1 Corinthians 2:14

"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God,

for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them

because they are spiritually discerned."

This verse would seem to make the case that one cannot understand or accept the truth unless he is saved. It is those who are in the Spirit who can understand (even if only in small part) what is "spiritually discerned".

How can one choose to be saved without the prior work of God if one a) won't accept the things of the Spirit, and b) doesn't even understand them?

God MUST work first. Since this is so, it must be observed that salvation and belief begin with God Himself, not us.

"To the great truths, What God is in himself, and what he is in relation to us, human reason makes not the least approach." (Read the whole article - going on a tangent for a second, it's kind of amazing how I can start writing a blog in the morning, save it for later, and read something in the evening that so closely fits with what I was trying to say...)

If it began with us, we'd reject it. It is by God's grace we have been saved, through faith, and this is not of ourselves - it is the gift of God, not a result of works (even such works as pretended acceptance of salvation prior to the work of God in one's heart...) that no one may boast.

We cannot boast because there's nothing to boast about. God saves us, God sanctifies us, God gives His Spirit, God gives understanding, God gives grace.

God gives and we receive.

It is a remarkable thing about salvation, that God loved us enough to break through the walls we had built up around our hearts, the defensive lines set up against Him. He tore them away and revealed Himself. He showed us our sin and died for it. He offered salvation and adopted us as His children.

He is Mighty to save.