You are saying that the natural man, as described in 1 Cor 2:14, has the ability to discern spiritual things, which is the direct opposite of what that verse says. Is it not? God is a spirit and we must worship him in spirit and in truth. The Eunuch was going to worship a spiritual God, therefore, evidencing that he had already been born of the Spirit. Would it be possible for a natural man to desire, long for and understand spiritual things? NO, unless you tear 1 Cor out of the bible. You are saying that after the natural man is regenerated, he can not have a restored relationship, but in fact his relationship is not restored, because he never had a relationship before he was regenerated. When you are born again, you are a new creature. If you would read Eph 2 especially verse 5, you would see that the natural man had nothing to do with his regeneration, therefore, it is by God's grace, without the help of man.. It is not of him that willeth, nor of him who runneth, but of God that showeth mercy.
Another case in a point of “natural man”: The Philippian Jailor, prison keeper came trembling and fear for his life and ask a question for a “natural man” should not asked to begin with, “What must I do to be saved?
Acts 16:23 And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the
jailor to keep them safely:
24 Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks.
25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.
26 And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one's bands were loosed.
27 And
the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled.
28 But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here.
29 Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas,
30 And brought them out, and said, Sirs,
what must I do to be saved?
31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.
32 And they spake unto him the word of the Lord, and to all that were in his house.
33 And he took them the same hour of the night, and washed their stripes; and was baptized, he and all his, straightway.
34 And when he had brought them into his house, he set meat before them, and rejoiced, believing in God with all his house.
ForrestGC, I am expecting from you to come up with explaining out of the scriptures. It yours to prove! I just only thought you are trying to harmonize everything or are you trying to fix something by A) Choosing one’s idea B) Privately interpret/translate scriptures or perhaps C) Err, not knowing the scriptures. Prove all things!