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Actually, it is when they are born again, they will then believe and be saved.
Christ death for them ensures their new birth, that is part of His saving work so one will believe.
Again, you have it backwards:
No it's not backwards, until one is saved, the gospel is hidden from them and they reside in unbelief.
Not according to Scripture. Go read in your own Bible the Scriptures referenced. Read what God said, then adapt your thinking to agree with what HE said.
The gospel is hidden to them that are lost and they believe not 2 Cor 4:3-4
"Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we received mercy, we do not lose heart, 2 but we have renounced the things hidden because of shame, not walking in trickery nor distorting the word of God, but by the open proclamation of the truth commending ourselves to every person’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 in whose case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they will not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God."
Until one is saved they can't believe the gospel due to the fact it is hidden to the lost.
Until you are ready to accept ALL of Scripture as your authority, and not just the pieces of verses that you can twist to say what you want to believe, we are done here.
Not everyone is born again (Jn 3:3-5),
That's for the Lord to decide on Judgement Day ... but we know from Scripture that sin can prevent a believer that from inheriting the kingdom of God ... Gal 5:19-21, 1Cor 6:9-11.
"Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience" (Col 3:5-6).
Paul and James.
The doctrine of salvation through faith alone implies obeying God's commandments is not important.
The road to salvation is living a life of faith and obedience (aka holiness) that hopefully results in being declared worthy of salvation by Christ on Judgement Day.
A believer has the free will to obey or disobey God's commandments.
"a man is justified [saved] by works [obedience] and not by faith alone ... faith without works [obedience] is dead" (James 2:24-26).
Not necessarily. A believer can choose to obey or disobey God. Faith doesn't turn a believer into a robot that can't sin.
Being "sealed" by the Holy Spirit doesn't refer to a fait accompli that means you're saved - it refers to receiving a spiritual mark at baptism. Being baptised doesn't guarantee that Christ will grant you eternal life.
He's already indicated that he doesn't accept all Scripture. He's only interested in the parts he thinks supports his rather fascinating doctrine.
To not only have faith, but also be faithful is indeed important.
When one has believed, repented, and confessed Jesus as Lord, then when they are baptized into Christ the Holy Spirit enters them and removes their sins, the old man dies, and the new man is born in the likeness of Christ's righteousness; it is a fait accompli, and they are saved. But you are correct, if one is baptized just to be like others who are being baptized, or if one does not really believe in Jesus, or if they have not confessed Jesus as their Lord, then being baptized just gets them wet.
