Then there is but one grace. That one grace is doled out in equal amounts to all men and all men have but to accept (receive, comprehend, acknowledge) that grace. This is the essence of salvation?
Seems reasonable. But I still don't see the equity. From my perspective (a simple human), it doesn't appear that all men are given equal opportunity.
Some people are born to loving, Christian parents who expose them to God's love on a regular basis. Then there are people brought up into horrific conditions from birth to death who never (or rarely) hear God's message of salvation.
It seems that there are environmental factors that will greatly affect our choices. Does God control any of those factors? Can a man be blamed if he never chooses God when he rarely sees evidence of God's love in his life? Certainly some people are given more opportunity than others - is this part of God's "free" choice?
Exactly. You're not God, nor do you see from His perspective.
Don't put Him in a box.
Grace is doled out to all men. Whether there are equal dolings or unequal dolings is irrelevant. That fact is that each man shall be responsible for the grace given to him. To whom much is given, much shall be required.
Seems reasonable. But I still don't see the equity. From my perspective (a simple human), it doesn't appear that all men are given equal opportunity.
Whether it is an equal opportunity is again irrelevant. The issue is not whether God gives each man an equal opportunity, only whether God gives each man an honest opportunity.
Some people are born to loving, Christian parents who expose them to God's love on a regular basis. Then there are people brought up into horrific conditions from birth to death who never (or rarely) hear God's message of salvation.
A lot of the former are preacher's kids and my experience tells me that a lot of them are doomed to hell. In regard to the latter, each man shall be responsible for the light that he is given. As Jesus noted in John Chapter 9, to those who are truly blind, those to whom no light has been given, their sin shall not remain. So God has to deal with them in his way. In the interim you and I, who have been exposed to the light, are responsible for the light we have been given.
It seems that there are environmental factors that will greatly affect our choices. Does God control any of those factors? Can a man be blamed if he never chooses God when he rarely sees evidence of God's love in his life? Certainly some people are given more opportunity than others - is this part of God's "free" choice?
God controls what he chooses to control. In the end God ordains all that happens, so in that sense everything is ultimately within God's control. He could force us to follow him or he could force us to reject him. Does he? I don't think so.
While some people have more chance than others to accept Christ, those same people have more opportunity to reject him. So to whom much is given, much shall be required.