God gives us repeated chances to make a choice for forgiveness. God wants us all to accept that gift. As you said, "For the wages of sin is death", but the verse goes on to say "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 ESV)What God doesn't do is force that gift on anyone. God knows that if someone were forced to believe, it wouldn't be a genuine belief, and that is the requirement to accept the gift, because in order to accept that forgiveness is provided, one must believe that the sin is real and the forgiveness is real and lovingly given. Yes, it is as simple as "whosoever believes in him shall not perish" for us. It is only that simple because of what Jesus did. By willingly giving everything for us, Jesus showed his unconditional love for all of us and by offering forgiveness (not reduced payment or lesser punishment) Jesus allows us flawed people something that we cannot accomplish on our own. If someone doesn't believe that God will give forgiveness, then they won't accept it. If someone doesn't believe that their sin is real, then they won't accept it, but nonetheless, these are their own choices, and the consequences of those choices are available to be known, even if people don't believe them.
As to the quote from the atheist, it is telling. The atheist clearly knew what the results of not choosing Jesus were or the statement wouldn't have been made. The atheist also somewhat acknowledged that the atheist was willingly choosing that result because the atheist wouldn't choose Jesus. If a person knows the result of a decision and makes that decision anyway, then they willingly choose that result.
Re: What God is offering
God gives us repeated chances to make a choice for forgiveness. God wants us all to accept that gift. As you said, "For the wages of sin is death", but the verse goes on to say "but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 6:23 ESV)What God doesn't do is force that gift on anyone. God knows that if someone were forced to believe, it wouldn't be a genuine belief, and that is the requirement to accept the gift, because in order to accept that forgiveness is provided, one must believe that the sin is real and the forgiveness is real and lovingly given. Yes, it is as simple as "whosoever believes in him shall not perish" for us. It is only that simple because of what Jesus did. By willingly giving everything for us, Jesus showed his unconditional love for all of us and by offering forgiveness (not reduced payment or lesser punishment) Jesus allows us flawed people something that we cannot accomplish on our own.
If someone doesn't believe that God will give forgiveness, then they won't accept it. If someone doesn't believe that their sin is real, then they won't accept it, but nonetheless, these are their own choices, and the consequences of those choices are available to be known, even if people don't believe them.
As to the quote from the atheist, it is telling. The atheist clearly knew what the results of not choosing Jesus were or the statement wouldn't have been made. The atheist also somewhat acknowledged that the atheist was willingly choosing that result because the atheist wouldn't choose Jesus. If a person knows the result of a decision and makes that decision anyway, then they willingly choose that result.
-- Jeff