What good does hearing the Gospel do to the unregenerate? I makes the Gospel available to be understood by the unregenerate, setting up conditions for the call by the Father. If the unregenerate display faith in Him, then that faith is the beginning point for the unregenerate to return to God because the penalty of sin has already been paid, but out current state is still unregenerate. The gospel is not heard or understood by the unregenerate. it is simply noise to them. They do not want to hear it , they refuse it,it offends them and their rejection of it condemns them to hell
Besides we still are to follow the Great Commission. What does the realization of one's sinful nature do for the unregenerate?
The unregenerate do not believe they are sinners . They do not "sin " they make "mistakes" and that does not matter because they are better than their neighbor , and they are just "good enough" to go to heaven ..or they laugh and say they want to be in hell with their friends ..laughing themselves to the flames by their disbelief of the power or-of God or His wrath at the sin of men
Why would an unregenerate person ask Jesus to come into his heart and make a new creature in him? Considering such a request is blasphemy, many might be tempted to ask that. Instead, they simply need to exercise faith for salvation provided by God.
Indeed faith to salvation is a gift of God..But it not "simply" because not all men have saving faith given to them by God. How do we know that ? Look around you. To exercise that faith the man would have to seek God and desire the gift..and as you see and the bible tells us that NONE seeketh after God
The doctrines developed by Calvinism to insist man is unable to exercise anything of faith in his unregenerate state add considerable meaning by reading into Scripture a doctrine to elevate a Calvinist religion.
I understand the following. The Father makes the call. In other cases the drawing unto Christ is by the Father. Election is of the Father's Soverignty as is predestination.
I find the Total Depravity doctrine to be forced into more than is given in Scripture to the point of promoting a false religion than remaining in fellowship with God. I also find it to discourage the fulfillment of the Great Commission and encourage substitution of Satan for God as the person being recognized in salvation.
I also find it ironic that supposed Calvinists would endorse 'Total Depravity' of unregenerate man and concurrently find it wholesome and righteous to 'invite' Christ into the unregenerate heart, especially when they take offense to their reasoning being considered.
Then again I don't expect those who allow themselves to be so continually blinded to make sense of such a comment. I have no doubt though that no matter how constructive a criticism they will take offense as pearls unto swine.
With respect to faith, I've found it much simpler than the choice to remain a slave to sin. The work of salvation is still all attributed to God, without forcing more demands upon salvation than simple faith.