That's Hallmark, not Scripture, Kosta.
Did God force Himself" on Paul?
At least four times in the New Testament Paul declares himself to be...
"Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" (2 CORINTHIANS 1:1; EPHESIANS 1:1; COLOSSIANS 1:1; 2 TIMOTHY 1:1.)
Why would you want to claim for yourself what is rightly God's going?
Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen." -- Ephesians 3:20-21
"I will cry unto God most high; unto God that performeth all things for me." -- Psalm 57:2 "Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
You're missing the point of it all, I'm afraid. Christ fully accomplished what we could never do, even in small part -- He paid for every one of our sins in full for all time.
Now where remission of these is, there is no more offering for sin." -- Hebrews 10:12;18"But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God...
According to Paul, He did. According to the Gospels, He doesn't force Himself on anyone.
At least four times in the New Testament Paul declares himself to be..."Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God" (2 CORINTHIANS 1:1; EPHESIANS 1:1; COLOSSIANS 1:1; 2 TIMOTHY 1:1.)
I think you said it right: declares himself to be. Therein is the "problem."
You're missing the point of it all, I'm afraid. Christ fully accomplished what we could never do, even in small part -- He paid for every one of our sins in full for all time
His death was to get everyone out of jail to which all of humanity has been destined by Adam's fall. Now that we are free, we have to make sure we don't end up there again.
"Do not marvel at this; for an hour is coming, in which all who are in the tombs will hear His voice, and will come forth; those who did the good deeds to a resurrection of life, those who committed the evil deeds to a resurrection of judgment. [John 5:28-30 ]
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out what Christ taught about who is pardoned and who is condemned in the end and why. No, Dr. E, no one is saved yet. We are only free to be saved. And that depends on what we all will have done in our lifetime as free souls. Unfortunately, many a Christian is misled by Luther's heresy into believing we are "safe."
Clearly, judgment is not understood to be "rewards" in heaven as some Protestants have been led to believe, but punishment that awaits all who committed evil and have never repented. How many of those will be in the camp of those who believe that they had no reason to repent because the Spirit had "perfected" them and Christ had paid their dues in full?