The doctrine of predestination and election was "made famous" by John Calvin, a reformed theologian of the 1500-1600s. Strict Calvinism affirmed the belief that God had "elected" certain people to salvation. If you were of the elect group, nothing you did or didn't do would hinder your salvation. On the flip side, if you were not of the elect, nothing you did, no matter how good or prayerful, would save you. With this understanding, grace was irresistible. If you had the grace, you couldn't lose it, and if you didn't have the grace you couldn't get it. This is a very simplistic explanation, but I think you get the point.
John Wesley, the founder of the Methodist movement, rejected this doctrine. He firmly believed that grace was resistible. We have the gift of freedom, and we can choose the accept the grace of God or we can reject it. I firmly agree with Wesley's understanding of grace. God preveniently reaches out to us, even when we're not aware of that need for grace, and God calls us into relationship. At some point, we decide, "Yes, I accept that grace and will enter into a relationship of faith," or we say, "No, thanks." I do not think that God forces a "yes" or "no" upon us. God is always, always beckoning, but ultimately the choice to accept is ours. The gift of freedom allows for an authentic love between creator and the created.
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