Make your mind up. Which is it? Belief then understanding or understanding then belief?
Understanding.
Act 16:14 One who heard us was a woman named Lydia, from the city of Thyatira, a seller of purple goods, who was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what was said by Paul.
Eph_4:18 They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart.
I said nothing about understanding spiritual truth.
Well you should make a distinction!
Do you think Adam didn't comprehend the command God gave him in the Garden?
Why ask a silly question.
Adam was not born spiritually dead.
He walked in the garden with God.
If he truly did not understand the concept of "not eating" or what tree God was talking about, the Lord had no business condemning him.
Agreed. Not sure what point you are trying to make?
Are you advocating for people able to understand the Law and keeping the law?
He understood enough to know exactly what it required of him. Just as those mocking Paul in Athens understood enough of what he was saying in order to mock him.
They mocked Paul or the gospel?
Why did some mock while others believed?
Why are some cut to the heart and others not?
Do you think everyone is a complete moron incapable of comprehending basic meaning of words?
Nope. Never said they were.
Calm down a bit!
God makes Himself known even to unbelievers. It is they who suppress the truth, not God withholding the truth.
Does He make it known that Jesus Christ is Lord and Savior? Or does he say they can know God exists and have no excuse?
Context matters.
It is impossible for the natural man to understand spiritual truths, for it is folly to him.
Why don't you believe it?
Romans 1:18-20
18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, 19 because what may be known of God is manifest in them, . 20 For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse,
Good scripture. Is that the gospel message? Does everyone understand and believe the gospel message and then suppress it?
Mat 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children;
Mat 11:26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will.
Better? Honestly I find that to be a stupid question. Has nothing to do with being better, it's what one prefers. You either love the light or you love the dark. Grace gives you the choice. We were created for life. To choose life is simply sanity.
so you are more sane and you were created for life, whilst those others were not created for life and are insane!
Well done you!
John 3:19-21
19 And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 20 For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. 21 But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.”
He who does the truth!
What does that mean to you?
Do you believe the above scripture is a guide to salvation by good works and good choices?
Or do you think taking it from context is a bad idea?
Why do you keep ignoring that I constantly say grace comes first?
Because you don't. As implied above.
Grace to do what. What does grace allow you to do, and the atheist not to do!
Is grace only effective for those who are more sane and who were created for life?
God gives grace to the humble. Is everyone given the same amount of grace? No.
Oh. So now God gives some more grace that others?
Does He also have mercy on some and not others?
The sort from Romans 1 get the most basic amount of grace there is. They refuse to learn from the Father at the get go.
So you are saying His drawing failed. Correct?
Why are you contradicting scripture directly?
Joh 6:44 No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him. And I will raise him up on the last day.
Joh 6:45 It is written in the Prophets, ‘And they will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—
They are not drawn. The "everyone" are those who hear and learn from the Father. Not all who hear, listen and not all who listen, learn.
So now you admit that not everyone are drawn! Can you concede that the elect are drawn, and that it is them who hear and learn from God!
reading something into the text that is not there is called eisegesis.
According to you He does.
According to you He does not want anyone to perish and fails at His task.
Grace enables people to be free so they can choose according to their own preferences without coercion or manipulation.
Where do you find that theology?
You are just making stuff up.
It's your choice to believe, God's choice to save believers.
Still making stuff up.
How am I contradicting myself? I explained how it is not a contradiction. Go back and try reading with understanding.
If man CANNOT stop God doing what He wants (His will), and it is His will that no one perish, then you have created a contradiction, by saying man can indeed thwart God.
You are contradicting yourself as I pointed out in my previous post.
Why can you not see your own contradiction?
Your claim was "man cannot stop God doing what He wants"
Your next claim was "He wants no one to perish, but man stops that "whish" by making bad choices"
