This concept was not known to theologians centuries ago to consider to illustrate with.
Man has demonstrated in recent years that an otherwise dead person can be put on life support.
External power is provided to keep the an otherwise dead person alive.
Likewise... By means of the Holy Spirit's power (God's grace) God places the dead unbeliever on life
support while drawing him. In doing do, forces life to manifest where it would not normally be seen.
God takes up the slack for the lack of regeneration and allows a human soul to bypass the flesh.
In that state (all mentality level) a soul will be shown thoughts to consider in the privacy of his own mind.
It private and the person simply thinks he is having a thought of his own, which gives him total freedom to
quietly consider what he thinks of a matter God is presenting.
God even demonstrates that ability with even the born again Christian!
For we have been crucified with Christ! Dead! Our body is dead as far as God is concerned.
And, the life we now live? Its to be in in Christ... That life? He is the Word being understood
by us, and the Holy Spirit is the power for our life to live that Word =- faith.
Its just breaking it down to see what is taking place.
If someone needs chapter and verse for anything specific I said?
Just ask...
grace and peace .............