their zeal to deny Calvinism, I have heard others strongly assure people that God would never violate their free will. For a fact, that makes most people feel more confident about their salvation. I mean, who would decide to go to eternal punishment? However that seriously overlooks plain things like,

There is a final “judgment” of all men.

“For we must all be revealed before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.”
2Cor 5:10

So there is final judgment, and God does at the end pass judgment on you and me. So God makes the final choices! Not men.

And God makes choices.

One of the key words in Greek for those chosen or elect, is the Greek word eklektos. God, being all knowing, is able to foresee how you and I will turn out, and thus able to make His decisions ahead of time. So it says,

“even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and without blemish before him in love;”
Eph 1:4

Contrary to what some Calvinists teach, Peter writes to,

“1 … to the chosen … 2 according to the foreknowledge of God”
1Pe 1:2

God knows ahead of time what will happen, so makes His choices. Some say God only chooses classes of people, not the individuals; but that is not true per Rev 17:8.

To be chosen brings many benefits.

Jesus says of the last days of this universe.

“Unless those days had been shortened, no flesh would have been saved. But for the sake of the chosen ones, those days will be shortened.”
Mtt 24:22

Or again,

“Won’t God avenge his chosen ones, who are crying out to him day and night, …”
Lk 18:7

Will anyone be able to shoot us down?

“Who could bring a charge against God’s chosen ones? It is God who justifies.”
Rom 8:33

Or on a sterner note.

“What then? That which Israel seeks for, that he didn’t obtain, but the chosen ones obtained it, and the rest were hardened.”
Rom 11:7

And of God in His infinite wisdom, it says,

“27 but God chose the foolish things of the world that he might put to shame those who are wise. God chose the weak things of the world, that he might put to shame the things that are strong;”
1Cor 1:27

And can we be chosen and then “blow it”?

Indeed we can, just we can for many things in everyday life. So Peter summarizes,

“Therefore, brothers be more diligent to make your calling and election sure. For if you do these things, you will never stumble.”
2Pe 1:10

But if we neglect these things we may stumble and perish.

Scriptures are from the World English Bible WEB, a copyright free revision
of the original ASV American Standard Version 1901.