Consider then, the real possibility that that is the state in which we all live—none of us really want it (no matter how we feel)— and the difference is not that God forces anything on us, but changes us. —Not, presents us with choices according to our fallen state, but "raises us from death to life", by "installing" his Holy Spirit within us, through whom we are then endowed with that love, by utter Grace freely given to us, "freely" returned. (And no, by that use of "freely" I rather obviously don't mean to imply "of our own uncaused will".)
I like the way you present a contradiction “…the difference is not that God forces anything on us, but changes us…” while the change is being forced on us because God is forcing us to like the change.
The biggest issue with this doctrine is the fact “God is Love”, so God’s Love would compel God to force this change on everyone if it were possible.
Even in our sinful disposition we can still for sinful (selfish) reason be willing to accept pure undeserved charity as charity, thus we are accepting God’s unconditional, undeserved forgiveness (Love) for selfish reasons.
That whole interchange between you and
@Hentenza depended on the notion that salvation (i.e. Godly type Love) is attained by those returning it, which is a bogus notion, not supported by scripture, unless assumed before reading scripture.
Read Luke 7: 36 When one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to have dinner with him, he went to the Pharisee’s house and reclined at the table. 37 A woman in that town who lived a sinful life learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, so she came there with an alabaster jar of perfume. 38 As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.
39 When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”
40 Jesus answered him, “Simon, I have something to tell you.”
“Tell me, teacher,” he said.
41 “Two people owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii,[c] and the other fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he forgave the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?”
43 Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt forgiven.”
“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.
44 Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47 Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown. But whoever has been forgiven little loves little.”
48 Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
49 The other guests began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?”
50 Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”
The lesson we can learn is he, who accepts God’s forgiven of an unbelievable huge debt (created by his sin) will automatically be gifted a huge Love (Godly type Love). After you have this Love the Spirit can come dwell within you.
