As a Particular Baptist, I agree.
However as Scripture states …
- “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. 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, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.” [Romans 1:18-21 NKJV]
- “And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.” [Ephesians 2:1-3 NKJV]
… having the ability to learn about God doesn’t do them any good.
- People still did not glorify Him
- People still walked in sin and were children of wrath.
- God had to do something about it (make them alive).
So what have I (as a Reformed Baptist) misunderstood?
”People are born with the ability to learn about God” is not it.
What you've misunderstood in Rom.1:18-21, because in the 1st place, Rom.1:16 says,
the gospel of Christ....is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth
Paul is saying the gospel itself is the power of God. His word is his power. His word has power to save or destroy, but he gives all the opportunity to hear it.
Secondly, Rom.1:17 says, "The just shall live by faith." We live, we order our lives, according to how our Master taught.
So when we get to Rom.1:18-21, Paul is saying Gods' wrath is revealed against anyone who violates what he's conscious of. The conscience all people have. He isn't saying, "Anyone who knows he has done something wrong, has no ability or desire repent." Ok? Paul isn't saying, "Every man or woman who ever committed sin, eventually became a homosexual or lesbian. He's simply showing how people who forget to honor God become blind, because they're not to begin with.
In Eph.2:1-3, he's saying "You
(gentiles
hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins (vs.1). In fact, in Eph.1:3-12, Paul is only referring to Jewish
("we")believers. He isn't saying, No Jew by his own conscience could believe in God." Ok?
Then in vs.13, Paul mentions how the gentiles
("ye") believed. So when we get to Ch.2, he means the gentiles are saved because God is rich in mercy to them, as he was to those who violated him,
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) Eph.2:5
The "grace" is that God didn't lay them out for pounding nails in his hands. He simply teaching the gentiles we all now understand that we live because someone we hated so much, simply forgave those who repented. Being "dead in sins" is no diffrent from having "a death sentence" on oneself.
The passages you cited say the opposite of what you've posted. We aren't born unenlightened. We can become that way over time if we forget our Lord,
Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them; Ecc.12:1