We can choose what we want to be, but we cannot choose to be it Now

We can choose what we want to be, but we cannot choose to be it. 

This is a fundamental basis of what Jesus taught and made possible.

That we cannot, in this mortal life, be what we want to be is innate common sense and confirmed by observation and life experience... Yet it is often denied. Promises of ways of enabling our will for ourselves to be enacted in mortal life Now, are recurrently dangled...

What Jesus promised relates to what we can choose to become After Death. 

But people (including, for instance, the Apostle Paul) want what they want Now, and get Very frustrated when it does not happen Now. 

Countless numbers of people have been put off, driven away, from Christianity - because it failed to enable people to become what they wanted to become, or "ought" to become, during mortal life.

Having projected their misunderstanding onto Jesus, they then regard Jesus's "failure" to transform their mortal lives in the desired fashion Now, as a refutation.

This mortal life Now is highly relevant, vital, to choosing what people want After Death; and what we experience and learn in mortal life affects our eternal nature.

But the reason Jesus promised resurrected eternal life in Heaven After our death, is that this outcome is not possible in This Life Now.

Salvation is therefore about choosing what we want to be.... But if we want what Jesus offered -  i.e. resurrected everlasting Heavenly life; then salvation cannot be about achieving Now, that which we desire for eternity.

Indeed, if we desire salvation; we can choose to want it, but cannot be what we want to be without Jesus. 

Our job in mortal life is to want salvation, and then wanting-it, we will realize that we cannot have it except by Jesus. 

We have the innate capacity to Want salvation, but cannot be Be saved - without Jesus. 

Jesus was necessary that resurrected eternal life be possible; and Jesus is necessary that we personally can be saved.