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NASB | 1 Corinthians 2:14 ¶ But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | 1 Corinthians 2:14 ¶ But the natural [unbelieving] man does not accept the things [the teachings and revelations] of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness [absurd and illogical] to him; and he is incapable of understanding them, because they are spiritually discerned and appreciated, [and he is unqualified to judge spiritual matters]. |
Bible Question:
This is a continuation of a previous question re: receiving Christ equals works. (My brother and I disagree on decision theology). I was out of the country when my original question was circulating. I'd like to hear some points of view regarding regeneration. Which comes first regeneration, or faith? I thought faith came first by hearing the Word (Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God). I'm sure my brother would say that regeneration comes first. Thoughts? Huron |
Bible Answer: Dear Huron, Regeneration must pre-ceed faith. The natural man (unregenerate) being spiritualy dead in sin is unable to make a decision that requires spiritual perception. 1 Cor 2:14 But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. The following is from John Piper's website (http://www.desiringgod.org/dg/id144_m.htm) Faith Is Our Act, But Is Possible Because Of God's Act Repentance and faith are our work. But we will not repent and believe unless God does his work to overcome our hard and rebellious hearts. This divine work is called regeneration. Our work is called conversion.10 Conversion does indeed include an act of will by which we renounce sin and submit ourselves to the authority of Christ and put our hope and trust in him. We are responsible to do this, and will be condemned if we don't. But just as clearly the Bible teaches that, owing to our hard heart and willful blindness and spiritual insensitivity, we cannot do this.11 We must first experience the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit. The Scriptures promised long ago that God would devote himself to this work in order to create for himself a faithful people: And the LORD your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your offspring, so that you will love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live. (Deuteronomy 30:6) I will give them a heart to know that I am the Lord; and they shall be my people and I will be their God, for they shall return to me with their whole heart. (Jeremiah 24:7) And I will give them one heart, and put a new spirit within them; I will take the stony heart out of their flesh and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in my statutes and keep my ordinances and obey them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God. (Ezekiel 11:19-20) A new heart I will give you, and a new spirit I will put within you; and I will take out of your flesh the heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to observe my ordinances. (Ezekiel 36:26-27) These great promises from the Old Testament describe a work of God that changes a heart of stone into a heart of flesh and causes people to "know" and "love" and "obey" God. Without this spiritual heart transplant, people will not know and love and obey God. This prior work of God is what we mean by regeneration. We Are "Called" The Way Jesus Called Lazarus: Death To Life In the New Testament God is clearly active, creating a people for himself by calling12 them out of darkness and enabling them to believe the gospel and walk in the light. John teaches most clearly that regeneration precedes and enables faith. Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God. (1 John 5:1) The verb tenses make John's intention unmistakable: "Everyone who goes on believing [present, continuous action] that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God [perfect, completed action with abiding effects]." Faith is the evidence of new birth, not the cause of it. This is consistent with John's whole book (cf. 1 John 2:29; 3:9; 4:2-3; 4:7). Since faith and repentance are possible only because of the regenerating work of God, both are called the gift of God: Even when we were dead through our trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).... By grace are you saved through faith; and this13 is not your own doing, it is the gift of God. (Ephesians 2:5,8) The Lord's servant must not be quarrelsome, but kindly to everyone, an apt teacher, forbearing, correcting his opponents with gentleness. God may, perhaps, grant that they will repent and come to know the truth, and they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will. (2 Timothy 2:24-26) Conversion Is a Condition of Salvation and a Miracle of God |