John UK wrote:
But how can the reprobate be converted if Jesus designed to keep them in the dark himself?

13:14 And in them is FULFILLED THE PROPHECY of Esaias, which saith, By hearing ye shall hear, and shall not understand; and seeing ye shall see, and shall not perceive:
15 For this people's heart is waxed gross, and their ears are dull of hearing, and their eyes they have closed; lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and should understand with their heart, and should be converted, and I should heal them.
16 But BLESSED are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
17 For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them.

It's a Mystery John
Luke tells us
8:10 And he said, Unto you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God: but to others in parables; that seeing they might not see, and hearing they might not understand.

John UK wrote:
Uh oh! Whoever heard of the word of God converting reprobates?

12 "That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them."

Mike wrote:
Why has Satan been allowed to blind these minds? What does it say? He "blinds the minds of them which believe not,.." It does not say he blinds them so that they cannot believe.

The previous verse states
3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost"

Clearly we are dealing with spiritual blindness, or as Paul states a "HIDDEN" Gospel; - The natural state of the unconverted sinner is spiritually blind. 1Cor 2:14.

Remember what Jesus said in Mark 4, after the sower parable -
11......all these things are done in parables: (WHY?)
12 That seeing they may see, and not perceive; and hearing they may hear, and not understand; lest at any time they should be converted, and their sins should be forgiven them.

Jesus states here that there are some folks HE does not convert by His Word. He is the one who taught in parables - FOR a reason!

Part of Satan's work on earth is to prevent the Word of God from converting the reprobate.
Satan can't tell the truth anyway; "...because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it."John 8:44

John UK wrote:
Take, then, the Day of Atonement in the old. Did not the High Priest have fixed on his chest some symbols? And were not those symbols the twelve tribes of Israel, thus signifying the entire Israel camp? And did he not go within the veil bearing those symbols, to make atonement for the sins of all those represented?

To say that the breastplate was representative of God's elect holds no water unless you believe all the Jews were elect.

Paul has already answered your point quote;

Michael Hranek wrote:
Ever hear of Saul of Tarsus?
Talk about somebody who was spiritually blind Hating Christ, hating those who believed on Him.

What I stated was =

First = "God does not elect those who cannot see the light, who are blinded by the devil. Satan blinds them for a purpose as the verse above states "LEST the light....should shine unto them"

Second = "God provides the ability to see the light. Perceive the Truth in Scripture.
Until then the sinner is blind and cannot decide for himself."

These are not mutually exclusive for God and His Elect, by virtue of His Grace. Remember the Reprobate is elected unto reprobation!

Thus as Manton maintains, atonement is limited by God Himself. (Not by man's ability or lack thereof). The Father does not prevail upon the Son to pay for the sins of those He does not elect.

"In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds OF THEM WHICH BELIEVE NOT, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them." 2Cor4:4.

Mike wrote:
True, not all are saved. There is always that matter of unbelief.
2 Corinthians 4:4
In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

God does not elect those who cannot see the light, who are blinded by the devil. Satan blinds them for a purpose as the verse above states "LEST the light....should shine unto them"

God provides the ability to see the light. Perceive the Truth in Scripture.

Until then the sinner is blind and cannot decide for himself.

And God "knows" His own!
After all HE is the one who chooses and draws them.

Michael Hranek wrote:
I can read

King Sinner???

Many
called
*FEW*
Chosen

Who does the choosing Michael???

And since GOD is not going to make Christ and the sinner both pay for the sins, Then God Limits the Atonement to those HIS Son bought and paid for.

Michael Hranek wrote:
believers to take the word of the Apostle John over that of Thomas Manton

These verses Michael, are addressed to the saved in the Church - NOT to the world.

Fact - Not all are saved!
Whether we like it or not this is the reality.

Fact - The OT demonstrated that God saved ONE nation of people, Israel.
Paul tells us in Romans 9 that it was not even all Israel which was saved.
Thus GOD limits!

Therefore
God saves.
God does not save everyone.
God elects/chooses a specific person to save.
God does not, indeed can not, expect such a person to step out of the dominion of sin and choose Christ.
God by grace makes the difference to those sinners thus saved.
God's choice has nothing to do with the sinner - that would be works based salvation.
God's choice then has no influence other than HIS divine plan and purpose.