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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]. |
Subject: How can anyone be saved? |
Bible Note: Dear Mommapbs Ps 50:23 "He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; And to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God Before I could understand the doctrine of election, I first needed to understand the devastating consequences of original sin. The reason why I raised my question in the first place, was to prompt our thinking concerning the condition of the natural man. An open minded study of 1 Cor 2 will teach us that the natural man does not, and indeed cannot recieve the things of God. Why? Because of the curse laid upon Adam, which causes every last one of us to be born dead in trespasses and sin. John 8:43 "Why do you not understand what I am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word..." Notice that Jesus is telling the pharisees that they CANNOT. Why is it they cannot? They are not of God. John 8:47 "He who is of God hears the words of God; for this reason you do not hear them, because you are not of God." That is why I conclude that it takes an act of regeneration (God's taking away of the stony heart and replacing it with a heart of flesh) before we are able to recieve the things of God. We must be born again! Conversion is is accomplished when God bestows upon us the saving graces of repentance and faith. Now, for the first time in our lives, we see, hear and believe. Praise God for our salvation! As far as election having a negative effect in evangelism....I say phooey!!! Who broke from the bondage of popish legalism and works salvation? Who evangelized Europe and brought us the first "Great Awakening" in America? The same people who loved and preached the doctrine of election! I am set free now to tell the gospel to all who will listen. I ignore their questions of who came first, the chicken or the egg, and stick with the gospel itself. I do not know who will recieve or not, but that is neither here or there. My commission is to proclaim it. If they wish I answer their questions as God gives me the grace to and leave the saving part up to Him. I, of course pray for them and pray that I will be faithfull in carrying His Word to others. God enmploys prayers and preaching as the means by which He saves. George Whitfield said it best: "Hath not God, who hath appointed salvation for a certain number, appointed also the preaching of the Word as a means to bring them to it? Does anyone hold election in any other sense? And if so, how is preaching needless to them that are elected, when the gospel is designated by God himself to be the power of God unto their eternal salvation? And since we know not who are elect and who reprobate, we are to preach promiscuously to all. For the Word may be useful, even to the non-elect, in restraining them from much wickedness and sin. However, it is enough to excite to the utmost diligence in preaching and hearing, when we consider that by these means, some, even as many as the Lord hath ordained to eternal life, shall certainly be quickened and enabled to believe. And who that attends, especially with reverence and care, can tell but he may be found of that happy number? John |