14The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned.
Question:
If the natural person does NOT ACCEPT the things of the Spirit of God, and they are NOT ABLE to understand them, then WHY would Christians say they ARE ABLE by their supposed "free will" to ACCEPT Jesus?????
James, what is the definition of the word NATURAL?... as in this letter Paul is speaking a rebuke to the Corithinas for their worldly carnal behavior, and explaining to them that a person who reads God's word cannot understand what is of the Lord because the natural man is reasoning out of his own thoughts and does not have the Holy Spirit revealing the things of God to him/her... can't make it any plainer. Pretty much as you are doing regarding this verse trying to make it fit into your Calvinist theology, but this goes for ALL people who have not been BORN AGAIN, and ARE NOT FILLED OR LEAD BY REVELATION INTO THE WORD OR THE THINGS OF GOD!
The natural man uses his own interpretation fo God's word and the things of God, the spiritual man depends upon the revelations of the Holy Spirit to reveal God's wprd and the things of God... and this is Bible that we should allow the Holy Spirit to REVEAL God and His word to us, not interpret according to man's wisdom and knowledge but according to what teh Holy Spirit reveals to us.
As I've always said, That's why there are so many different doctrines and teachings, everybody is interpreting God's word, and there is no revelation from the Holy Spirit therefore there is no agreeement amongst all believers... but the ones who are in agreement are in the majority... and you know when there is correct biblical doctrine and teahicngs and revelation by the Holy Spirit, because it all points to Jesus Christ, don't care what it is or who said it, if it does not point to Christ, it ain't of God or by the Holy Spirit.. and that's Bible! And what Paul is speaking about here in this letter chapters 1-4, of I Corinthians... man using his own personal thoughts and reasoning to God's word of truth...
Nicodemus was Teacher�a Rabbi�yet he did not Understand what Jesus was Explaining to him. Nicodemus did not Have the �Understanding� of The Spirit.
John 3:1-10
New International Version (NIV)
John 3
Jesus Teaches Nicodemus
1 Now there was a Pharisee, a man named Nicodemus who was a member of the Jewish ruling council. 2 He came to Jesus at night and said, �Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.�
3 Jesus replied, �Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.[a]�
4 �How can someone be born when they are old?� Nicodemus asked. �Surely they cannot enter a second time into their mother�s womb to be born!�
5 Jesus answered, �Very truly I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless they are born of water and the Spirit. 6 Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit[b] gives birth to spirit. 7 You should not be surprised at my saying, �You[c] must be born again.� 8 The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.�[d]
9 �How can this be?� Nicodemus asked.
10 �You are Israel�s teacher,� said Jesus, �and do you not understand these things?
��born of Water and The Spirit.�
Baptism Regenerates and �Reborns� a person. They are then able to �Hear� God�s Word. Until then�they are not able to Discern what they hear.
Many will hear The Word of God and Because of Pressure from Parents or Family or Peers�will become Christians�yet they will have no Real Discernment of The Word.
Theirs is a Carnal Knowledge and very much SelfCentered. They Submit to No One other than themselves and they Rely on their Own Discernment � for they have not The Holy Spirit�s Discernment.
They Think themselves �Guided� by The Spirit�but in Fact it is of their Own Carnal � Prideful � Discernment�that they FOLLOW.
This Scripture Speaks to man that has Not been ReBorn being UNABLE to Decern God's Word.
notice Christs answer to nicodemas when he asks about spiritual rebirth(let him who has ears hear)
�Nicodemus said to Him, �How can a man be born when he is old? He cannot enter a second time into his mother�s womb and be born, can he?� Jesus answered, �Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I said to you, �You must be born again.� The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; so is everyone who is born of the Spirit.�
