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OrthodoxCatholic said:
The Calvinist paradigm seems to hold out that God is just the opposite of this, that rather than having mercy upon the whole world, that He has mercy upon a select few and damns, without reason, all the rest. That does not strike me as particularly just nor loving.
I would agree with you on this much, that God doesn't damn the non-elect "without reason". For indeed He has a very legitimate reason for damning mankind to eternal punishment, i.e., the fact that they are sinners. It is the sinners deepest desire that God be gone and that even hell is more desirable than the prospect of spending eternity with Him Who is thrice holy. If this were not the case, then they would all repent of their sins and embrace Christ.

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In closing, let me ask you this: is it possible that someone in China, 500 years before Christ was even born, could be saved by God's grace without even knowing of Who Jesus is or how the plan of salvation works? (I have a spedific person in mind and a specific verse of scripture to discuss regarding this question).
The answer is an unreserved, "No!" It is impossible than any can be saved without "knowing" the Lord Christ and embracing Him with a living faith, created within them by the Holy Spirit. (Jh 14:6; Rom 1:16; 10:14-17; Eph 2:8, 9; et al)

In His Grace,

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simul iustus et peccator

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