An individual believes when they hear and understand. The natural man believes the things of God are foolishness. It is the Spirit of God who gives life and enlightenment for one to receive that which is spiritual. Until such time, an individual remains in darkness.
The study of his word requires that we receive it without bias or preconcieved doctrine in our hearts you either take him at his word or not trying to make it say something it isn't or trying to make it fit out specific beliefs will only make us blind to his word
But it's not Natural Man doing anything at all, it's the spirit inside of Natural Man. In fact, you can be saved 100 years and still have disbelief. Your spirit believes because it's directly connected to the Holy Ghost but the flesh will always be Natural Man and it doubts all that you believe in God.
The spirit speaks to the spirit not the flesh so even if we live in fleshly bodies the natural man still receieves what is spoken in spirit.
I never said God can't make someone to understand. I say just the opposite. When an individual does understand, it is so by the activity of God. And I'm the one who introduced Isaiah 55:11 into the discussion. I believe salvation is totally and fully dependent upon God's purpose in sending forth His word. It is those who believe in freewill that say otherwise.
Not if he does not have the Spirit.
The Bible specifically shows us several examples of the Holy Ghost coming upon people before they were Saved, never inside them first.
What you are speaking of is the baptism with the Spirit, and not the indwelling of the Spirit. Romans 8:9 says if one does not possess the Spirit of Christ, one doesn't belong to Christ. 1 Corinthians 12:3 says no one can call Jesus Lord except by the Holy Spirit.
Actually I am showing the proper process how it happens to us all.
Right...the baptism with the Spirit. It is a sealing, and not an indwelling. Ephesians 1:13...after they believed, they were sealed. But in order to believe, they must already be indwelt...1 Corinthians 12:3.
Wow people really think like this? it makes no sense the natural man cannot never has and never will understand the things of the spirit you can be a carnal Christian but that is not a good thing that is bad very bad.Not if he does not have the Spirit.
It is where the whole free will argument falls down. They have the man without the Spirit receiving
and understanding Spiritual things, which Scripture plainly says the natural man cannot do. To get
around this some of them then claim the gospel is not a spiritual matter nor a deep thing of God.
They will say the natural man is not one without the Spirit, but simply a carnal Christian. They
strip the truth of the truth all in the name of clinging to their their vain self-exalting idol.
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom (2 Cor ch 3 v 17). If anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Christ (Rom 8 v 9b). The world cannot receive the Spirit of truth, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him (from John 14 v 17). Those not in Christ are not free (see Heb 2 v 15). Praise God if He has rescued you from the dominion of darkness! (see Col 1 v 13)
Cameron, do you think it is possible that God regenerated a non believer long ago - but the person is not saved until many years later. Or, do you think they must take place together. Just asking. . . .
Yes, they have said those ridiculous things and many others besides, and as
People can confuse the sealing with the indwelling and this causes problems in understanding because without the indwelling one cannot receieve the things of the spirit to begin with because the carnal man perceives not the things of the spirit
Yeah it is a pride thing people refuse to admit they are wrong due to pride.
Actually the scriptures say 1 Corinthians 2:14 New American Standard Bible - NASB 1995 (NASB1995) 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. so in order for Peter to understand that Jesus was the messiah he first had to have the holy spirit in him otherwise it would not have been made known to him.
