Equipment for the saints; little thoughts to ponder, and use. :) Don't forget to add your pebble to the armoury! ^_^
We can do nothing apart from God...that includes rejecting him.
Salvation is alot like breathing. People can push all of their might, and will power, even their free-will into trying to never breathe...But eventually, everyone takes a breath, even if they have to pass out first. God doesn't strangle people.
Amen. God is love. In the end, standing in the overwhelming beauty and fervor of His direct presence, how could any ultimately resist? No one in this lifetime has ever done so. We could not live to tell about it. His direct presence will be an All-Consuming Fire. Nothing left but righteousness.
Another Pebble---
Moses was the instrument of The Law leading the Israelites through the wilderness, Joshua was the instrument through which God lead the Israelites into the promised land.
The name of Joshua, and Jesus are the same or similar; Yeshua, Salvation. Moses could not enter into the promised land, but saw it from the edge. When Moses died, Joshua took up the leadership, and lead them across the river with the presence of God upon the ark, who parted the waters.
Joshua 1:2 NIV "Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them--to the Israelites."
One might say, the account of Moses, and Joshua, and their respected portions of leadership in leading to, and through; are pictures of the nature of things. Moses, The Law could not lead them to the promised land, only Salvation.
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Regarding "Salvation by choice", the doctrine that the free-will of men chooses Christ, whilst the rest choose Hell. It should be noted these interesting facts;
God took all the Israelites out of Egypt, there is no reference, no verse, no hint that states anything otherwise, or that any were left behind. Sola Scriptura.
God lead them through the wilderness, for fourty years they murmured, complained, rebelled, grew hostile, and faced the remedial judgement of God against, but for his own people.
The Israelites in their complaining, and thankless grumbling ever demanded many things of God, and with every demand threatened, or even perhaps some of them swore they would, or should return back to Egypt, the land of their bondage, the land of death, and slavery to deluded things.
...Not a single Israelite was allowed to turn back to Egypt. Sola Scriptura.
The Gospel is meant to be simple enough for a child to understand.
Ever notice how children are not taught the doctrine of Hell? Not in any great depth anyway, they are always taught the nativity, and how loving Jesus is, and forgiving. The beautiful side of Jesus.
Ever notice how the word Hell, and Damn are curse words in a child's vocabulary? Even though it is "in the Bible"?
Didn't Jesus tell us that we are to be like children?